To be sick of companies asking me to confirm my identity when they are the one who have phoned me out of the blue?

[MuddlingMackem]

Just had the phone company ring me, saying they have some discounts I may be entitled to but can I just confirm my identity for data protection purposes.

I'm getting really sick of this and now point out that they should be confirming the info with me so that I can be sure they are who they're saying they are. The caller replied that anyone could have picked up the phone, they need to make sure they're speaking to the right person. They phoned my landline! I pointed out that I need to be sure that the person I'm speaking to is from the company he claims to be, I'm not the one who should be confirming my identity.

I suggested that maybe the way around this is for two part passwords on file, so the company says one part to confirm their identity and the customer says the other so both parties can be assured that they're speaking to who they think they are.

I know I'm being arsey, but in this day of so many telephone scams, AIBU to think that this is something thing which businesses should be taking into account?

I just thank them and put the phone down having got as much out of them as I can then at a later date or time I ring the bank etc on a number I already have for them. If I suspect a scam I ring my own mobile first or ring the bank etc on the mobile to be sure that the scammer hasn't stayed on the line.

...given the person calling you a hard time or making what you think are clever comments such as you give me info and I'll confirm if it's correct doesn't throw them...I would suggest to those recommending to be rude not to waste your breath as it's just wasting both parties time and just find the telephone number for the company from a legitimate source, call back and check that it was really them who called

This with bells on. I work at a bank and occasionally have to make an outbound call to a customer for an urgent reason. The smart arses make me smile...they drag the conversation out, try and taunt you, refuse to answer questions (fair enough) but also refuse to call back and tell you to write to them. Then hang up smugly like they've 'won' and got one over on you.

Yeah...I was calling to tell you the £60k payment for the balance of your mortgage has been held by fraud and not sent...but you're right, you won. I'll write to you and you can find that out in three days instead, asshole. Enjoy the additional debit interest you'll incur.

In the news today

www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/20/scammers_hit_gold_very_fifteen_seconds/

The UK payment industry is also calling on consumers to "Take Five" before giving out personal details. FFA surveys show that most people are aware of the common tactics used by scammers. But people still give out their details – more than a quarter said they’d provided personal details even though they knew they should not do so.

Maybe banks should take five before cold calling

Please don't just change one digit of your phone number, if you must fill in the number section before proceeding and don't want to give yours, put a line of zeros.

Better still, put 0333 8888 8888 or as many 8's as will fit in

Caller gets a message:

^"TrueCall38 is handling my calls. I prefer not to be contacted by phone, so please contact me via my email address.
Goodbye!"^

Google TrueCall38 for more info.

WhateverWillBe Tue 20-Sep-16 09:18:30

Yeah...I was calling to tell you the £60k payment for the balance of your mortgage has been held by fraud and not sent...but you're right, you won. I'll write to you and you can find that out in three days instead, asshole. Enjoy the additional debit interest you'll incur.

So why not just text them and ask them to call the bank urgently?

Or email ? I have heard tell, it's the thing of the future

Oh, hang on, that was in 1993 (looks at calendar) ...