Each to their own but this is Curmudgeon Corner so @Hostafan1 is well within his rights to post a moan. If others don’t want to read grumpy comments can I suggest”reasons to be cheerful” instead.
I wouldn't have a cat as a pet because basically I don't like the things. I wouldn't have a dog because the thought of having to pick up hot sh*t when out for a walk is utterly unappealing. Other forms of pets seem pretty pointless to me. I have no problem with others having pets and actually do like dogs which I don't have to clean up after.
Each to their own but this is Curmudgeon Corner so @Hostafan1 is well within his rights to post a moan. If others don’t want to read grumpy comments can I suggest”reasons to be cheerful” instead.
I'm now at pensionable age, but haven't as yet received my pension. I applied for the pension a while back. Anyway, on Friday last, I received a call on an 0800 number from a woman claiming to be from the DWP. Fine. She said they were having a problem setting up my payment as the sort-code or the account number I had given was incorrect. To fix the issue she would have to take me through security. I said 'no, sorry, I don't 'do' security on the phone when people call me'. The woman was most polite and said she understood and that she'd EMail me to confirm the call and that I should then contact the DWP to resolve the issue. The EMail came through and I got the DWP number from the gov page on the net and called them. The person who took the call then said they'd need to take me through security. Fine. I obviously pass security, as they don't put the phone down on me. So presumably I am me in their eyes. The conversation then goes - and i paraphrase:
Me: ' I understand there's an issue with my bank details - can you tell me what sort code I gave you on the form?'
Them:'No, sorry I can't give you that information due to GDPR'
Me:'Why not? It's my data.'
Them:'But you may not be you - you could be someone in your household'
Me:'OK..but...' (I was going to have an argument at this point - ok, I hear you saying - 'yep, he's an argumentative sod' - but thought better of it).
Me:'If you can't tell me the sort code, can you tell me the last digit of the account number I gave youi?
Them:'No - the same - GDPR means I can't disclose that information'
....I'm a bit peeved - but as I've called them - and I think I know I'm talking to an official..
Me:'OK - can you then just set the sort code to blah and the account to blah-blah?'
Them: 'Yes - what name on the account?'
Me:'Mr Bloody Angry' (actually I was as meek as a lamb and gave them my DC Comics alias)
Me:'Was there any other issue?'
Them:'No - but we'll need your phone number, should we need to contact you.'
Me:'It's this number'
Them:'I can't see that - what is it?'
Me:(Now thinking maybe I am talking to a scammer after all) 'I am not going to tell you. You already know it. You have my contact details as I'm on the Gov gateway. You initally called and then EMailed me'
Them: Puts the phone down.
Is it me? Data protection is to protect MY data, not to protect the company/business holding it. If the person didn't think they were talking to me, then they should have refused to continue the call immediately after security. If the security then, isn't to prove the ID of the person they're talking to, then what is it for? IF I had been a scammer, I have spoken to them and they've allowed me to direct payment to my scammer's bank account. If I don't get my payment (they pay a month in arrears or some such), then I'll write them a letter, pointing out the deficiencies.
It may be @steveTu that the woman on the phone couldn't give you the information because the 'system' was blocking her - she didn't have the right level of security for the info to show on her screen.
Had a similar problem with the DVLA when our 'logbook' (or whatever it's called) got lost. We asked which was the address they used to send us the document, when she said she couldn't tell us, I saw red a bit too, until I realised she needed to call her line manager who was able to access the info.
I'd have had no issue with that - if lack of access had been the issue - Jenny. But the person simply refused to tell me - they didn't say 'I can't see' or 'I don't have' - they said 'I can't tell you that as you may be someone else in your household'.
We had a similar thing with mail. We live in a road in the outskirts of the main town - and our road name is duplicated in the town centre. We used to get loads of mail addressed to our address (with our post code), but with a different name and a flat number on it (the property with the same number in the town centre is a block of flats). Anyway, we had loads for the same person (all of which I put back in the post box with a 'Not at this address - check town centre' on it). After a few weeks of this, I took the return address on the back of the envelope and Googled it. It was a major bank. So I did the 'right' thing in my mind and called them. Trying to explain to the team - even after asking for a manager/supervisor - was a nightmare. They couldn't get it through their collective brain that I didn't have an account with them, but they had my address registered to one of their accounts. After a prolonged discussion where they kept telling me that they couldn't change the account on my say so (fine) - and 'data protection' - they agreed to flag the account and not send mail until the address had been confirmed. Fine I thought. Then more mail. I tried phoning them again. I still also put the mail back in the post box with the 'Not at this address'. I wrote to them - I wrote to the CEO. The final straw was when I then got phone calls from a debt collection agency. Not only had they failed to address the address issue, but they had captured my number from the calls I made - and then shipped the full account details - my address, my phone number - to a debt collection agency. Insane. I then got the ICO involved. But this went on for months. They did eventually correct it (as they were obliged to - data protection says that a company must correct incorrect data if it is brought to the holder's attention), but always denied that they had given my phone number to the debt collection agency. Yeah, right.
The person you spoke to may well not have been able to see your phone number. Caller numbers weren't displayed on our phones when I worked for DWP. You called a central number and the call would go to a group of phones.
I had a similar converation with a lady when I worked at DWP. She was actually the only person who ever questioned how she could be sure I was who I claimed to be when I called her. That was also a problem with bank details. I couldn't tell her any detail of the information we had and she wouldn't tell me anything. We agreed that she should call the number on her paperwork and provide her details again.
It didn't matter did it? They had it - or else they couldn't have phoned me in the first place could they? They both called and EMailed me prior to me calling them.
Crikey @steveTu, that's a horrendous problem you had/have. Biggest problem is that people just don't listen. If your problem isn't a 'run-of-the-mill' one, somehow those that should be able to help switch off. I'm having a problem with E-on's gas meter, E-on doesn't recognise it. I'm fed up of trying to correct the problem. Was advised by someone on this forum they can't charge for services over 12 months ago which is reassuring.
Steve, similar scenario here, hubby isn't state pension age,but apparently 'has to take out some of the private one this year'. Something to do with not having to pay tax on it. Used to be Legal and General,then taken over by Scottish Widows, now someone else. He rang, finally answered after 20 minutes on hold. Went through similar palaver to yours. Except they wanted an original bank statement as proof of address. No,they couldn't do it over the phone,no,they couldn't do it by e-mail. Had to be postal. Then they sent the request in letter format,but no return envelope or address where to send the statement. He sat her carefully scratching out all the figures. They returned it yesterday,with a letter saying "they would be in touch". Expect you get similar problems to us, because Royal mail insist we live in Eastbourne,are under Eastbourne council,yada yada.
I had a letter today from DWP asking for information regarding my claim. I had a letter last month asking for the same information I have a letter dated about 3 weeks ago to confirm that I cancelled that claim in January.
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Had a similar problem with the DVLA when our 'logbook' (or whatever it's called) got lost. We asked which was the address they used to send us the document, when she said she couldn't tell us, I saw red a bit too, until I realised she needed to call her line manager who was able to access the info.
It is a worry, and you're right to be vigilant.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
I had a letter last month asking for the same information
I have a letter dated about 3 weeks ago to confirm that I cancelled that claim in January.