Data Protection Act

[Benny888]

Hi

If any Company telephones me, they always ask my name, date of birth 1st line of my address and post code. Is this really necessary or do the representatives have to ask personal information? I cannot see any part of the DPA which requires these questions unless they are divulging information about me, (to guard against somebody else picking up my `phone). Until they tell me what they want, I cannot see the reason for this interogation, it`s so irritating!!!

[factor-fiction]

I sometimes hang up or say- you rang me, you tell me who I am.
But until they know they are speaking to the axcount holder they cannot disclose anything- for example they cannot say we want to discuss your current account with us, because they might be disclosing to the wrong person that you have a current account with them, and that would breach DPA

[keithlbw]

A lot of companies apply the DPA wrongly.
It is upto the person/company making the call to prove who they are , not the other way round.
Anyone could phone you, say they represented your bank etc and if you were stupid enough could get all the information needed to empty your account.

[factor-fiction]

Well it usually reaches an impasse with neither side (quite rightly) wanting to reveal confidential information until they are sure of who they are speaking to, so I don't know why the companies bother

[ChuckFickens]

Try what I did one day, I just made up all the informational and then insisted on talking to the guys manager straight away as he just said thank you very much and started talking about the details of my bank account.

So it seems they ask the questions, they don't always seem to check on the answers they are given!