Bank calling you and asking for security information

System

pinkdalek wrote: »

By that method it would also imply they have broken the data protection act by looking up your phone number!

Ask your bank for details on how they use and store your data, you will find in this scenario they are not breaching data protection act rules by confirming the balance.

I assure you I have read all the terms & conditions for my bank account(s) and nowhere does it say that they can give out details of a particular transaction that has appeared on my account without first confirming they have the account holder's permission (Nobody said anything about a balance in this thread) Obviously, if they have not yet confirmed who they are speaking to, then they cannot have been given permission to view the account transactions.

Contact details held by the bank are a completely different case, since you have obviously given the bank permission to contact you - Doh !

missile

One option might be "We have an urgent message, please log on to online banking"

stclair

Gromitt wrote: »

Unlikely, considering they phoned you. They'll just assume you are not who you say you are and terminate the call.

I have done it many times before sometimes you have to do these things to make the customer contact you lol

MoneySaverLog

airflow wrote: »

it is surely only a matter of time before criminals realise they can get access to peoples information by calling and pretending to be from a company they do business with.

Totally agree, and I would assume that this sort of thing does go on.

Andystriker

stclair wrote: »

I have done it many times before sometimes you have to do these things to make the customer contact you lol

If a bank rings you and then asks security questions about your account and then suspends your account for no reason, then that is very poor form.

Shower-of-roses

Completely agree with OP.

I always refuse to answer security questions over the telephone as a matter of course. I just respond with an 'if it's important can you put it in writing', and they always seem happy enough to do that. I also hate it when companies ring you up and say, 'Hi, *insert first name here*, how are you today.'
'And who are you exactly?'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

juliedotcom

I bet 90% of the people saying "If the bank want me, they can write to me!" are the same ones who complain when their accounts have fraud/are blocked/A.N other issue. I speak to those types of people every day, you simply cannot win.

If your bank or other financial institution call you and ask for security details, which, according to DPA is an absolute MUST before they can discuss the call/your account with you, then they will only ask your questions where a partial question is asked. Second part of your post code. Your bank sort code. Completely inane questions which are different to those asked on an inbound call, and also provide extremely little detail about you, information which if compromised, would only be valuable to someone else if THEY were out-called about YOUR account.

If you are unhappy about this, then call the number on the back of your card, which is a number you will hopefully trust as customer services. They can tell you if an outcall has been made to you, and will direct you to the correct area. If, still, you are unhappy about having to callback on an 0845/0870 number, when you are passed to the correct area and they confirm they have called you and you are happy for them to do so - they can call you back, or reimburse you the 4p a minute it has cost you to call.

MoneySaverLog

Andystriker wrote: »

If a bank rings you and then asks security questions about your account and then suspends your account for no reason, then that is very poor form.

Not at all, if you give incorrect answers and they have a wrong phone number for you then they are protecting your account by suspending it.

As I've said before you can just refuse to answer the security questions, take their name and extension and call the bank back on the number on the back of your debit card and ask to speak to them if you are concerned about social engineering.

MoneySaverLog

juliedotcom wrote: »

If, still, you are unhappy about having to callback on an 0845/0870 number, when you are passed to the correct area and they confirm they have called you and you are happy for them to do so - they can call you back, or reimburse you the 4p a minute it has cost you to call.

Most banks will have a international number to call on the card too, which you can call from a mobile with your inclusive minutes. I know Lloyds and Halifax do

WhiteHorse

If they call you, never answer any security questions. I always ring back using a number I know to be good.