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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:
FlamingoQueen · 31/08/2023 00:53

Once when I was getting the kids ready for school a dodgy telemarketer rang - I said I was busy but the dog would talk to them! I put the phone on the floor and they did actually talk to him! Not quite the same I know, but I guess my dog was impersonating me!
Don’t stress - you’ve solved a problem for your Dad!

Hooplahooping · 31/08/2023 01:00

Ha, I pretend to be my husband ALL all the time - deep voice on + sort out his medical appointments / phone etc (he’s a v. Smart + loving father - but life admin turns him in to a useless puddle) - never been questioned. one day they are Going to hear my sons cackling and asking ‘why are you pretending to be a billly goat gruff mummy? But until then..!

Redglitter · 31/08/2023 01:12

I've dealt with numerous things for my Mum. I've claimed to be her a few times but more often than not she does the security questions then says to them she wants me to deal with them on her behalf. Never been a problem

shoeawsome · 31/08/2023 08:14

I've done this for my dad in my normal voice, not one single question asked! I don't have a deep voice or sound 85! 🤷‍♀️

Gets the job done!

Eastie77Returns · 31/08/2023 13:24

You’re fine OP. We live in the age of self identification so if you want to be an elderly man when you pick up the phone it’s all good. I really want to hear you man voice as well though😂

Holly03 · 31/08/2023 13:43

I worked in a phone company and we got this all the time the only person who will get in trouble is the agent who answered your call we all got warned it was. Breach of security and data protection and we could be fined or face jail. So yeah they will panic more than you.

Hereforsummer · 31/08/2023 15:12

As everyone else has said it's fine. I'd love to know what law your DH thinks you have broken?

GreyBlackBay · 31/08/2023 17:01

These days they're not even allowed to pull you up for having a voice that sounds to be the wrong sex - the resulting conversation is just too risky.

ToWonderWhyIBother · 31/08/2023 17:07

Last week I was my 80 year old dad who has a thick scottish accent (like mine) and the very next call my husband with a broad yorkshire accent.

My son was laughing his head off at my terrible impersonation of a broad yorkshire accent and it was a struggle to carry on with the call but needs must as my husband works away and couldn't deal with the issue.

I have in the past also been my teenage daughter, my boss, my colleague and most lately my teenage son.

PupInAPram · 31/08/2023 17:08

You don't have a potential fraud problem, you have an overly rule following husband problem🤣

Igmum · 31/08/2023 17:10

I've done this for both DM and DD. As long as you are carrying out his wishes rather than stealing his savings you'll be fine. No one will know

AnneElliott · 31/08/2023 17:40

Don't worry about it op. I often pretend to be H as he's deaf and companies are crap at supporting his disability. I don't try and lower my voice and the only person to question me (obviously H wants me to do this and I know the security details) I told them they couldn't assume my gender identity from the sound of my voice!!

One of the benefits of the mad world we live in!

livinglifetothefull · 31/08/2023 17:47

I really would not worry .
Ive been my sister ive been my sisters daugther been my cousin been my mum .
my son was his own brother .
Ive even been a social worker long story .
Ive got loads more .

undertherainbow123 · 31/08/2023 19:18

Good evening. All advice would be gratefully appreciated.

I am 31, married and on maternity leave with our first baby. We live in a small town by the sea up north where most people are employed by hospitality in the town or local authorities where you have to speak Welsh to even get an interview. For the record I don’t speak welsh however I am willing to learn. My husband is a postman and together we have a joint income just over £50k a year. We get by and had support buying our house and paying for our wedding from our parents. They have also gifted us key expensive items for the baby. We are extremely lucky. We have a mortgage which is fixed until 2026 on a 2.1% deal, we have no debt apart from a loan which helped us buy things for the house that we needed which around is around £180 a month. We have a car with no HP but it is 9 years old and a 3 door which is becoming unpractical with the pram and car seat. We don’t have sky but have Netflix and Amazon prime. I don’t get enhanced maternity leave so I’ve putting in the joint account what I can and my husband has been working over time to cover the rest. We are managing for now. My worry is when I go back to work, I will go back on 4 days a week as nursery will be more than what we can afford. My parents have offered to have him 2 days a week. My in laws are both working full time where as mine as retired but MIL said she would be able to help on Saturdays but my work would need me in the week and not the weekend. We live in our means. Rarely have take aways, don’t spend lots of money on going out or weekends away even before the baby. We get by. My question is, how am I honestly going to afford a new car, and when I say new, I mean new to us. 3 years old would be ideal and we aren’t after an Audi. A practical car with low mileage is what we have in mind, Nursery and a higher mortgage when the rate ends? How do people do it? Whilst pregnant I retrained and got a professional qualification which I can hopefully use which will give us options but I would have to start at the bottom and work my way up and base salary is what I’m on now, but I would need to travel and the new car would really be needed in that case. It would also be full time.

Do I stay where I am, 5 mins from home, nice company which I’ve been at for 3 years, but it’s dead end and boring and earn the same money in 5 years time. Or do I try for a full time job which I would need to travel an hour over the border to, get new car as mine woudlnt make the journey on the mileage it’s on currently and get through the first few years in the hope I’m successful and progress to higher roles with more money and do extra courses? Would mean 3 days in nursery and basically work for nothing?

ideally in 3 years we would like to have another baby but doesn’t look like we will be able to afford one. For the record I don’t know how we can cut back anymore. We do our shopping at aldi, neither of us drink or smoke, I don’t go and get my hair done or nails done, rarely buy new clothes. Our baby is formula fed and we buy him things from next and m and s, not Designer. Our last holiday was our honeymoon before we had our baby. Am I missing a trick? How do people afford 2 cars, a mortgage, holidays, more than one child but seem to be on average salaries?

no judgement just looking for some advice? Please and Thank you

Redglitter · 31/08/2023 23:39

@undertherainbow123 you'd be better starting your own thread

Leafypage · 01/09/2023 14:59

If you passed security they can’t do anything, stop worrying

Maltaw · 01/09/2023 15:06

Why don't you get POA for your Dad, even if you don't use it now it will probably be useful in future,

INFO HERE

Moodwill · 01/09/2023 16:46

I do all of our life admin and am always pretending to be DW. Lesbian perks!

ShadowPuppets · 01/09/2023 16:56

I did this for a male friend about 10 years ago when his girlfriend upped and left him for a new guy. Half the bills were in her name and she was uncontactable - and he needed to vacate the flat. It's been a decade and the feds are yet to get me, so I think you're ok!

Palindrone · 02/09/2023 01:42

Why don't you look into getting Power of Attorney for Property & Finance? I have this for my dad who's in his 80s and forgetful/can't get his head around internet banking. Now he doesn't have to stress about it and I keep everything ticking over for him.

Yellowshirt · 02/09/2023 02:09

@Janewithamane I just want to hear this voice you used during the phone call. I would of struggled not to laugh if I was the operator chatting to you😂

Ladyj84 · 02/09/2023 02:21

Erm nope I have added all that deal with my bills etc and they can sort them all out legally no forgery needed ..not sure why so many do it's not difficult to add a person to act for you by calling them up

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