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caller: "hello, is that mr crazy fool?"
me: "maybe, maybe not."
caller: "hi, i'm from your gas company. for security purposes, please can you confirm your address?"
me: "yes i can, but for security purposes, i need you to prove that you are indeed from the gas company before i give you any information"
caller: "yes, can you confirm your address please?"
me: "yes i can, but for security purposes, i need you to confirm that you are from the gas company. please can you confirm my account number?"
caller: "sorry, but we can't give out confidential information until you confirm your address so that we know we're speaking to mr crazy fool"
me: "sorry, but for security purposes i need you to confirm that you are who you say you are before i give out any confidential information"
5 minutes later we still hadn't broken the stalemate and the conversation ended. the caller was pretty flustered at the end. i'd won. i was very pleased with myself.
today the b*st*rds cut off my gas.
Hehe WTG Crazy!
Are you going to shout at them now?
"Your representative refused to provide evidence that he indeed worked for you...." ;)
Scott
what a great story,
I Love winning
- forget the real cost!
Isn't this somehow illegal? Apart from being rude and plain wrong...
LOL - as a little aside - the person who sits next to me here just picked up a call and all I heard was "no, and I wasn't interested the previous 30 times you've called either"...
I really wish I could administer an electric shock down the phone sometimes...
I have my Credit Card company repeatedly wanting me to sign up for payment insurance cover. This works out at about 50p for every £100. Thats about £30/month it would cost me.
Then they give me the details - the insurance does not cover the whole agreed credit limit - just the first £150 per month. My bill states that estimated interest for one month would be about £100. Now if I needed to claim, they would pay off £150, charge me £100 interest leaving me with a paid off bill of about £50 per month. This means I would have to be claiming at least four months EVERY YEAR just to BREAK EVEN.
WHY DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND?!
Me..I did not realise that driving licence was necessary to use a Dell computer.
Driver.. unless you show me your driving licence I will take the computer away
Me.. feel free to take it away, I refuse to produce a driving licence to use a computer
Driver disappears into the sunset with computer.
A phone call to Dell (Dublin don't you know) convinced them that they would look a bit silly insisting on driving licences. And the following day the same driver (somewhat bad tempered I must say) slammed down the computer and left without even getting a signature, let alone identity.
But it is still stupid to require it. Similar to the irony of using a license as ID to get in a bar when you shouldn't be driving when you leave.
also i dont see any prolbem with confirmin ADDRESS only (not credit card). i mean they have exact adddress when they call you or before - they jsut haveto look into telephone directory. there is nothing they can gain if you confirm. your info is in telephone directory and thuis info is CORRECT. if they would be burglars or something they would not need confirmation from you personally that it is really you on that address - tele. directory doesnt lie i guess.i would totally undertand credit card but address...
also i would undertand that he cant give you accoutnnubmer- that is probably "personal" info and is not written in any book so hecant give it away. but address is public..
jsut wondering..since in slovenia i would have no problems giving my address to anyone who call me - if they called me they have access to telephone book and in telehpone book there is my complete address..is it different in usa? just curious..
[edited by: JonB at 7:58 am (utc) on Mar. 19, 2003]
My wee little story is:-
A long time ago I had occasion to call the bank and request a change of postal address.
Me - I need to change my postal address.
Bank - Certainly, what is the new address?
Me - Post Office Box Number, Suburb, State, Postcode.
Bank - No problems, I have changed the address. Now, is that your new residential address as well?
Me - stunned silence.
And, for the Aussies, it was not "Which Bank?"
Onya
Woz
I checked the site before hitting the unsubscribe link, and the site was real and legit (and traceable); but they had me confirm twice that it was me... sending me a reconfirm email and having me type in an ID number... trying every trick in the book to keep me from leaving their list. And they had to gall to say that this was for "security."
But they did give me the option "if you ever want to join us again" or something like that. I hope the gas company gave you the same choice.... ;)
Does anyone know if the rules are still lurking online somewhere? (It must be ten years since I last saw them)
Another one that is interesting to try in the same vein is when you get a phone call on the "fax scam".
The "fax scam" is aimed at hotels. When the hotel answers the phone, the scammer says that their boss needs to stay in your area next week, can you fax them a map showing where the hotel is located before they book. It is a premium rate line.
As the scam depends on them making as may calls per hour as possible, you can (if you have the time and inclination) deliberately prolong the converstion with them. I have managed over 10 minutes, by asking whether the boss might be interested in golfing breaks, visiting neighbourhood attractions, and so on. The thought of an enormous bonus from all this data being sent to their premium rate fax number keeps the fish on the line.
There again I may just have a warped sense of humour and too much time on my hands ;)
Made me laugh.
1) You say "Ooh, this sounds interesting, hang on, I'll just get a pen..." You thn put the phone on the tabel, walk away for 20 mins and get on with your life while they wait for you to return.
