[size=150:xbromd8e]Data Protection. Has it gone to far, are we forced to give out to much information when we get a sales phone call
ie Full name, DOB, full address, mothers maiden name, first pet's name etc etc. I have just had a call from Vodafone and the first five minutes was taken up giving him all my personal information, in the end and in total frustration I said and I've got grey hair and 30 inch inside leg measurement
Then I said to him, by the way who are you and how do I know you are genuine and you work for Vodafone, with that I was cut off

willowsend wrote:

[size=150:xfzn4vxl]Data Protection. Has it gone to far, are we forced to give out to much information when we get a sales phone call
ie Full name, DOB, full address, mothers maiden name, first pet's name etc etc. I have just had a call from Vodafone and the first five minutes was taken up giving him all my personal information, in the end and in total frustration I said and I've got grey hair and 30 inch inside leg measurement
Then I said to him, by the way who are you and how do I know you are genuine and you work for Vodafone, with that I was cut off

Unfortunately this is the world we live in today, the younger generation have got used to it and accept it seemingly without objection. Whereas us of the older generation have grown up with the MYOB attitude. Too much information is asked for by many users of the internet and by telephone and I have the same attitude as you Willow, as far as I am concerned they can take a running jump. I don't use Facebook either, but Annette does and was asked where she lived, I answered Timbuktoo, shame, but there we are!! Some of her friends asked if we had moved again!!

I refuse to talk to any of them on the phone , I find its the best way, I hate telephones

Nobody with any sense would every expect anyone to answer those sort of questions , by phone or email, I don't care who they are no details are given

They only get details of me if I contact them, on a published phone number.....not a special one they give to phone on

Totally agree with you Will..they can ask, but they get nothing from me at all! If they know my number and my name, then they know the rest of it too..I refuse to confirm any details at all. Having said all that, I rarely get calls these days, so I reckon the word has got around..leave 'Mr Grumpy' alone!



I can live with that.

Data Protection is something I am very hot on and I have to tell you Willow the only info you should be giving is info that can be taken from the electrical roll ie name, address dob and one piece of personal info relating to your enquirey. Under no circumstances give passwords or card numbers or anything like that over the phone, if in doubt ring off and you ring them.

I remember many years ago I worked for the tv shopping channel and one lady bought a precious stone costing £1200 - the item was sold out but when it came in stock we then called the client to advise and ask if they still wanted the stone, she confirmed yes and without another word she started to give me her card number. I was totally shocked, she had no idea who I was but happy to give me her details. I gave her a good telling off and told her I could be anyone etc. It amazes me why people are so trusting on the phone, if you feel uncomfortable in any way all you every have to do is put the phone down and walk away. You can ring again yourself and go through the security check via the auto system, it is so much easier and safer.

Just to add a bit to my original post. I don't have a credit card these days..used to have a Gold Visa with a 100k limit, but chopped it up and cancelled the account because I couldn't see why I needed all the charges associated with something I never, ever used.

These days I use a debit card issued by a bank here in Bulgaria and the instant they detect a transaction above a certain amount I receive a phone call asking for verification. I, and my funds are are not easily seperated, nor are my personal details!

I am amazed by peoples stupidity regarding credit cards , We get credit card numbers emailed to us, faxed to us all the time even though we say not to, email after email of them

I have a total hate for credit cards, banks and all things similar.

We run a lot of online shops and don't take credit cards or PayPal on any of them I hate cards that much, We send people there orders and give them a payment slip with info to pay by bacs or similar, or info for sending cheques, we give everyone automatic 14 days free credit from receiving goods

Most people are honest, apart from banks and people imitating them

The latest one we are getting is people phoning up demanding immediate payment....., they claim I have agreed to pay them for `a deal` and the person on the phone must do it now to keep to the deal by card and prevent charges it must be paid now, and they always want a `couple of security questions` answering to verify the account, these are claiming to be things like printing, telephone or internet companies

The funny thing is when they say that I have agreed it.....the joke here is that I haven't used a phone for 25+ years at work, and only phoned up people maybe 10 times in that time, nobody ever believes them they have spoken to me

Before we left the UK seven years ago, we were plagued with credit card companies to open credit with them, two or three would arrive in the post each day. Then the government wonder why the financial sector of the UK went down the Swanee.