Alliance & L Card Verification - is a Marketing Pitch

veryunsure

I received new bank cards fro Alliance & Leicester and they had the usual sticker, call this number to verify. Not a problem.

After a few basic checks the operator went on to spell out the benefits of some identity fraud protection product, and went on and on. It was only when I insisted that I was not interested that she stopped. I had to ask if my card was now ready to go - it was but I had spent 5 minutes listening to (AND PAYING 5p a min to do so) waffle and being asked how I would fund the £12,000 it would cost me to put my credit record straight if someone did steal my identitiy if I didn't buy this product from them.

I think this is a disgusting new way to force us into marketing. As far as I know, no other card issuer does this.

Any thoughts on how it can be stopped?

PBA

You called the bank, the advisor tried selling you a product. This is normal. If the advisor had signed you up for the product after you said no then the word scam would be fine.

stiffnuts69

If the advisor had signed you up for the product after you said no then the word scam would be fine.

Totally agree people should chose their words carefully. There is no scam although they do try the hard sell.

scottishsuz

I had the same thing with my cards with three different operators. I hate being rude and interrupting people but if I say it once or twice and they don't take the hint then I'll just continue to speak over the top of them saying "I'm not interested" if they are *really* persistant I put on my telling off small children tone of voice in a "what did I just tell you? Hmm? What? That I'm not interested, don't ask me again" they get the hint then.

Sandollar_2

I also had this sales tactic when I called to verify my new card. Before she could go into her whole sales pitch I simply said I already had a years subscription to Experian and wasn't interested in paying for the same thing twice. She thanked me for my call and card was verified.

veryunsure

When I chose the word scam I may have been careless but my point was that i thought I was just activating my card - usually a simple process. Instead I got a earful of someone trying to do their job, at low rates I admit, but the scare tactics were unjustfied. I;ll edit the heading if I can to something better. Condsider my self smacked.

masonic

veryunsure wrote: »

Any thoughts on how it can be stopped?

Make a complaint. An attempt to pressure you into buying an insurance product in this way is misselling and it isn't allowed.

[Deleted User]

When I called the other week to activate my new card I just told them I already had the cover as part of my home insurance policy (which I don't). It soon shut the salesperson up and my card was activated.

I read this tip on here a while back.


I wonder if this is the reason they are upgrading all their Electron card holders to 2in1 Visa debit to try and sell loads of card insurance to the spate of people ringing up to activate their new cards.

arfster

Yeah, I do the "everything included with my home insurance" thing as well. Just get your interruption in early, be polite, leaves them nothing to sell you and they finish the call as quick as possible so they can sell to some other mug.

At least it's politer than my usual answer to unwanted coldcalling (emigrating to Brazil, going to prison etc).

veryunsure

:T Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. I shall take those on board. To the other comments - please think about how you might make a newbie feel. There are more tactful ways to hurt someone's feelings!:A

gazo

same here trying to sell you this and that and when you tell them you already have that covered they want all the details.

but it was only with a recent A&L card