We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

am I just too suspicious or doubting?

Options
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.

Comments

  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 14,624 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    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.

    Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board:  https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

    Check your state pension on: Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
    ⭐️🏅😇
  • 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.
    Totally agree with your action. If a company phones me (and I'm not expecting the call) then they should prove who they are before I divulge any personal information. Why would any company need personal data before informing you of a change of delivery date.!
  • 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.
    Why would any company need personal data before informing you of a change of delivery date.!

    To avoid a data breach.
  • 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.
    Why would any company need personal data before informing you of a change of delivery date.!

    To avoid a data breach.
    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.
    Why would any company need personal data before informing you of a change of delivery date.!

    To avoid a data breach.
    A data breach is meant to prevent the transferrence of sensitive, confidential information - this is a delivery date change. ! 
  • 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.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.