Someone is booking restaurants in my name and with my phone number. Is there anything I can do about it?

[You4coffee]

For about the last six weeks, someone has been making large bookings (8-10 people) at restaurants in my name with my phone number and when I don't turn up the restaurant rings me. They have my full name and phone number. And are obviously put out that they've lost a booking.

They seem to be genuine restaurants, all over London. I live in London but don't particularly know any of the areas or individual restaurants.

I wasn't particularly concerned but it seems to be increasing. It was one a week for a while but this week I've had at least one phone call a day.

I can't think of anyone who'd have a vendetta against me but it does feel personal! And I feel bad for these restaurants that are mostly small local businesses rather than large chains.

Had anyone experienced anything like this? Is there anything I can do? There doesn't seem much point in changing my phone number or reporting to anyone?

Do you have social media?

I had a thing a few years ago when someone kept sending window sales folks and blinds sales folks to my house to measure up and quote.

I posted on my social media that I was heading to the police station as I’d been told by them it was a form of harassment. Never got another visit again (did get one “sorry you cancelled, would you like to rearrange…” letter).

Is there any way that you could find out if there is a common time of day when bookings are being made? That could rule out some possibilities.

Are they apart of the same chain?

Is your phone number on your socials? That’s very weird though!

home or mobile?

I do have social media but anything public has my work details and all these phone calls are to my personal mobile number.

From Google they all seem to be small local restaurants rather than chains.

I would go down to a local police station and speak to them for advice and record the events so far. This is a form of harassment. It may seem harmless to some but it's being done with intent to cause inconvenience, anxiety, stress.

An ex? A work colleague? A neighbour? Friend? A customer? Client? Could be someone you know, could be a stranger. The problem is you don't know who and you don't know when or how this could escalate. Recording it with the police may be useful later on.

@LlynTegid yes I could ask that. The one that rang me yesterday I had quite the chat, apparently I'd booked it for a friend's birthday and asked for a specific table.

So you know if they sounded male or female? It’s definitely personal.

Worth asking the restaurants if they can tell from their call records what the caller's number was? Would be quite a slip up, but you never know!

You need to find out if it's a man or a woman booking these tables. That might help identify them.

Definitely a woman.

@foobio yes that's a good idea. I'll ask if I get any more calls.

That's a very personal attack

I work in hospitality. For all bookings we send a text reminder 24 hours before, but it seems perhaps these small independents don’t?

Also, usually for bookings if online, it needs an email - which means you get a confirmation on booking. Most restaurants who take bookings, even independents, would use an online option, which would need an email.

Next time it happens, ask if the booking was made online. If it was, what provider they use, e.g. Sevenrooms, Opentable - it could be a glitch somewhere that someone has the same name as you, or similar - and it’s picking up your profile. Although that wouldn’t explain email.

We had that once, where a glitch meant some poor person kept getting booking confirmations.

Surely if it was send to the OP in error the original booker who still be turning up to the booked tables.

True! My big knowledge of bookings platforms was trying to help!

It does therefore sound like a vendetta sadly.

Had this on Saturday evenings with village takeaways. Contacted all the outlets told them it was not genuine and it all stopped. They all said it sounded like a teenage boy .It was eerie to be honest.

@ScoobyDoesnt this what I thought initially. I definitely use all the major online booking platforms. But I've not had any confirmation emails. While I've not done lots of research into each restaurant the ones I have looked up do seem to be smaller neighborhood type places rather than chains that I assume would be more likely to use seven rooms or similar.

Whoever it is is being savvy in not choosing restaurants that ask for card details and charge per person if you don't turn up or cancel the booking.

I would do this too. It's harassment and whilst it's low level now, it could escalate so best to get police advice & get it on record.

Why do you think there’s no point in changing your phone number? It would be a hassle, yes. But surely less if a hassle then getting phone calls everyday from local restaurants?

I would definitely log with the police so they have on record. I would also try and get as much info from the restaurants when they call you as to the nature of the booking, any information that may help. You could change your number but i would definitely be trying to get to the bottom of who was doing this!
Odd they aren't asking for deposits if these are large group reservations.

Why should they? I've had my number for 18 years. I'm damn sure I wouldn't change it because some Louie scribe was t trying to wind me up.

Def tell Police in case it escalates OP. I had something similar 30 years ago, and told Police. Once a set of knives was delivered they took that as a real threat and tracked down the perpetrator.

I would definitely inform the police it's like a form of stalking

Have you bought or sold a property recently?