Catalogue company demanding info on the phone

purple.sarah

zaksmum wrote: »

Yes but if I'm not interested in ordering, why should I confirm my identity to them?

To make changes to your account like asking them not to contact you by phone or to close your account. However if you're uncomfortable with this you could also call them yourself or write to them requesting they not contact you by phone or close your account. I hope this helps.

purple.sarah

adamantine wrote: »

sorry but it sounds to me like there is an outstanding amount on the account which is why they keep on calling you. you can send them a letter asking for everything to be done in writing and send it recorded but i have never ever heard of companies calling you to ask if you still want a catalogue or offer you the latest deals. only ever to ask for payment for outstanding amounts.

There's no need to worry the OP unnecessarily. I have worked for catalogue customer service before and they do make those kinds of calls. If an account has not been used for a while, it's in the company's financial interest to offer the customer an incentive such as offers to become active again or to see if they still want a regular catalogue, which costs the company money. It's worth checking there is no outstanding amount on the account but that is not the only reason they call.

zaksmum

purple.sarah wrote: »

There's no need to worry the OP unnecessarily. I have worked for catalogue customer service before and they do make those kinds of calls. If an account has not been used for a while, it's in the company's financial interest to offer the customer an incentive such as offers to become active again or to see if they still want a regular catalogue, which costs the company money. It's worth checking there is no outstanding amount on the account but that is not the only reason they call.

I have double checked and the account definitely shows a NIL balance so it can't be that. Probably just want to offer me 10% off if I submit a new order but what a silly way of going about it.

They have actually called twice again today, different staff members each time, with no apparent knowledge that I've refused to give my personal information several times already in the last 24 hours.

I asked to speak to a manager, but guess what...not available. I wish they'd just say what they want and then stop hassling me.

Person_one

purple.sarah wrote: »

There's no need to worry the OP unnecessarily. I have worked for catalogue customer service before and they do make those kinds of calls. If an account has not been used for a while, it's in the company's financial interest to offer the customer an incentive such as offers to become active again or to see if they still want a regular catalogue, which costs the company money. It's worth checking there is no outstanding amount on the account but that is not the only reason they call.

I'm not surprised by the bolded, you've been brainwashed!

It makes absolutely no sense to ring somebody and then demand personal information. Every single piece of advice on protecting your identity and financial information screams at us not to do this!

They could be anybody. I could start ringing people randomly from the phone book and telling them I need their DOB, name and mother's maiden name claiming to be anybody.

No legitimate, well run company would have its staff doing this.

Sambucus_Nigra

zaksmum wrote: »

I ask what they want, and they say they're not allowed to discuss it without first verifying who they're speaking to.

I would just say that you are not going to verify anything without knowing why - so they can carry on wasting their time calling you, as you have reached an impasse and this is the only answer they are going to get. So either stop, or tell you why they are calling or you will all be there until one of you dies first.

January20

zaksmum wrote: »

I have double checked and the account definitely shows a NIL balance so it can't be that. Probably just want to offer me 10% off if I submit a new order but what a silly way of going about it.

They have actually called twice again today, different staff members each time, with no apparent knowledge that I've refused to give my personal information several times already in the last 24 hours.

I asked to speak to a manager, but guess what...not available. I wish they'd just say what they want and then stop hassling me.

If you have used them before, why don't you pick up their telephone number from their catalogue or their website and ring them yourself to find out? I would (and have) refuse to give details but I fail to understand why you are not taking control of this situation by ringing them? And ending this stupid situation! And you would then know also is it's scammers or if it's legit!

balletshoes

purple.sarah wrote: »

I meant can't not won't. As in the number will keep coming up on the automated dialler or 'demented machine'. It's not up to the individual call centre agent who they call. I wasn't saying it was reasonable, just that it's the way it works. That's why I suggested cancelling their account to stop the calls.

its machinery gone mad really isn't it.
automated diallers must have a way of being overriden though - I got half a dozen calls from some company or other, all within about 24 hours of each other, over a week, it was for insulation or something. The 5th and 6th times I told them it was the 5th and 6th time in a week they had called, and please stop calling me. I've had no calls from them since - and I haven't availed myself of their product.

purple.sarah

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

I would just say that you are not going to verify anything without knowing why - so they can carry on wasting their time calling you, as you have reached an impasse and this is the only answer they are going to get. So either stop, or tell you why they are calling or you will all be there until one of you dies first.

Or zaksmum could nip it in the bud by ringing or writing to the company to close her account or ask not to be contacted by phone! That might be quicker!

sassyblue

skylight wrote: »

Nope - Debitas. Still here!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/741653

You need a good hour and coffee to get through this one. But its well worth it!

Am reading it now, OMG haven't laughed so much in ages - awhim-oh-way :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

purple.sarah

Person_one wrote: »

I'm not surprised by the bolded, you've been brainwashed!

It makes absolutely no sense to ring somebody and then demand personal information. Every single piece of advice on protecting your identity and financial information screams at us not to do this!

They could be anybody. I could start ringing people randomly from the phone book and telling them I need their DOB, name and mother's maiden name claiming to be anybody.

No legitimate, well run company would have its staff doing this.

As an example, here is HSBC's policy on asking security questions. They are a legal, legitimate company so some do this. They would be well aware of data protection issues as it is particularly important in the banking sector.