PC World intimidation

superscaper

uktim29 wrote: »

Such as (in relating to PC World's policy of wanting your name and address for the purchase of expensive items)?

I mean in the way that if someone wanted to do this they could anyway. I can't help thinking in my mind that if someone was serious about fraud, which people into that sort of thing usually are. If they needed my address, why not just follow me home?

I'd edited my post before I saw this one. But I have seen fraud happen from just gathering a few details that aren't specifically bank related and the fraud committed by the employees that you're supposed to trust.

I'm not saying if they're really determined you can still stop them but don't make it easy for them. I don't have complete control of my personal info getting out and noone does but that doesn't mean we should be lackadaisical about what little we can do with our personal info. In the cases of fraud I know some there was nothing you could do against but others simply witholding some wouldn't have happened had there simply been more caution over personal details.

superscaper

Maybe I am personally overly cautious about my details but it's not as if it's totally unfounded or without merit. I don't think I'd have given my address to pc world if asked and I also would have been personally offended to be called a thief but I would have simply walked out anyway and gone elsewhere.

IvanOpinion

uktim29 wrote: »

It doesn't say anywhere that "IvanOpinion" (for no reason) would give out his/her contact details. There's an argument that when buying expensive items that if the retailer records your contact details to make it easier to verify you've actually purchased something from them that this makes it easier. It depends on how paranoid you get when doing things like this. Personally to me it can't kill you, you won't get ill, you may have the remote chance there could be a piece of junk mail arrive, hardly the end of the world. It's only a problem if you've got an over-active imagination or like making mountains out of mole hills.

Nowhere does it say "IvanOpinion" would give out his contact details for no reason unless you read scaldyflash's fictitious supposedly ironic post.

I did specificaly state earlier 'I have never argued against your right not to give your details '.

Everybodies name and address are in the public domain from many different sources and, as you say, one more is hardly going to hurt. I always rate these things as 'somebody else earned rights for someone, but by gawd os that person going to find something to exercise them on'.

Ivan

superscaper

IvanOpinion wrote: »

I did specificaly state earlier 'I have never argued against your right not to give your details '.

Everybodies name and address are in the public domain from many different sources and, as you say, one more is hardly going to hurt. I always rate these things as 'somebody else earned rights for someone, but by gawd os that person going to find something to exercise them on'.

Ivan

But it's the combination of them getting your credit card details AND your personal info. that makes it more likely for fraud than simply giving a random stranger just your name and address (without credit card). I've given my name and address etc for things like loyalty cards and things but I don't give those kinds of details at the same time I've just given them my credit card number. Obviously you can't reduce the risk to zero but you can limit the risk. Someone who looks you up on the electoral roll for example isn't likely to have your credit card number in their possession as well. If it's a cashier putting a lot of effort into it after a sale then maybe that can happen but giving everything they need at once does make it rather easier for them.

IvanOpinion

superscaper wrote: »

Maybe I am personally overly cautious about my details but it's not as if it's totally unfounded or without merit. I don't think I'd have given my address to pc world if asked and I also would have been personally offended to be called a thief but I would have simply walked out anyway and gone elsewhere.

Each person needs to be as security conscious as allows them to sleep at night .. however there really is a massive amount of paranoia at the minute that I quite honestly do not understand and I personally think is very unhealthy in todays society.

You give someone a cheque and you have just handed over your bank, account, sort code, acount name (no more than what JC did) .. quite often you have also handed over your debit card number, dates and security code. You give somebody a credit card and you have handed over your credit card number, dates and security code ... but yet most of us do this everyday. In both cases that is all that is needed to buy on the internet or by mail order. It is also likely that someone with any real desire to get your details could easily get your registration and address with little more effort than sitting down and driving.

There are thousands of ways people can get your information many of which have existed for decades ... some people will take advantage of such things but in the main despite being so freely available most people are ordinary decent folk.

Ivan

superscaper

IvanOpinion wrote: »

Each person needs to be as security conscious as allows them to sleep at night .. however there really is a massive amount of paranoia at the minute that I quite honestly do not understand and I personally think is very unhealthy in todays society.

You give someone a cheque and you have just handed over your bank, account, sort code, acount name (no more than what JC did) .. quite often you have also handed over your debit card number, dates and security code. You give somebody a credit card and you have handed over your credit card number, dates and security code ... but yet most of us do this everyday. In both cases that is all that is needed to buy on the internet or by mail order. It is also likely that someone with any real desire to get your details could easily get your registration and address with little more effort than sitting down and driving.

There are thousands of ways people can get your information many of which have existed for decades ... some people will take advantage of such things but in the main despite being so freely available most people are ordinary decent folk.

Ivan

I completely agree but all I'm saying is that with all of the above I'm not going to give them more info than they absolutely need, i.e. my address in a shop. But in my experience it's where the info is handed over at once (in shops etc) that the fraud occurs, not people sifting through and data mining your life. There is a lot of paranoia but simply being paranoid doesn't make you wrong. I only wish my dad had been more paranoid at the time and he would have saved a lot of hassle and money simply by what info he personally gave out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should all turn ourselves into some kind of fort knox of our info. but in cases where you don't have to give info then you shouldn't. The people I know that have been victims of theft and fraud didn't imagine it and they're actually more careful with their info than I am.

