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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:36 pm
by joh71262
So, I had a horrid 2 hour drive home and see the light flashing on my answer machine. Sadly, I made the mistake of getting excited - hoped it may have been someone interesting.


WRONG

Seems that IVA or debt companies can now get round the block I have on cold calling by going "international" - probably and internet called routed via Kathmandu.

There was a message offering me "a way out" if I was more than £5000 in debt by using NEW government legislation. I wonder who sold them my number ?

I could have used the 5 ring back but it would have cost me money and I may never have gotten rid of them.

Anyone else have this experience ??

[:p]

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:22 pm
by joh71262
But how did they get my number ? It's ex directory. I can see being on the insolvency register but the number shouldn't be anywhere.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:26 pm
by MelanieGiles
There are many companies who may a packet out of selling our personal data without our knowledge. Have you recently been turned down for a loan by chance?

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:31 pm
by Moneystinks
A well known loan company employee sold our details and they are currently being investigated by the Police. Just what we needed - we have been hounded by an 'International' call centre for months. I have told them consistently over a two week period that the police are looking into how they got our details and that all calls are being traced. It seems to have worked as we have not had a call for a good few weeks now.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:33 pm
by joh71262
Hi Mel - I haven't applied for any loans in over two years. I've been in the IVA for just about 2 and didn;t even think anyone would entertain the idea, let alone actually offer one, so I never bothered !

Besides which I'd get my butt kicked for doing it !!!

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:34 pm
by joh71262
Money - can you tell me who the company was please ?

I did wonder whether it may have been someone at Debtmatters

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:37 pm
by MelanieGiles
I thought that you were already in an IVA - curiouser and curiouser! Big Brother gets ever nearer, and it is quite frightening the amount of information which is held about all of us on shared databases that are happily hawked around by lead generation companies these days.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:40 pm
by joh71262
I'm not sure whether to be more worried about the fact that someone is trying to re sell me something I already have, or that they have my number. If they have that, could they also have my work number ? I really don't want to be hounded by these people in either place, especially as I live alone and have already had to change my number since I've been living here due to nuisance calls.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:45 pm
by Moneystinks
Yeah, it was Loans.co.uk - I hope I don't gt in trouble now!!!

It was all out of the blue we had applied for the loan about 12months before and got it, so we just paid the loan each month and forgot about it. We then received an excessive annoying amount of calls from this call centre asking about a loan we were trying to take (although we weren't) They were giving our personal details - too many of them. Also at one point they posed as out mortgage lender!!! Very dodgy. I contacted the police and loan.co.uk who in the midst of all the goings on had sent us a letter offering us free access to experian to check our credit - this we didnt do as we knew it was on the floor anyway. Although we did check with our mortgage lender and lodged a potential fraud marker on our account. Also Loans.co.uk after many phonecalls apologised for the 'inconvenience', they then proceeded to send us somebody elses payslips and personal information but with a covering letter with our name and address on it - we hadn't at this point (or since the initail loan 12 month previous) applied for another loan??????
Very strange.............
Hope you get sorted.

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:50 pm
by joh71262
Thanks Maz.

Yikes - sending someone elses pay slips os scary. My IVA was with Debtmatters before the transfer and they sent me someone elses.

I was totally disgusted.

I haven't ever applied with them for a loan so it must be someone else !!! Thanks - you won't get in trouble from me that's for sure !

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:10 am
by TheMatrix
Shocking the amount of personal data that is out there being misused. We keep getting international calls from a mobile company trying to sell us something despite being x directory.

As soon as I mention Telephone Preference Service to them they hang up, but call back in a month or so strange that, they appear to be calling numbers at random as they have no idea who I am when they call!

Cannot track these people down other than they say they are the "Phone Centre" based in London. But calling me as International number.

I also had a bank statement, in with my own, in the post for another customer, I thought about sending it to the person named on the statement, but just had a go at the bank instead. (Not the bank I am with now I might add)

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:59 am
by Soulgrowth
I agree ... this country begins to feel like "big brother is watching you" more each day. What with this and speed cameras set up deliberately to catch you when you are slowing down a few miles over the limit it actually begins to feel like an authoritarian state.

I had a note put through my door on Thursday, big red letters, scare tactics approach .... words to the effect of "ring this number immediatly, by law we need to gain access to your property to change your electricity meter" ... needless to say I have not rung the number ... has anyone else had one of these letters?

Debbie

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:26 am
by joh71262
@ inaiva

I registered with TPS but I guess it only weedles out UK numbers. I would try and avoid those sorts of calls, but I have friends and relatives that live abroad and whilst they don't call that often, I would hate to miss an opportunity to speak to them. If the calls come during the day in the week, as this did, I am usually at work.

I think if they use something like Skype or internet based telephony, it may show as international too.

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:29 am
by joh71262
@ Debbie

When they wanted to change the gas meter here, the letter they sent was a general one - nothing drastic like that one !

They also gave a date with times that you could call and book for them to do it. Didn't really affect me to be honest, as both meters are outside.

On a side note, I think this country has gone to the dogs - but I won't get on my soapbox this early - it'll wind me up for the day if I do !!!!!

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:34 am
by Soulgrowth
Thanks ... I will wait until they contact me again ... why should I waste my phone call money on them!

I am tending to agree with your opinion on this country more and more ... but agree, that it's probably best we don't go 'there'!

Debbie