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to not want moneysupermarket to call when I specifically ask them not?

14 replies

Wineonafridaynight · 15/12/2009 19:24

Yesterday evening I read a thread on here about life insurance. Out of curiosity I thought I would have a look on moneysupermarket and see how much it would cost me to take out a policy. I filled in the details and instead of giving me quotes it come up with the 'thank you someone will be in touch shortly' screen.

I didn't want someone to contact me as I was just looking out of curiosity and had ticked the box stating 'do not contact me'. I also entered an incorrect mobile number just to make sure they didn't! So I get an email saying that someone will be in contact so I reply saying 'please do not call me' (not actually thinking anyone would read it but I had had a few glasses of wine by this point!

So fast forward to just now and I get a call on my land line from moneysupermarket. I say politely I'm not interested and pointed that I had ticked a box asking not to be called and please take me off the list, to which the man went into a blurb about 'Well I was just going to tell you about how you can save money'. My response was,

'no thank you. I'm not interested.

Telephone man says, 'so your not interested in saving money then?' which I absolutely hate when people say that to you because clearly they know that isn't what you mean!

I then remind the man that I had ticked the box and that he is breaking the data protection act contacting me when I have requested not to be contacted, to which he then tells me that he isn't from moneysupermarket anyway which just made me even angrier (I assume he is from some associated company!)

Eventually he does b*er off and it is at this point that I remember that I did not enter my landline number on to the form in the first place so how on earth did they get it?

Am I being unreasonable to be really angry that moneysupermarket seem to have kept my number from another time and linked it to this request? I mean how do they know it is definitely me? And am I also being unreasonable to be annoyed that they called in the first place when I asked them not to!

OP posts:
TamsinToo · 15/12/2009 19:35

I had the same thing! Three months down the line and I am still getting e-mails and calls (ignoring them doesn't work!!!. I actually even spoke to someone and told him that I had sorted my issue and didn't need them. He started asking me what exactly I'd done to sort the problem out(none of your business actually - although not quite what I said!).

I told him there was nothing he could do as I had signed on the dotted line. However It seems they give details out to loads of people and even if you tell one to 'go forth and multiply' another one pops up!!

I feel your pain and I will never check again on one of those sites 'just out of interest'. (Or if I do I will put a false phone number and e-mail address.

Knownowt · 15/12/2009 19:39

They did this to me as well- so infuriating. Also very short-sighted as I won't use the site again.

Wineonafridaynight · 15/12/2009 19:41

Thanks Tamsin! Glad it isn't just me (not that I want anyone else to have to deal with them!)

I have to say I had always found them quite helpful before but this time it has really annoyed me.

wish I had gone for the false email!

OP posts:
Wineonafridaynight · 15/12/2009 19:41

So it definitely isn't just me. It is so blooming frustrating!

I have to say I calmed down a lot after posting!

OP posts:
Wineonafridaynight · 15/12/2009 20:52

You will not believe it but they have actually had the cheek to email me now! Bloody cheek! Would it be wrong to report this man to whoever you report people to who break the data protection act?

said email:

Dear (have removed name)

Sorry to have troubled you earlier, it sounded like you were very busy there and I understand you already have your Life Insurance sorted which is great to know.

I thought I would email you through some quotes as because I am an independent broker I have access to search from a panel of providers that is representative of the whole UK market to find you the cheapest quotes. Due to the amount of business we can provide these companies the quotes I can provide are frequently cheaper than what you would get by going direct, or by going through your Bank or financial advisor.

The cheapest quote I found based on your on-line submission is....£7.98 with Legal and General

I understand this may not be the quote you selected in the end so if you email me what you did take out I can email you back an accurate comparison. Then you can make an informed decision.

Please consider these options as there really is no need to pay more for your Life Insurance than what you need to, and if you would like any further details or any different quotes please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below. If you do wish to proceed we have a simple process that would allow me to complete your application in around 15 minutes and if these quotes are cheaper than what you have already set-up, you can easily cancel your current policy. The savings over a 20-30 year term could be very substantial.

Have removed the contact details at the end because I'm nice! I am absolutely furious though!

