Employers name/number

Captain_Caveman_3

Hi, sorry if this has been asked before but i am new here.

I was currently in the process of applying for a CC but i got to the part where they asked for the employers name and telephone number.

Now i can't see why, as i thought under the data protection act (1998?) that the employer couldn't release any infomation about you. So what use would it be to the bank/credit card provider?

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question but i was wondering whether they just wanted it for their file or they need infomation off my employer.

Regards
Caveman.

s1h

Not sure why they ask for it, maybe to check if it is a genuine company?

Dont see the problem just tell them, or do you have something to hide?

Captain_Caveman_3

Hi, sorry i didn't mean to come accross like that.

I don't have anything to hide, i am on a reasonable income. Its just i would rather not have my company disclose information to the CC company or the CC company acquire something they don't really require.

REgards
Caveman.

belfast_child

i used to work for a credit card company, and we were always told to get applicants employers landline number. we were told in case cust defaulted on payments or went overlimit it was an additional contact number.
:beer: :beer: :eek:

Captain_Caveman_3

Thank you, so it is purely an additional contact number if they require it. It isn't for gathering information about you from your employer?

Sorry about this, i am just really picky about giving out information that could result in information about me being distributed.

s1h

What are you worrying about?

regularsaver1

I've had customers give fake employer details before

Its so the bank can call to confirm you work there - that is all they would ask. Landline for work and home is good (for the default thing)

You have a duty of disclosure to provide information about you and your job/income correctly

I've seen people that have worked at the same employer for 20 years, yet don't know the full address nor the telephone number!!

Yell.com comes in handy - we use it in the bank for applications or we get a file fail

jonnyb

it helps with anti fraud products as well.

somone trying to pull an id hijack might well not know the correct employer information, and there are systems designed to highlight mistakes like that - Experian's Detect product for example.

s1h

To be honest with you on application forms asking for work details i normally put the company name and if they ask for a work telephone number put my mobile never had any problems.

regularsaver1

that defeats the object though s1h

The bank would be calling the firm to see if you work there

obviously is self-employed it would be different

sometimes rather than call the employer, the bank will check the company exist and that is the right details

s1h

all they do is at random check that you work there or that the company exist.