2) My favourite.... After their spiel you say "Shhh, can you hear it?" (What?) "The clicking on the line. Be careful what you say, they're listening". You can then hold a massive conspiracy theory type chat while they think you're quite mad.
3) After they speak, start to enter into a dialogue then go "Ow, ow, ow, I've just spilled coffee on my leg, hold on", then see 1)
4) The Frasier favourite..reply with "Can I have your home phone number please so I can call you later tonight when you're busy", when they enter in the negative tell them "If you won't give me yours so I can pester you at home, don't bother me"
5) Another beauty - Tell them you're looking for sales people who are as hot as they are. Would they like a job? Great basic, commission and perks, you just fill in the details. Make it your mission to get their name and mobile number and see how many you can get in a week.
Have fun!
It's especially fun when it's got to the point where the supervisor has taken over to try and "hard sell" me.
It's especially, especially fun when they are trying to selling a web marketing related product.....there's that point about 15 minutes into the conversation where it dawns on them that they aren't speaking to some random guy in accounts anymore.....
Scott
The above has a counter at the bottom of his page. Bet he gets the usual massive burst of traffic from WebmasterWorld
I would send them a copy of Kevin Mitnick's "The Art of Deception".
Well 2 weeks ago I see that Future shop has a sale on a digital camera, a web only offer. Meh, only $300 after $100 off so what the hell, it sounds like it's pretty good.
So I order it, a few days later I get an email saying that my phone number I supplied doesn't match the one that VISA knows me by. (well, I entered 555-555-5555, what was I expecting)
Anyhow, I reply with the correect number and a few days later find out they hadn't recieved my email and the order was cancelled.
So I recreate the order. Another few days pass and another email saying that my financial institution won't release some information...wtf? I'm not buying a jet why all the hoops.
I reply askign what they need, another cut and paste response back that doesn't clear up a damn thing. It is not today, the 21st, two weeks after the initial order.
So I call FS customer support and they tell me that when they talked to VISA, VISA wouldn't release whether my address had changed in the last 30 days...why the hell does this matter? After 2 phone calls with FS I resort to their stupid solution to call VISA and authorize them to release this information.
I talk to the VISA rep and they ask why the hell FS cares. I don't know, can they just release this info. They tell me, they can't, FS has to abide by a standard procedure that all merchants and banks use. This makes sense to me. He tells me to call FS back and complain some more, talk to a supervisor and see if I can get it resolved, since FS is not allowed to ask that question.
I call FS back. They tell me the best they can do is a conference call b/w myself, FS, and VISA. Before I can tell them to use my work number not my home number, they have hung up to arrange this call....*sigh*
I call back and tell them to use my work number, they at first refuse, b/c they have to use the number the order was placed with. Some complaining and they FINALLY consent to use my work number for this call.
I get the call, all parties are on the line. FS tells VISA what they need, VISA starts off asking what the address is, and they will verify it's correct. FS then says, "we allready did that, we need to know if it's changed in the last 30 days". The VISA rep is now as bewildered as I am, confused as to what kind of a dumb ass question that is. Finally after I ask them to just tell FS yes or no, so I can get this order through, they do...still wondering why this matters. The VISA rep hangs up and it's just me and FS.
They ask me if I will be at my home number later today so they can verify it...this is the last straw. I lose it, not to the point of profanity, but to the point where I totally refute all of FS "policies". I explain that this stupid question about 30 days is pointless, how is it a form of "Fraud protection"...they explain; If my card was stolen and the theif changed the address then they could have it shipped their and it would seem legit. I explain that if the theif had changed the address he would have to know my passcode with VISA, therefor the conference call we just had could have been faked too. And what if I had moved?
They insist that if there had been a change in address they would have talked to VISA and called my phone number to see if that address was in fact correct. I said "well if a theif had changed the address, they could have changed the phone number too". FS's reply, "that's impossible". "How, how is it impossible, to change the address I need the passcode, if I have that I can change the phone number, if I have that, VISA assumes I am who I say I am, this stupid process proves nothing, you still don't know if I am who I say I am". This went on for an hour with me explaining how the world works to this peon of FS who insisted that this technique cut down fraud and that they were trying to protect me.
I explained that I have insurance on my VISA, unauthorized purchases are covered by it, your just making this very difficult for a process that should have had the camera in my hand a week ago! He insisted head office said this was best...damn peon. Anyhow, he assured me fraud has went down. I asked if sales also went down while complaints skyrocketed. He agreed that yes compaints increased. I asked what good a service is if people have to spend hours on the phone to make a simple purchase. Once again he replied with the "It's for your own good" line. I explained how they should do things considering I have worked in setting up ecommerce and how good companies accomplish this, and that even VISA agreed with me when I was talking with them. Anyhow to cut this down I finally asked "So if I make another purchase do I have to jump all these hoops again?"
