Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

To be annoyed when asked to confirm my details

132 replies

exponential · 21/02/2020 12:20

I get annoyed when companies ask me to confirm my name and address on the phone when they mean will you tell me your name and address.

Yesterday when asked I said OK you tell me my address and I will confirm if you have it right. They were non-plussed.

It seems to me “to confirm” means to ratify or repeat an assertion ( Chambers dictionary)-surely they should tell me not me tell them.
AIBU-or just pedantic?

OP posts:

cologne4711 · 21/02/2020 13:08

In fact a lot of organisations now tell you that they will not under any circumstances phone you and ask you for personal details so if someone does, it's a scam.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/02/2020 13:10

I have repeatedly pointed out to my bank Nationwide that they are at pains to tell customers not to give info to phone scammers, then they call me on a withheld number and ask me to confirm my bank security info. They seem almost insulted when I refuse.

They can get lost. They can send me a secure email though their online banking if they need to speak to me and I'll call them on the numbers I have for them (at my convenience).

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/02/2020 13:13

The one thing that really DOES wind me up though, is when call centre workers mindlessly bleat "data protection" when it is ragingly obvious they don't have the first bloody clue why/what about it. Sometimes it isn't even relevant to the issue!

PhoneTwattery · 21/02/2020 13:16

Just pedantic.

JosefKeller · 21/02/2020 13:22

I refuse to give any detail when they call ME.

Fraudsters have been using that trick for decades now.

ramamamadingdong · 21/02/2020 13:27

You're dead right. You should definitely not give out (or 'confirm') personal data to someone who is a stranger claiming to be from your bank/utility company or whatever. The fact they're using the wrong word is muddying the water, I think. The point is they are a stranger calling your number and should get no personal info from you. Agree with pp that banks and other legit businesses really should know better than to ask.

TotesGodsWill · 21/02/2020 13:31

Oh I do wish people like you wouldn’t get off on acting like knobs to customer service people because you think you’re somehow superior.

SmallChickBilly · 21/02/2020 13:35

If they call you - YANBU.

If you all them - YABU.

magoria · 21/02/2020 13:37

Wow can't believe the number of people on here who would just hand their security details to anyone who calls and says they are from xxx co/bank.

I always say I will call them back on an official number.

No wonder there is such fraud.

RandomLondoner · 21/02/2020 13:40

Confirm is correct in this context because you’re not just ‘telling them’ your address, you’re confirming your identity.

No it's not correct. The OP is giving her address so the the caller can confirm it. The OP is not "confirming" because she's not the one cross-checking the address with another source of information.

Whatsbrownandsticky · 21/02/2020 13:43

Oh @Oldfail that's too good to be true! There's no such training as that at most call centres I'm afraid. They get people to understand the basics and get them on the phones quickly, call centres are low paid and have an enormously high turnover of staff.

Isabella70 · 21/02/2020 13:46

"If a company calls me, it should be me doing the security check!"

I've tried this frequently, responding "I'll tell you my name if you tell me yours" but somehow they never do...

OldQueen1969 · 21/02/2020 13:52

The only thing that baffles me is when I'm trying to pay a bill - every last detail has to be correct before I can give them my money! If I have rung them, on a number I know is correct, why isn't the utility account number and confirmation that I'm a business partner authorised to make payments enough??

Patchworkpatty · 21/02/2020 13:57

If the bank call me my favourite response is this..

Before I 'confirm' any of my details would you please tell me which of these last 3 digits of my ac numbers are correct...

Then give 4 sets of 3 digit numbers...
if they get it right then proceed.

Aridane · 21/02/2020 13:57

Oh, OP, I hear you. Santander used to be dreadful for that when they phoned you (happily now the technology has moved on so you no longer get the calls but texts etc).

I used to ask for the full name of. Santander and its registered office address and number - even that they couldn’t do

Mumofone1902 · 21/02/2020 13:58

I work in a call centre at the moment and the amount of people who tell me to F off and that I should know what their details are 'you should have them Infront of you, are you stupid'. Calling me a b*ch, an idiot ect every few calls.

If you do not confirm your details and I give any information I automatically lose my job. It's the same in most call centres. I think it's good to try to remember call centre workers are humans doing a job, we don't own the company or make the rules.

Aridane · 21/02/2020 13:59

What annoys me is when you have to go through full security checks when your question is, say, what is the interest rate on x savings product ?

adaline · 21/02/2020 14:04

I wouldn't give anyone my details over the phone unless I was100% sure I knew who was calling.

People are too happy to give away their personal information to just anyone.

WeAllHaveWings · 21/02/2020 14:07

Then give 4 sets of 3 digit numbers...
if they get it right then proceed.

So a fraudster has a 1 in 4 chance of scammig you?

Witchend · 21/02/2020 14:10

I won't give out any personal data.

Last week I was amused by a cold caller at work. They phoned the work number and when I said that it was a business and they didn't deal with such things they replied with "can I have your personal number then?"

Didthatreallyhappen2 · 21/02/2020 14:11

I would never be rude to someone calling me, but when I've had (just a couple) of people phoning me who then ask me to confirm who I am, I always refuse. We then go round, and round, and round in circles with neither side giving any information.

It brightens up a dull afternoon!

Bikerider2020 · 21/02/2020 14:14

@Didthatreallyhappen2 but supposing it's your credit card company to advise of suspicious transactions?

PerceptionIsReality · 21/02/2020 14:14

Also the operators are trained to hear tone of voice and how someone reacts to a question as a fraudster may hesitate differently or just go silent when trying to remember the details

Lol, yeah, call centre staff are trained by Mossad.

OP, I’m astonished they were “non-plussed” as they must hear this tiresome reaction a dozen times a day. It used to irk me but it’s required for a reason so best to accept what you cannot change. If you have any doubts just ask for a reference and say you will call back on a known contact number.

Lweji · 21/02/2020 14:17

I always ask them if they don't know who they are calling.

One was honest and said that they don't because they ring several people at the same time and don't know who answered. Well...

Didthatreallyhappen2 · 21/02/2020 14:19

Bikerider2020 then I would phone them back.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6