OP posts:
CornishKK · 15/12/2009 21:16

I had exactly the same, had phone calls constantly for three or four days. I sent a very stroppy e-mail to Moneysupermarket and got a fairly arsey response. They stopped phoning though.

Might be worth finding out if they are a member of the Direct Marketing Association and drop the DMA a line if they are.

Wineonafridaynight · 15/12/2009 21:22

Thanks for the advice Cornish. I don't trust the DMA- I called them for advice re: something to do with direct marketing before for work and found they pretty much refused to speak to you unless you were there member! Seemed very odd for an association which is surely supposed to set the standards?!

I sent an arsey email to Money Supermarket - I'll see if I get a response and then sent the following to the broker who contacted me (Maybe I was a bit harsh?!):

[removed name],

As mentioned I have no desire to be contacted by you.

As stated on the phone, I did not give moneysupermarket permission to pass on my details and yet they have done so. I might also add that I did not submit my home telephone number to moneysupermarket and so am curious as to how this was obtained by either yourself or money supermarket.

I also stated the fact that I wanted to be removed from your contact list and when you ignored that request on the telephone I reminded you that it is against the data protection act not to remove someone when they request that you do so. Clearly you have again ignored that request as you have since emailed me.

On looking at my notes on the data protection act, it appears that you are in breach of both Part 21 and Part 55. Quite frankly, as you have contacted me using a landline number that I did not provide to money supermarket I also feel that this is bordering on harassment - please leave me alone.

I have already made a complaint to moneysupermarket regarding the fact that they unlawfully passed on my details. Once again I request that you adhere to the law and that you do not contact me again.

Regards,

OP posts:
arisHOHOHOcat · 15/12/2009 21:29

what a nerve

love this last e-mail - direct and to the point.

well done Wineona

Wineonafridaynight · 16/12/2009 06:47

Thanks [bold] Aris! Have not heard back yet - hopefully wont at all!

OP posts:
ln1981 · 16/12/2009 12:32

Just wanted to say i love the last email you fired back. I have had similar experiences with companies calling me for various things when i asked them not too, and they just cant see that they are doing something wrong. In fact one even argued with me that i couldnt have unmarked the correct boxes for no call backs!! I think i would know! I never leave my number if i can and always make sure boxes are marked/unmarked so no one else can get my details. And if they do call, I tell them to remove my details as im not interested.

Was doing qoutes for car insurance last week and despite all this, one company called within 10minutes of me filling in the form. It was only the first one i had done

PfftTheMagicDragon · 16/12/2009 12:45

I would imagine that the best thing you could do would be to send a letter to Legal and General telling them that you will not be one of their customers due to Money Supermerket's tactics. Might make them think twice about paying MS if people complain.

EldritchCleaver · 16/12/2009 17:36

V good e-mail Wineona.

Why not also contact the Information Commissioner to complain about the DPA breaches.

If everyone does it every time the companies can expect to be investigated and possibly even fined.

Wineonafridaynight · 16/12/2009 19:13

Glad everyone liked the email.

Haven't heard back from Moneysupermarket but did hear back from the other man. He sent me a very polite email saying that he was sorry and that they only contact people who Money Supermarket pass on details for and he will not contact me again. All well and good but think he could have told I was less than impressed when he spoke to me and asked him not to contact me again the first time!

Eldritch I know I should take it further but it is one of those things where as much as I want to, I probably just won't have the time. Probably lazy and it is this reason that they keep getting away with it so feel I should!

OP posts:
moneysupermarket · 23/12/2009 10:49

Hi wineonafridaynight,

I'm the community editor for moneysupermarket.com and I was shocked to read of your experience.

Firstly, let me apologise for the frustration. You're quite right - If you do not wish to be contacted, you can opt out at any time - in accordance with our Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions and Data Protection policy.

I?d like to look into your complaint and update your details as soon as possible. Please drop me an email: [email protected].

This really shouldn?t be happening and I'd very much appreciate the opportunity to solve your issue.

Many thanks,
Graeme

Community Editor
moneysupermarket.com

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