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am I just too suspicious or doubting?
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gwydion_ap_don
Posts: 7 Forumite


Am I too suspicious? I had a phone call seemingly from M&S to tell me about a change of delivery date BUT before the M&S lady would tell me what it was about, I had to prove who I was by giving out personal information. I refused. So I wrote to M&S saying that when people phone me I should not have to prove who I am, there being more reason tor them to prove who they are, surely? I do not believe that when people phone me, I should need to give out my info to prove who I am. Today I get a phone call from M&S re my letter saying that they do require me to give that information to them, I disagreed. Oh by the way, today, the lady did NOT ask me to prove who I was before she spoke to me.
I had a similar problem some months back when the owner of the flats telling me that they were putting all their data online and could I send them all my information to confirm what they had. Huh! I refused again.
I had a similar problem some months back when the owner of the flats telling me that they were putting all their data online and could I send them all my information to confirm what they had. Huh! I refused again.
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Its absolutely right that they ask you to prove who you are... the person who's dialled the number has no idea if you've answered, your son/daughter, some random person because you've left your phone on the table in the pub when you've gone to the toilets or its some random person as either you phat fingered your telephone number when giving it to them (or they did when recording it or dialing you).
Just look at the thread earlier today where someone says they are getting texts for deliveries to a random stranger. Clearly that person has the wrong phone number on their account and if the company phoned them they wouldnt be speaking to their customer.
At the same time, I can understand the need for caution and ultimately if you are worried that the caller isnt genuine then tell them you will phone them back and you then use a known legitimate number for that company.
Personally, if I am expecting a large delivery from M&S that has a specified delivery date and someone phoned saying they wanted to change it then it seems more than a random coincidence and I'd probably go with it assuming they just want the normal address/email etc which is all "out there" anyway. Now the phone calls about "upgrading my Vodafone contract" when I've been on another provider for over a decade is an obviously suspicious call and if they want more personal details or discuss health/banking etc I may say I'll call back.
Scammers would contact you about "your delivery" not your M&S Delivery, just like they do about "your accident". By not being from a particular company, by giving no details etc there is vastly more chance someone with add 2 and 2 get 56 and fall for it.7 -
It's an ongoing thing that a lot of companies including banks do.
If it's a legitimate call they should be able to provide some confirmation that they are calling from M&S (or whomever) by giving you something that might not be known elsewhere. It might be the date a DD is paid or when your last order was or something. And if asked they should be able to give you a number for you to call them back. So M&S might say "If you have any doubts about this call then you can call us. You can google our website and you'll see our number is 03330 148000. But don't take my word for it."
When I've had calls from a bank or company when I've complained about something they can generally say "you sent us a complaint via email from XXXX.gmail.com on 1/9/23 at about 4pm." Once they've done that I will let them take me through security.
The tricky thing to watch out for - when it is a scam is if someone says "Can you give me the 1st, 3rd & 5th letters from your 6 letter password?" which you do and then they say "sorry I didn't catch that can you give me the 2nd, 4th & 6th letters this time?" At which point they have your whole password and can access anything.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
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gwydion_ap_don said:Am I too suspicious? I had a phone call seemingly from M&S to tell me about a change of delivery date BUT before the M&S lady would tell me what it was about, I had to prove who I was by giving out personal information. I refused. So I wrote to M&S saying that when people phone me I should not have to prove who I am, there being more reason tor them to prove who they are, surely? I do not believe that when people phone me, I should need to give out my info to prove who I am. Today I get a phone call from M&S re my letter saying that they do require me to give that information to them, I disagreed. Oh by the way, today, the lady did NOT ask me to prove who I was before she spoke to me.
I had a similar problem some months back when the owner of the flats telling me that they were putting all their data online and could I send them all my information to confirm what they had. Huh! I refused again.3 -
Alfrescodave said:gwydion_ap_don said:Am I too suspicious? I had a phone call seemingly from M&S to tell me about a change of delivery date BUT before the M&S lady would tell me what it was about, I had to prove who I was by giving out personal information. I refused. So I wrote to M&S saying that when people phone me I should not have to prove who I am, there being more reason tor them to prove who they are, surely? I do not believe that when people phone me, I should need to give out my info to prove who I am. Today I get a phone call from M&S re my letter saying that they do require me to give that information to them, I disagreed. Oh by the way, today, the lady did NOT ask me to prove who I was before she spoke to me.
I had a similar problem some months back when the owner of the flats telling me that they were putting all their data online and could I send them all my information to confirm what they had. Huh! I refused again.
To avoid a data breach.2 -
MorningcoffeeIV said:Alfrescodave said:gwydion_ap_don said:Am I too suspicious? I had a phone call seemingly from M&S to tell me about a change of delivery date BUT before the M&S lady would tell me what it was about, I had to prove who I was by giving out personal information. I refused. So I wrote to M&S saying that when people phone me I should not have to prove who I am, there being more reason tor them to prove who they are, surely? I do not believe that when people phone me, I should need to give out my info to prove who I am. Today I get a phone call from M&S re my letter saying that they do require me to give that information to them, I disagreed. Oh by the way, today, the lady did NOT ask me to prove who I was before she spoke to me.
I had a similar problem some months back when the owner of the flats telling me that they were putting all their data online and could I send them all my information to confirm what they had. Huh! I refused again.
To avoid a data breach.MorningcoffeeIV said:Alfrescodave said:gwydion_ap_don said:Am I too suspicious? I had a phone call seemingly from M&S to tell me about a change of delivery date BUT before the M&S lady would tell me what it was about, I had to prove who I was by giving out personal information. I refused. So I wrote to M&S saying that when people phone me I should not have to prove who I am, there being more reason tor them to prove who they are, surely? I do not believe that when people phone me, I should need to give out my info to prove who I am. Today I get a phone call from M&S re my letter saying that they do require me to give that information to them, I disagreed. Oh by the way, today, the lady did NOT ask me to prove who I was before she spoke to me.
I had a similar problem some months back when the owner of the flats telling me that they were putting all their data online and could I send them all my information to confirm what they had. Huh! I refused again.
To avoid a data breach.2 -
Which would likely involve a mention of the order the date of which is being changed. It's still personal data.
The DPA is not confined to 'sensitive' data - that comes a specific category of 'special category ' data which has even more stringent requirements.2
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