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Original poster

Have I really f***ed up?

47 replies

Janewithamane · 30/08/2023 22:09

Hi,

worried that I’ve done something that will get me into a lot of trouble.

i’m female ( you will see why this info is relevant) and have been trying to help my dad with a credit card issue. He’s 70, single abs gets stressed with money issues. After several attempts to resolve the issue ( I won’t share specifics) he asked me to help. We tried to add me on as someone that could discuss the account but we kept hitting a brick wall. The customer service has been shocking.

Today , after another call from my very upset dad, I snapped and did something stupid. I called the credit card company, lowered my voice to do my best ‘man voice’. Answered all of the security questions, spoke to an adviser and resolved the issue.

dh thinks I’m mad and that I’ve broken the law and may have to face consequences if the credit card company realise that I’ve impersonated my dad.
my intentions were good, but now I’m worried !!!

OP posts:
SoundsLikeAYouProblem · 30/08/2023 22:15

Should have just got DH to call.
I don’t imagine they will cross reference what your dad sounds like. I’m sure you will be fine, especially if what you did doesn’t result in you gaining and your dad losing money.

CatsOnTheChair · 30/08/2023 22:19

Move on.
I still remember trying to close an BT account on a flat share. I was honest from the Starr I want the named account holder. Went through about 30 mins of stuff, then told only the account holder could close the account. So I said "OK, I'm Louise Smith" and because I could clear security, they closed the account 5 mins later.

The only problem will occur if your Dad phones to complain.

Forget about it. The problem is solved. Everyone - except DH - is happy. Have a lovely nights sleep knowing it's one less thing your Dad need to sort.

romdowa · 30/08/2023 22:21

I've had to pretend to be my mother several times to utilities when she's been unwell and unable to make the call. Unless your dad complains then the credit card company won't care

Iwantamarshmallowman · 30/08/2023 22:32

I used to work for a well know utility company. People did this all the time. (although it's been a while since I worked in a call center and banking could be different).. even though knew the person was putting on a voice as long as thry answered the security questions there was nothing we could do other than just deal with the enquiry. sometimes people didn't even bother to put on a voice.. how does the call handler know your dad doesn't have an extremely feminine voice.

KnickerlessParsons · 30/08/2023 22:32

I'm always pretending to be my 90
year old mother.

Clingfilm · 30/08/2023 22:39

Just last week I sorted my parents house insurance over the phone pretending to be my mother - the combination of her regional accent and the Indian chap on the end of the line's thick accent was getting the two parties nowhere. Took me 10 mins to sort.

Smartiepants79 · 30/08/2023 22:48

Unless your dad tells them how the hell are they going to know??
Tell your DH to stop being such a drama llama.

Xrays · 30/08/2023 22:49

I’ve done this tons of times for my Mum. Once I even had someone say to me “you sound very young for a 75 year old” - I was like, oh thank you 😳😆 seriously, loads of people do it. You’re not supposed to but needs must.

Boomboom22 · 30/08/2023 22:50

It's fine your dad was there wanting you to do it, no fraud.

PeskyRooks · 30/08/2023 22:52

I pretended to be my 16 year old daughter the other day to hmrc. She gets bad anxiety making phone calls. My other kids were laughing their heads off at my 'teenager' voice!

jithem · 30/08/2023 22:55

I do this all the time for my autistic adult DS. I suspect it is against some terms and conditions, but I can't see a scenario where it would be found out or questioned, and it makes life much simpler.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 30/08/2023 22:57

I have pretended to be my elderly mum and daughter! Never tried to be my husband but maybe I should give it a go!

LadyBitsnBobs · 30/08/2023 22:58

I used to do this loads for my mum and sometimes I pretend to be DH so I can talk to people about certain bills he has to pay (usually Sky). Occasionally there’s a short pause when I announce my name.. but I’m never questioned. My DH thinks I’m potty but it gets the job done!

Katmai · 30/08/2023 23:11

DH still has the same phone contract he's had for donkeys years, and it is ludicrously cheap. Trouble is, it was set up as part of a package through his work over 20 years ago, and he has to pretend to be his former boss if he ever needs to speak to them for any reason. Despite him paying the direct debit, and that the business closed ages ago when the boss retired, they won't talk to him, only the person who originally signed the contract.

PoshPineapple · 30/08/2023 23:31

I do this A LOT for my elderly Mum who gets confused easily. When our medical practice calls, there's one GP who always says "Is that Mrs P or the daughter pretending to be Mrs P" when I answer the phone!

You did nothing except help your Dad, don't give it a second thought. Although I really, really want to hear your 'man impression' now!

Moonwatcher1234 · 30/08/2023 23:31

KnickerlessParsons · 30/08/2023 22:32

I'm always pretending to be my 90
year old mother.

I really hope this is true as it’s hilarious!
Sorry OP I don’t know why but this thread is making me laugh so much especially the thought of you putting on a gruff man voice. Don’t worry, I’m sure they don’t really care anyway even if they cottoned on - it’s all box ticking.

midnightblue12 · 30/08/2023 23:35

I work in a call Center. Stuff like this happens all the time. Whilst it's classed as impersonation which is fraud but it can never be proved and it would be extremely unlikely that we would ever use this against anyone.
Try not to worry OP, we all make mistakes.

Pallisers · 30/08/2023 23:37

I do this all the time.

Recently I pretended to be my dd as she didn't want to call about her phone. Then they needed to speak to me because I am the owner of the account. So I handed the phone to her and told her to be me - and she did. It was really hard not to laugh through that call.

unlikelychump · 30/08/2023 23:41

I love this thread. I hope you sleep easy now OP.

I thought you'd get a hard time

Grendell · 30/08/2023 23:49

I impersonate my 83-year-old mother all the time (at her request).

I feel quite certain these businesses would rather deal with me, than her.

Pimpmyfeet · 31/08/2023 00:03

I had to pretend to be my 80 year old Nan a few times to move some money to pay her care home fees. The bank cottoned on after a while and I just got a telling off. I’m pretty sure at that point my nan signed a lasting power of attorney so I could have my own cheque book and security info for her account which was very useful

sobeyondthehills · 31/08/2023 00:13

I have had to pretend to be my DP.

I had already hung up once, called back, spoke to the same person, using the same voice and they let me through, took 5 minutes to sort than the 15 minutes I had just spent being me

pompomdaisy · 31/08/2023 00:25

This thread is hilarious 😂. You just need to let it go op. They won't give a monkeys now the call has ended.

NeedTheSeaside · 31/08/2023 00:42

did your DH even offer to help or did he whip out this nonsense to make you worry more??

I did FAR more than that for my Mum when my Dad died. Really it's very common. You'll be fine.

ForbiddenColour · 31/08/2023 00:43

I’ve called before and said I’m my DH. Didn’t even try for the gruff voice. Companies make it very difficult to solve anything so you have to do what you need to !!