Can Bing Ads do this?

pdoherty76

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

There is nothing in law to prevent Bing from having such cancellation terms. I believe something is coming to force companies to have a method of cancellation that is the same as sign-up (ie, if you sign up online, you can cancel online) but that is a long way away.

And I'd agree with the above poster - your mum would be pretty miffed if someone purporting to be her could get in touch with Bing and have the account closed without her knowledge.

But cancelling on the phone is less secure than cancelling via email. I find it worrying that a phonecall could close the account. The only security questions they have are date of birth and name of high school. Many people who know my mum would know the answer to that.


Any female could ring bing from any number and pretend to be my mum.


How can bing insist on a phonecall when they allow someone to untick contact by phone?


The reason they want her to ring is so that they can stop her cancelling with a sales pitch.


Can you link me to the law which requires them to have a phonecall? They claim that data protection laws mean they must speak to her on the phone. But this has never occurred when closing any other account.

wealdroam

pdoherty76 wrote: »

Can Bing Ads legally demand that somebody speaks to them on the phone and has to listen to their hard sell to keep the account open, or do companies have to close accounts under data protection if it is given in writing.

Clearly there is no point it anyone trying to answer that question, as you have already decided upon the answer:

pdoherty76 wrote: »

They have no right to insist that she speak to them on the phone.

By the way, you are wrong... but I don't expect you want my opinion either.

powerful_Rogue

pdoherty76 wrote: »

But cancelling on the phone is less secure than cancelling via email. I find it worrying that a phonecall could close the account. The only security questions they have are date of brth and name of high school. Many people who know my mum would know the answer to that.


Any female could ring bing from any number and pretend to be my mum.


How can bing insist on a phonecall when they allow someone to untick contact by phone?


The reason they want her to ring is so that they can stop her cancelling with a sales pitch.


Can you link me to the law which requires them to have a phonecall? They claim that data protection laws mean they mst speak to her on the phone. But this has never occurred when closing any other account.

Can you confirm your name, date of birth and email address please.
Can you also confirm the last four digits of the bank card we have on file/ can you confirm how much your last marketing campaign cost..... the list of questions to confirm her identity is quite huge.

It appears your not going to be happy until someone gives you an answer you want to hear, no matter that it will be incorrect.

DevCoder

Can you link me to the law which requires them to have a phonecall?

You're the one making the allegation therefore can you link to a law that states they cant insist on that?

It's not illegal, they can insist on whatever medium for cancellation that they wish.

pdoherty76

wealdroam wrote: »

Clearly there is no point it anyone trying to answer that question, as you have already decided upon the answer:


By the way, you are wrong... but I don't expect you want my opinion either.

Well can you link to law which says they must get it via a phonecall?


I have never heard of anything like that and I have successfully closed many online accounts without ever needing a phonecall.


There are many people who cannot use phones for medical reasons. What are they meant to do?


This is all about retention. It is the same thing as when sky let you upgrade online but insist that you phone to downgrade.

pdoherty76

krisdorey wrote: »

You're the one making the allegation therefore can you link to a law that states they cant insist on that?

It's not illegal, they can insist on whatever medium for cancellation that they wish.

They claimed that the law insists on a phonecall. That is what I want clarifying.

pdoherty76

I should have known this would be trolled.


From this point forward. Any such posts will be blanked and the user placed on ignore.


If anyone wishes to answer my question then I will be very grateful.

powerful_Rogue

pdoherty76 wrote: »

Well can you link to law which says they must get it via a phonecall?


I have never heard of anything like that and I have successfully closed many online accounts without ever needing a phonecall.


There are many people who cannot use phones for medical reasons. What are they meant to do?


This is all about retention. It is the same thing as when sky let you upgrade online but insist that you phone to downgrade.

As already pointed out, she can quickly and easily delete her account online via their website. >> http://advertise.bingads.microsoft.com/en-uk/help-topic/how-to/52062/delete-an-account

Your mother however wants to go further then that and have all information, records and details removed - as such Bing are perfectly within their rights under the DPA to ask her to phone up and confirm her identity.

DevCoder

I cant think of anything off the top of my head in the DPA that requires a phonecall rather than writing (with sufficient documentational proof to confirm identity).

But what if they then just state it's their own conditions of account closure?

Just make the phonecall, be firm and polite.

Ignoring people who dont give you the answer you want to hear is a bit petty tbh.

pdoherty76

A reminder of the law I would like clarifying:


"In fact, they have claimed that data protection laws mean they MUST speak to her on the phone before they can close the account."

This is what bing ads have claimed. If anyone can either confirm this law exists or prove that it doesn't, then I will be very grateful.