a few security questions...

[Mark]

*mobile phone rings, screen says Private Number calling, I answer it*

"Hello, is that Mr Mark?"

"yes"

"Hello this is Company X (my pension company), it's just a courtesy call about your pension"

"yes"

"as we'll be talking about private matters can I take you through some security questions"

"no"

"oh, why not?"

"because I don't know who you are and your about to ask me for my date of birth, address or mother's maiden name. I'm not giving those to a stranger over the phone. Tell me something about me"

"I'm afraid I can't until I take you through security"

*stalemate ensues*

...

My brief point here is that surely these sorts of companies should be setting an example and not getting people to disclose their personal information over the phone. Just seems daft to me.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I've had a couple of these - as has Lady MacGabhann. No way would I give out any info to someone calling me. if I ring you then by all means security-clear me.. but you ringing me??

It usually isn't who they say they are so Pension Company X can't set an example if it;s someone else pretending to be them...I have their number already on statement so I offer to ring back

that said, a while ago it genuinely was my bank so I spent ages on the phone to them going "why??????" -but that was about 2 years ago

[spadetownboy]

i had one allegedly from the halifax with whom i have my credit card four months ago,and with most accounts the security question is usually mothers maiden name,however being the cute little irish tinker that i am,i always have my mother in laws maiden name as my security question. i declined to give my dob and the bloke got a little exasperated before he went for the tried and trusted mothers maiden name question,when i informed him that that wasnt the security question he actually asked me what the question was, after which i told him to foxtrot oscar. only prob was he put the phone down on me, which p1ssed me off bigtime,because there nothing i love more than cutting off cold callers mid-sentence,theres a certain satisfaction to it.

[mockney piers]

Yeah the Halifax do me quite regularly too. I have same attitude as mark. Halifax end up junk mailing me and it all goes straight in the bin. Such a waste of time and effort all round.

[Michael Palaeologus]

MOCKNEY - surely "straight in the recycling"!! :))

[mockney piers]

of course

[LostThePlot]

Mark Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My brief point here is that surely these sorts of

> companies should be setting an example and not

> getting people to disclose their personal

> information over the phone. Just seems daft to me.

Always give the wrong info to see if they spot it is wrong...