VODAFONE: re-using old numbers, selling customer data

mamabuddah

Does anyone know if Vodafone re-use/recycle old numbers, e.g. old contracts that have been cancelled, or were in default. Or, do they sell on a/c details?

reason: unsolicited calls :mad: from Vanquis/Impact for a name thats NOT mine...and I also know for a fact I have never had any business contracted with Vanquis/Impact....so where did they get the number?

grumbler

All networks recycle number after some 'quarantine' period.
Block unwanted calls in your handset or ask Voda to change your number.

mamabuddah

grumbler wrote: »

All networks recycle number after some 'quarantine' period.
Block unwanted calls in your handset or ask Voda to change your number.

thanks for the reply....thought of that , but Vodafone say there's a charge to change the number....and from reading here on MSE, looks like Vanquis/Impact have at least 30 different numbers they call from...I would have thought that Vodafone should be taking the blame for this (harrassment letters sent to Vanquis by the way) and do this for free...

Annie._2

Vodafone do not sell customer data. Please see Vodafone privacy policy.

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/vodafone-uk/about-this-site/privacy-policy/index.htm

There is not an infinite number of telephone numbers and once disconnected, the number is reused after a period of around 6 months in 'quarantine' which should clear any previous callers.

If you are receiving calls meant for the previous user, you can only let them know that you are the new user of the number and not to call again. If they persist in calling, you could remind them that it is an offense to keep calling your number when they have been informed that the person they want no longer uses the number.

You could ask for a different number, but the chances are you would get a further recyled number.

Forwandert

There's nothing you've posted in the opening post to suggest the calls are related to the number being recycled. The person that owes the money could have simply changed their contact number to a ramdom one so they stopped getting calls at any point.

mamabuddah

Ann_S wrote: »

Vodafone do not sell customer data. Please see Vodafone privacy policy.

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/vodafone-uk/about-this-site/privacy-policy/index.htm

There is not an infinite number of telephone numbers and once disconnected, the number is reused after a period of around 6 months in 'quarantine' which should clear any previous callers.

If you are receiving calls meant for the previous user, you can only let them know that you are the new user of the number and not to call again. If they persist in calling, you could remind them that it is an offense to keep calling your number when they have been informed that the person they want no longer uses the number.

You could ask for a different number, but the chances are you would get a further recyled number.

Thanks for the reply...have told them on numerous occasions now I have never done business with them and have now "fired off" the relevant letters re harassment etc quoting the necessary laws etc....but in the meantime...will probably expect the hassle...and from what I read on here...probably after they receive the letters it will persist.

@forwandert....I would assume the chances of someone randomly generating the same number as mine for whatever purposes would be quite slim, however the possibility of an existing number that has gone into "default" with Vodafone for perhaps "non payment" would lead you to believe the original owner has perhaps gone into default somewhere else (e.g. Vanquis)...yet Vodafone won't tell you if the number has been recycled OR if that's the case, the previous owner was in default....sorry if that wasn't clear in the original post, I though I had said my reason for thinking that.

mamabuddah

Vodafone say...


4 Sharing your personal information

a. We may share information about you with:

• companies in the Vodafone Group (Vodafone Group Plc and any company or other organisation in which Vodafone Group Plc owns more than 15% of the share capital);
• partners or agents who are involved in delivering the products and services you have ordered or used;
• credit-reference agencies, fraud-prevention agencies, business-scoring agencies or other credit-scoring agencies;
• debt-collection agencies or other debt-recovery organisations;
• law-enforcement agencies, regulatory organisations, courts or other public authorities if we have to or are authorised to by law; or
• emergency services (if you make an emergency call), including your approximate location.

so I suppose they may have given the details...incl the number out...for the previous user...hopefully then, they should pass on the relevant information (i.e. the number has been recycled) when applicable?

Forwandert

mamabuddah wrote: »

@forwandert....I would assume the chances of someone randomly generating the same number as mine for whatever purposes would be quite slim, however the possibility of an existing number that has gone into "default" with Vodafone for perhaps "non payment" would lead you to believe the original owner has perhaps gone into default somewhere else (e.g. Vanquis)...yet Vodafone won't tell you if the number has been recycled OR if that's the case, the previous owner was in default....sorry if that wasn't clear in the original post, I though I had said my reason for thinking that.

I think the chance of someone randomly generating the same number as mine are slim also however if it is random they haven't generated yours specifically just 'a number' which happens to be yours and its easy go to do go to any number in your phone book change a number or two and wait for it to ring.

At the minute you zero proof of:

1- The number being in default
2- Vodaphone recycling the number

So it's all just assumption on what has caused a different company to ring you but you've instantly blamed Vodaphone.

grumbler

Forwandert wrote: »

At the minute you zero proof of:

...
2- Vodaphone recycling the number

So it's all just assumption on what has caused a different company to ring you but you've instantly blamed Vodaphone.

There is no point in proving that Voda recycle numbers. They definitely do - like all other networks. Yes, this causes problems to the new owners, but indeed, networks cannot be blamed for this (unless they recycle the numbers far too quickly).

mamabuddah

@forwandert...I've been with Orange, Three and most recently Vodafone...they are the only company it's happened with

@grumbler...vodafone don't appear to be interested in helping/checking if the number I've been given was ever in default or how long they took to recycle

so in the absence of any other information and vodafones reluctance to give any info, taking into account the probability of random number generation etc...vodafone and recycling seems to be the cause of the problem....

just for the record...our family have 3 different phone a/c's with Vodafone and it's only a problem with one number...incidently, two of them were pac'd over from Three some years ago...no problems there and to date, no real problems with VF re service, call problems or anything...so I'm not on to bash Vodafone, just looking for what (and who) has caused the problem and who ultimately should share the effort to get it sorted.

grumbler

mamabuddah wrote: »

@grumbler...vodafone don't appear to be interested in helping/checking if the number I've been given was ever in default or how long they took to recycle

What's the point in checking? How can they check if it was in the default and why if the debt collectors are likely to be chasing some other debt absolutely unrelated to a mobile contract?

just for the record...our family have 3 different phone a/c's with Vodafone and it's only a problem with one number...

And?

incidently, two of them were pac'd over from Three some years ago...no problems there and to date,

Of course, as you owe the number for a long time.

no real problems with VF re service, call problems or anything...so I'm not on to bash Vodafone, just looking for what (and who) has caused the problem and who ultimately should share the effort to get it sorted.

If it is a contract and they want too much for changing the number, just get a free PAYG sim, leave it for a week-two in a spare phone and if it is OK port/transfer the number to your contract. This can be done even within Vodafone:
http://www.vodafone.co.uk/personal/price-plans/keep-my-number/?cid=rdr-2240-01

However, I think just blocking unwanted number(s) is much simpler if your phone can do this.