We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Data Protection Question
SueC_2
Posts: 1,674 Forumite
Like most of us, I have many different types of accounts that I use for various purposes, and keep a close eye on what is the 'best' deal for each of those specific purposes, switching as and when I see a better offer. All of my accounts are internet based/managed, and I don't have a 'relationship' with any particular institution.
A couple of other pieces of background information:
1/ I am registered with the Telephone Preference Service so that I don't receive sales calls at home.
2/ I live in a small town where there is a high chance that everyone knows someone who knows you (whether you like it or not!).
Twice recently I have received a phone call from the local branch of one of the building societies that I hold an account with. Both conversations have gone something like this:
Her: Hello, I'm calling from the ***** branch of the ******, about the account you hold with us. Could I ask you some questions to verify your identity?
Me: No, sorry, you're a complete stranger, calling from a witheld number, I am not about to start divulging my personal information.
Her: But it's quite basic, I only want to know your date of birth.
Me: No, sorry, as I said, I have no idea who you are, I'm not about to give you my personal details. If I call you, by all means verify that I am who I say I am, but you called me, so I don't see why you should expect me to prove anything.
Her: Well, okay then. You currently hold a ***** account with us, and I'm just calling to see if we have any other products or services that would be of interest to you.
Me: No thank you, I do have various accounts, but I shop around and choose the best ones for my needs, and wouldn't just switch more products to you because I already hold one account with you.
Her: Well, for example, I see that you pay £x per month to the ***** Building Society. That presumably is your mortgage. Were you aware that we offer mortgages? I'm sure we'd be able to offer you a good rate.
Me: No thank you. I'm quite happy with my current mortgage. Besides anything else, it's a fixed rate and I'm currently tied into it.
Her: Oh, okay then. But I see you also pay £x per month amount to ***** Credit Card. We do offer a credit card, that provides ****** reward. Would you be interested?
Me: No thank you, the credit card I currently use is on 0% interest, and when that deal comes to an end in 14 months time I will be looking for another one that offers the same rate.
She then proceeded in this vein through every one of the direct debits I have set up on my account - telling me who they are to, how much they are for, and making assumptions about their purpose. (All this despite the fact that I had refused to confirm to her that I was who she thought I was, so she could possibly have been discussing all this with entirely the wrong person).
Although I was highly irritated by the calls at the time, it's only after the event that I've started thinking about them more deeply.
Odd as it sounds I really do feel like my privacy has been invaded. I fully accept that bank employees get to see my banking details in the course of their jobs, but to have someone that I don't know, but who quite possibly knows of me, and will certainly know where I live etc, trawl through them in such fine detail without me asking them to.... well, am I over-reacting...?
Edit: Ooo, sorry, now I've posted that I see that it is probably the longest post I've ever made - by a long way! If you're still reading, thank you for persevering this far!
A couple of other pieces of background information:
1/ I am registered with the Telephone Preference Service so that I don't receive sales calls at home.
2/ I live in a small town where there is a high chance that everyone knows someone who knows you (whether you like it or not!).
Twice recently I have received a phone call from the local branch of one of the building societies that I hold an account with. Both conversations have gone something like this:
Her: Hello, I'm calling from the ***** branch of the ******, about the account you hold with us. Could I ask you some questions to verify your identity?
Me: No, sorry, you're a complete stranger, calling from a witheld number, I am not about to start divulging my personal information.
Her: But it's quite basic, I only want to know your date of birth.
Me: No, sorry, as I said, I have no idea who you are, I'm not about to give you my personal details. If I call you, by all means verify that I am who I say I am, but you called me, so I don't see why you should expect me to prove anything.
Her: Well, okay then. You currently hold a ***** account with us, and I'm just calling to see if we have any other products or services that would be of interest to you.
Me: No thank you, I do have various accounts, but I shop around and choose the best ones for my needs, and wouldn't just switch more products to you because I already hold one account with you.
Her: Well, for example, I see that you pay £x per month to the ***** Building Society. That presumably is your mortgage. Were you aware that we offer mortgages? I'm sure we'd be able to offer you a good rate.
