giving out personal info...

[robbiebob]

Hi,

I am just wondering if anyone knows where I can get advice on giving out my personal info over the phone... I received a call from a company saying they needed to talk to me on an 'important matter' and that I needed to confirm my name, address and date of birth before the call could continue... I told them I wasn't overly happy about doing this as you hear of so many scams and things and the caller got quite rude and said i HAD too. I believe the company is a debt collection agency but have the address of a house i lived at 4 years ago (i dont know of any debt)... They now phone me nearly every day (sometimes twice/three times) and make it sound as if i am in the wrong for not confirming my details. It has now got too a point where its a battle of wills. I just wondered if there were any government/official guidlines on the issue??
SORRY for the long post but if anyone could help, i'd be very greatfull..

[dotty.]

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Calls.aspx/0/m

[redman41]

Next time they Ring just say you are reporting them to the Police for harassment. Tell them to Eff Off and never give out details to strangers over the Phone.

[bednobs]

if you wont give them your address, how do you know they have your 4 years ago one, and what makes you think they are a collection agency if you have no debts??

[MarkRae]

There's no obligation to give out any information over the phone.

Persistent harassment is against the law: http://www.legislatio...kpga/1997/40/contents

You say, however, that you 'believe' they are a debt collection agency - don't they introduce themselves and give the name of the company they represent...?

[TWR]

Robbie, what ever you do never give out details over the phone, or on the web/emails there are a lot of con artists out there & they are very clever.

[factor-fiction]

Just say "hold on a minute, I'll just get XXX...." and then leave them hanging on while you go for a bath/cup of tea etc

[boxtops]

Yep, stand your ground. I was phoned by my bank who asked me to confirm my name and DoB - I told them if they don't have it, I ain't talking. Some people will try anything to get information from you. You could always get caller display on your phone and just don't answer it.
I have joined the Caller Prevention Service and any time I get unwanted calls I report the company to the CPS, they can take action and prosecute if they keep calling again.
If you must speak to them next time, ask them to write to you. If they know who you are and where you are, they must know where you live! That link of dotty's is worth checking out, I've done it myself and usually find that it's a nuisance number.

[starone]

I've got caller id on my phone - £2 a month and worth its weight in gold. I do not answer anyone I do not know. Another alternative is to answer and as soon as you know who they are tell them to b*****r off. Don't get into any arguments or discussion with them as this is what they want. Don't let them win!

[bednobs]

surely if you owe them money, it's not harrassment that they call and ask for it back? i wonder how they got your new number if they don't have your addrtess - next time just ask them to write to you

[Barmaid]

No, you don't HAVE to give out your personal details to a caller who has not identified themselves. They can go boil their heads.

I have enormous fun with these callers.

"hello is that Miss BM"
"yes, who is calling"
" before this call goes any further I need to confirm some details."
"no before this call goes any further I need to confirm some details"
"can I ask you to confirm your full name"
"no you can't, can I ask you to confirm yours and the company you are calling from"
"no before I answer that I have to confirm some details"
"well unless I know who you are, I ain't confirming any details at all"
"just give me the first line of your address"
"no, you give me the first line of yours"

And so it goes on until caller realises that I ain't giving ANYTHING away.

[boxtops]

If you don't think you owe money then you have nothing to worry about. You would have had letters etc asking you for the money before you got to the debt collector stage. Tell them to go whistle, just hang up. Do you subscribe to 1571 on a BT phone? - if so, don't answer the phone at all, any genuine callers will just leave a message for you.

[askyourgran]

Be firm say that you do not give out personal details on the telephone, and tell them to write to you. If they persist warn them that you will report them. Google BT.com for the call barring/nuisance calls service. You shouldn't have to put up with it.

[robbiebob]

I have got their number and they are a company called Fire Ltd... I know the address they are talking about as they disclosed it in one of the calls. When I sold that house any debts were paid off.
If by chance one got missed (99% sure it didnt) and I do owe them money for an outstanding debt, where do i stand then??
I understand peoples point of view in that if you owe money then pay it, and I agree. My piont is the callers are often VERY rude and threatening and it has got my back up to a point where I think why should I..

[boxtops]

robbie, when you moved, did you redirect your mail? if so then if you owed money, someone would have written to you by now, even if it was to the old address.

OK they are debt collectors by the look of it http://www.fireltd.co.uk/ but someone must have instructed them, it's up to the company to prove that you owe them money, not for you to prove that you don't.

They don't know it's you, don't answer the phone with your name, tell them to clear off.

[karenmac60]

Apparently Fire Ltd are part of Cabot financial services and looking at a few forums they look like chancers!
http://www.consumerac...&p=2173163&viewfull=1

[what..the?]

I wouldn't worry to much they cannot take action without any address for you, which I assume they haven't otherwise they would write. Have you checked your credit report? Does it list anything outstanding. If you have for some reason not paid why are they only phoning you know? A part of me believes its a company trying to get you to pay an old debt which has already been paid off, therefore it is a direct mistake by the company, the company has sold on the debt to another company even though it has been paid, or its someone just trying it on.

If it is a real debt I would be careful talking to them and read about 'Statute Barred' I know it's only four years ago since the debt but potentially in 2 more years they can't claim in anyway. Google 'Statute Barred'

http://www.insolvency...he_limitation_act.php

But be careful not to take advice from the 'wrong sort' that just want you money look of free websites, citizens advices, or CCCS here http://www.cccs.co.uk/

[robbiebob]

You lot are good!!!! ;0)

[society]

We know... :-)