IvanOpinion

superscaper wrote: »

I completely agree but all I'm saying is that with all of the above I'm not going to give them more info than they absolutely need, i.e. my address in a shop.

Which is each persons right. I do however wonder how it would affect someones legal rights if they have lost their receipt and the shop can not match one up (e.g. I got a puncture in a tyre purchased from KwikFit with a guarantee ... I had no receipt with me and the chap asked when I had boought it and I thought it was April so he looke dup April but could find nothing for me ... after searching he found the tyres were bough in january ... I did not think it had been so long before).

But in my experience it's where the info is handed over at once (in shops etc) that the fraud occurs, not people sifting through and data mining your life. There is a lot of paranoia but simply being paranoid doesn't make you wrong.

I agree and disagree. Everybody is paranoid to a certain extent, it is the sheer level at the minute that concerns me. Another example that happened a couple of days back, was the chap sitting beside me considers himself to be very careful but was very surprised when this morning I passed him a piece of paper with his credit card details on it including his security code ... I still haven't told him how I got them (at the minute he thinks I nicked his wallet) ... the answer is that he renewed his car insurance over the phone on Monday .. beware who is listening.

I only wish my dad had been more paranoid at the time and he would have saved a lot of hassle and money simply by what info he personally gave out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should all turn ourselves into some kind of fort knox of our info. but in cases where you don't have to give info then you shouldn't. The people I know that have been victims of theft and fraud didn't imagine it.

I have no idea about the case with your father and can only hope he got everything sorted out. The golden rule is be careful but don't let it run or ruin your life.

Can't remember if it was this thread or another but I always wondered how people who do online comping get around this .. the amount of informaiton they must be giving out (not necessarily all at once, but over a period of time).

Ivan

superscaper

IvanOpinion wrote: »

Which is each persons right. I do however wonder how it would affect someones legal rights if they have lost their receipt and the shop can not match one up (e.g. I got a puncture in a tyre purchased from KwikFit with a guarantee ... I had no receipt with me and the chap asked when I had boought it and I thought it was April so he looke dup April but could find nothing for me ... after searching he found the tyres were bough in january ... I did not think it had been so long before).

I agree and disagree. Everybody is paranoid to a certain extent, it is the sheer level at the minute that concerns me. Another example that happened a couple of days back, was the chap sitting beside me considers himself to be very careful but was very surprised when this morning I passed him a piece of paper with his credit card details on it including his security code ... I still haven't told him how I got them (at the minute he thinks I nicked his wallet) ... the answer is that he renewed his car insurance over the phone on Monday .. beware who is listening.

I have no idea about the case with your father and can only hope he got everything sorted out. The golden rule is be careful but don't let it run or ruin your life.

Can't remember if it was this thread or another but I always wondered how people who do online comping get around this .. the amount of informaiton they must be giving out (not necessarily all at once, but over a period of time).

Ivan

I do pretty much agree with absolutely everything you said and in the case of proof of purchase you are kind of shooting youself in the foot to an extent by not taking them up on that "added protection". But how you weigh that against risk of giving the info is of course as you said down to the individual. I admit and accept that I personally can be too principled (:rolleyes: ), but hey that's me. I think in the OP's case he kind of weakened his position by continuing with the sale as I believe the retailer has every right to set their own policies just as every customer has a right whether to shop there or not. But being called a thief for not wanting to give the info (if that's what happened) is definitely way out of order no matter what your stance is on giving info.

superscaper

IvanOpinion wrote: »

I have no idea about the case with your father and can only hope he got everything sorted out. The golden rule is be careful but don't let it run or ruin your life.

Well it was quite a few years ago now and I have to say it really helped by having the bank (RBS) be as helpful as possible and giving temporary free loan immediately to cover direct debits etc. Not like some banks where nothing actually happens as far as sorting it out until they do a "full investigation".

I suppose things might have changed since then. I assume you should need actual photo id to withdraw all your money from a bank.

Edit: thinking about all this has just reminded me to pay off my credit card :rotfl:

scaldyflash

uktim29 wrote: »

It doesn't say anywhere that "IvanOpinion" (for no reason) would give out his/her contact details. There's an argument that when buying expensive items that if the retailer records your contact details to make it easier to verify you've actually purchased something from them that this makes it easier. It depends on how paranoid you get when doing things like this. Personally to me it can't kill you, you won't get ill, you may have the remote chance there could be a piece of junk mail arrive, hardly the end of the world. It's only a problem if you've got an over-active imagination or like making mountains out of mole hills.

Nowhere does it say "IvanOpinion" would give out his contact details for no reason unless you read scaldyflash's fictitious supposedly ironic post.

Thank you IVAN (In disguise) but if you read the post properly my main problem was the fact that I was accused of being a criminal. Not something I am happy with and not something you IVAN (in disguise) would be happy with either (If you admitted it)