Me: No thank you. I'm quite happy with my current mortgage. Besides anything else, it's a fixed rate and I'm currently tied into it.
Her: Oh, okay then. But I see you also pay £x per month amount to ***** Credit Card. We do offer a credit card, that provides ****** reward. Would you be interested?
Me: No thank you, the credit card I currently use is on 0% interest, and when that deal comes to an end in 14 months time I will be looking for another one that offers the same rate.
She then proceeded in this vein through every one of the direct debits I have set up on my account - telling me who they are to, how much they are for, and making assumptions about their purpose. (All this despite the fact that I had refused to confirm to her that I was who she thought I was, so she could possibly have been discussing all this with entirely the wrong person).
Although I was highly irritated by the calls at the time, it's only after the event that I've started thinking about them more deeply.
Odd as it sounds I really do feel like my privacy has been invaded. I fully accept that bank employees get to see my banking details in the course of their jobs, but to have someone that I don't know, but who quite possibly knows of me, and will certainly know where I live etc, trawl through them in such fine detail without me asking them to.... well, am I over-reacting...?
Edit: Ooo, sorry, now I've posted that I see that it is probably the longest post I've ever made - by a long way! If you're still reading, thank you for persevering this far!
0
Comments
-
You can shorten the conversation with a "no thank you, I am not interested. Good bye" and hanging up.0
-
I'd be more concerned that they discussed your direct debits without being able to verify your identity. That is certainly worth a complaint.0
-
I fully accept that bank employees get to see my banking details in the course of their jobs, but to have someone that I don't know, but who quite possibly knows of me, and will certainly know where I live etc, trawl through them in such fine detail without me asking them to....
So you've just discovered that all of your personal data held by organizations is consulted in details by employees on a regular basis...
Welcome to Earth.
Your concern here should be as pmduk pointed out: The guy bypassed the security check and started disclosing your confidential information to someone who could have been anyone.0 -
jjlandlord wrote: »Welcome to Earth.
Thanks.
Tell me, is everyone on this planet I've just arrived on as needlessly sarcastic as you?0 -
I assume that the information discussed all came from transactions on an account with that building society and not from other sources.
TPS does not prevent calls from organisations with which you have dealings. When opening accounts have you ticked the box to opt out of (or not ticked the box to opt in to) telephone marketing calls from that building society? If your instructions have been ignored then that in itself is cause for complaint.You can shorten the conversation with a "no thank you, I am not interested. Good bye" and hanging up.
Quite. Although not disclosing date of birth the OP ended up feeding the building society additional personal information.0 -
Her: Hello, I'm calling from the ***** branch of the ******, about the account you hold with us. Could I ask you some questions to verify your identity?
Me: No, sorry, you're a complete stranger, calling from a witheld number, I am not about to start divulging my personal information.
Her: But it's quite basic, I only want to know your date of birth.
Me: No, sorry, as I said, I have no idea who you are, I'm not about to give you my personal details. If I call you, by all means verify that I am who I say I am, but you called me, so I don't see why you should expect me to prove anything.
Her: Well, okay then. You currently hold a ***** account with us, and I'm just calling to see if we have any other products or services that would be of interest to you.
!
Bold bit.... Oh dear....
I would be on the phone to head office and register a complaint.
You could have been anyone on the other end of the phone and she just discussed ALL info they hold on your account.
Major, serious breach of security and should see said person out of the door. Or at the very least reduced to counter service only. Also should not have said what details are required. As it can arm a fraudster with the info they need to gain access to your account.
What she should have done is either ask you to callback or call into the branch to discuss things.
The reason they ask for you to confirm your security details are for exactly the above reason.
The number of people who never update their contact details in amazing. So when you call someone you could be talking to anyone. If its a sole acc, even your partner is a no no.
Witheld number again for security reasons. If it is a fraudster on the other end. you don't want ot forwarn them of who is calling.
If they call again. After not going through security. I would see if they will let you transfer some funds to another account.... :eek:Never ASSUME anything its makes a>>> A55 of U & ME <<<0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.4K Spending & Discounts
- 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.4K Life & Family
- 261.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards