Red reminder bill being replaced

tagz

Hi

Last night I received a very interesting phone call from BT. For a start I had a long conversation about my not wanting to verify my details with him after HE had rung me. Anyway the BT man said that he was ringing to remind me to pay my bill, and after I asked him why I was getting a phone call he said that BT are replacing the red reminder letter with a phone call instead. He said I could settle the account straight away! I told him what he could do and said that I would pay by ringing them later. I also asked him to pass a message on to BT customer services and tell them I didn't like 'bully boy' tactics, and that I would take my line rental elsewhere. I'm not sure if the bloke understood me completely (differing levels of English), but I think he got the idea that I wasn't happy.

Tagz

rchddap1

I would never give any of my details to someone over the phone...and particularly would not 'settle a bill' ....when they have rung me. At the end of the day if they ring you how can you be sure that they are who they say they are?

dag_2

At the end of the day if they ring you how can you be sure that they are who they say they are?

Perhaps that's why BT are making caller ID free. I don't know how easy it is to spoof caller ID - but then again, I don't know how easy it is to intercept and redirect people's outgoing calls either. I expect it isn't that easy.

mountainofdebt

Why not asking THEM a question....when credit card companies have phoned me I refuse to answer any of their questions until they tell me the amount of my last payment

skylight

Agree with mountain of debt.

I will not confirm anything except my name and phone number. I've had one or two companies who have refused to talk to me or even tell me who they are until I've confirmed everything.

They are told to put it all in writing and so far all have done so.

I also find this fun! Last stroppy cow a few days ago started ranting about security procedures that are in place to keep people like me happy.

I replied that I too have security procedures in place to keep people like me happy.

But I have signed up for the free caller display and even more chuffed that it works!!!

As my bills are paid by DD or SO, these calls are usually to offer my credit card "Payment Protection Plans" anyway (I also point out that its too late!!!!!)

Nelski

oh I know I will get so much flac for this post but here goes............


you owe the money

You are out of the requested time for paying

they have a right to chase you


ps having said that I would ask for a bt number I could ring back on to check the identity

skylight

So true Nelski - but cant we have fun with these people first!!!!!!!!!!

April2

Sorry folks but I think there’s a more serious point to be made here.


It won’t be long before the scammers latch on to what BT are now doing and start making their own calls. A few people who are unaware of their BT bill status may well be fooled into revealing their credit or debit card details in response to the 'you can pay now’ line.


Although it won’t affect me (I pay by DD so will just hang up if I get such a call), the potential for scammers is obvious.


BT should be ashamed of themsleves on this one.[font=&quot]
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tagz

Hi

I take your points about late payment however I didn't receive the original bill (sorry should have said in first post but was just so mad!). As I didn't get the first bill and the call was replacing the reminder I was being chased for a payment I didn't know about. If I owe money I pay it straight away but I don't like being called at night to be asked to make a payment for something I haven't received a bill for - I check them first.

Tagz

BexTech

Nelski wrote:

ps having said that I would ask for a bt number I could ring back on to check the identity

I would never ask for a number to phone back on, they could give you any number, one that they could answer, best to phone back on a number you know yourself to be genuine.

Benuk73

rchddap1 wrote:

I would never give any of my details to someone over the phone...and particularly would not 'settle a bill' ....when they have rung me. At the end of the day if they ring you how can you be sure that they are who they say they are?

I had this the other week with a credit card company. I wrote and complained about being "pressured" into giving out personal details, which I didnt do, and they "listened" to the Phone call, and then apologised and offered me a dirt cheap rate for balance transfers for 9 months!!