Do tax credits call from a private number?

1irishninja

Had a strange call tonight from a guy claiming to be from tax credits in Newcastle. Number was private, he asked me to confirm my name, dob, address and was I still living with my partner, once I confirmed the details he was gone before I could ask him the reason. I phoned the TC helpline but the couldn't take my call.

I'm worried now, I've either been had or TC are in the process of shafting me again which wouldn't be anything new.

Any thoughts?

Bogof_Babe

Do you mean the number didn't display on your caller display phone? This is quite common if someone is phoning through a switchboard. I wouldn't worry.

1irishninja

Yes, my phone blocks private numbers and gets them to announce who they are before I take the call.

boliston

this sounds very odd as most people would not answer these dodgy number withheld type of call as they are normally a scam call - would use one of the free credit checking services to be sure someone has not applied for credit using your details.

Bogof_Babe

Well what I meant was that the fact that the caller display was blocked doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't who they purported to be. I would imagine all such callers go through a switchboard rather than have direct dial lines.

If you have nothing to worry about then I'd just forget it.

Darksparkle

Some have direct dials but usually withheld.

I would never give that info to anyone who called me.

1irishninja

Yes surly he should already have this info? He already had mine and my partners name he just asked me to confirm it.

Darksparkle

1irishninja wrote: »

Yes surly he should already have this info? He already had mine and my partners name he just asked me to confirm it.

They have to ask you for security purposes but doesn't mean you need to answer. I'd have told them to write to you or say you were calling the helpline to confirm it was genuine.

1irishninja

1irishninja wrote: »

Had a strange call tonight from a guy claiming to be from tax credits in Newcastle. Number was private, he asked me to confirm my name, dob, address and was I still living with my partner, once I confirmed the details he was gone before I could ask him the reason. I phoned the TC helpline but the couldn't take my call.

I'm worried now, I've either been had or TC are in the process of shafting me again which wouldn't be anything new.

Any thoughts?

I will phone the helpline in the morning they should have a record of this call and the reasoning behind it hopefully.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Did the call give you your details to confirm, or did the caller ask you for them?

If it was the second, then it could well have been a scam.

You need to check with Tax Credits. And NEVER give out your details again to someone you don't know from Adam.

Owain_Moneysaver

I don't know about Tax Credits, but my experience of DWP is that they present an 0800 number which when you call it back says "you were called by someone within DWP, we will try to call you again".