Cold Callers

SPlatten

I have received quite a few calls recently from companies offering advice on my personal pension(s).

The patter is always the same, the first thing they ask is for me to confirm some personal details.

They start by asking me to confirm my name, address, postcode, email address and telephone number.

I refuse to give any personal information to anyone that calls me and I tell them this, they then inform me that they are unable to continue.

I believe that these cold callers are attempting to steal my identify since when I call any of my pension providers the proof of ID they will request is exactly the same.

Has anyone got any views on this? My pension providers have quite rightly advised me never to give out any personal information, so if these companies are not conmen, why are they asking for this information?

nearlyrich

I just say I am more than happy with my current wealth management consultant the people who are calling are the same type of companies who ambulance chase but don't have any details of the "accident" they wish to advise you about claiming compo for...


Anyone rings me unsolicited goes away with flea in their ear...

DancingBadger

You must be a very patient soul to even let them get through even the first sentence of their patter, let alone have a conversation with them. I simply put the phone down and then block their number where possible.

IME, blocking numbers has been much more effective than registering with Telephone Preference Service.

Atreyu107

If it walks like a duck...

DancingBadger

...and in response to your OP, of course they're conmen - or at the very least, people who want to separate you from your money by fair means or foul. Cold-callers NEVER have your best interests at heart.

robber2

I usually find it best to ask them to hang on 'cos theres someone at the door, then maybe I'll play some music to them lilke they are on hold at a call centre.

Its suprising how gullible some of them can be :-)

ariba10

I give them the same advice Noah gave his sons when the Ark grounded.

"Go forth and multiply". (Or words to that effect)

dunstonh

Genuine regulated financial services companies giving pension advice do not cold call. So, the minute you get one of these calls, you should be on guard and assume the worst unless proven otherwise.

We all get these calls. Even those of us with TPS. usually it is either a scammer or a dodgy introducer telling porkies.

why are they asking for this information?

Why do scammers do anything.

chris_m

Atreyu107 wrote: »

If it walks like a duck...

Part of that sentence sounds like part of the response that any cold-callers get from me :rotfl:

JohnB47

About two years ago, I bought one of those phones with the Call Guardian feature. It lets through calls from people who's numbers you have stored on the phone but plays an announcement to other callers asking them their name. If they bother to do that, the phone rings and it plays you their message. Then if you want you can accept the call by pressing key '1'. If you don't accept they have the option of leaving a message (my phone has Call Guardian and a built-in answering machine, some don't). If the caller is someone you don't want to ever speak to, you can block future calls from them.

This works exceptionally well. Since fitting it we haven't had one nuisance call, not one.

It cost us around £70 and was money well spent.