The reply...get this..."You will have to call us and refer us to this order so we can check the new order with this one to see if the addresses match." "So you mean I still have to call you, you can't figure this out on your own?" "Yes you still need to call." "*sigh* fine, is this order being sent now? I better not have to make any more phone calls, VISA knows I'm me, why can't you trust them, they are the ones liabel if there is fraud, not you." "Yes your order is approved and will be sent now." "Good, I'm never shopping at FS Online again *click*"
If it wasn't for the fact there was no shipping fees, the camera had good reviews, was 25% off, and that it had been a web only deal I would have went elsewhere a long time ago.
GD why are people so fricking stupid!
Anyhow, the camera better be in my hands by tuesday.
Woz's Bank: Now, is that your new residential address as well?
Woz: Yes, Ma'am, it is. It's a bit cramped in here, and when they turn the lights out in the post office it's dark, too. But the rent is great, and they let me run a cable to their Internet connection.
Vaguely off-topic anecdote: Reminds me of a friend who made a retail purchase with a credit card. He signed the receipt, and the clerk tried to compare the signature to the card. She pointed out that he had forgotten to sign his card. He thanked her, signed the card, and pocketed it. She then asked him for the card back so she could compare signatures!
What they couldn't have known was, a week earlier, we had a case of possible identity theft and had just gotten finished changing bank accounts, etc. No damage was done, ultimately, but it was really irksome.
I was not nice to the man on the phone. I told him that if I needed work on my car, I'd contact them...there are some things that do not need proactivity.
I followed Lawman's link and downloaded the pdf file.
I had a guy call 15 mins ago from a PR company and like a charm, he went through the whole script giving me his name and mobile number and the assurance that you need good teeth - he used Colgate. I then hung up. 5 minutes later he range my secretary back to say he'd had second thoughts and recommended Aquafresh!
Almost immediately someone else called, he wanted good teeth but urgh - he didn't use toothpaste.
THis is great, 2 salesmen in one day and both think I'm nuts!
I went to the site. I must be a very stupid user because I could not work out how to use it. I am a member of their frequent flyer program, so I called them up.
me: I want the cheep tickets you have for London
SAS: You have to oder it online
Me: I can figure out how to operate the site
SAS: I don't understand, we won several awards for the site!
Me: Well, I still can't work it out, can you help me?
SAS: I on't know how it works (!)
Me: OK, so can I order it with you
SAS: Yes, but the price will 3 times more (!)
Me: Well, I am not going to pay that, can you please have someone at SAS call me if you (after all) want to sell me the ticket? I need to know my tomorrow, latest?
SAS: OK, I will - what is your bonus number
Me: My number is xxx but I think I have changed my phone number since I registered with you, so you better check it
And sure enough, they had my old number
Me: My new number is: xxxxxx
SAS: Please tell me your "secret word"
Me: What word, I don't have a secret word
SAS: yes you do
Me: No
SAS: yes
Me: So, does that mean you will not change the number, so someone can call me and sell me a ticket?
SAS: yes
Conversation ended here - and I got to London with Ryan Air for less than the cheeep SAS ticket would have cost me online :)
btw - still took 3 more phone calls to get the address changed for our personal stuff. My business account was changed on the spot.
I like to think I win the "Junk Mail" battle. Every piece of junk mail that contains a postage paid return envelope, does indeed get returned to the source - filled with their own advertising crap(I just make sure to tear out any info identifying me). So they pay the postage BOTH WAYS and get nothing. I WIN! ;)
Them: We have a great new long distance plan. How much do you spend each month in long distance?
Me: Nothing
Them: Really?
Me: Yep
Them: Don't you have any friends or family that you call?
Me: (in a quivering voice) My family is all dead and I don't have any friends. Nobody seems to like me. Will you be my friend?
Them: (akward silence and fidgeting)........ click
I actually got them to hang up on me.
You are lucky you can call the bank. In the UK most organisations hide behind call centres. And to get them you have to type in all sorts of details,
To query anything on my Visa card I have to not only go through the "press 1" thing several times, but have to type into the phone my credit card number (20 digits), its expiry date in the specified format, and my date of birth in the specified format, before I can speak to anyone.
If I want to talk to the insurance company, they have a central call centre in Norwich. The fridge repairers are located in Glasgow, are difficult to understand on the phone, and scarecly know where Cornwall is, the local police station can no longer be telephoned instead one has to speak to a call center located in the next county, the gas company has its call centre in Wales, and when I wanted a new electricity supply I was connected to a call centre in Yorkshire.
I also understand that BT (British Telecom) is moving its directory enquiry centre to India (New Delhi) and that the local employees are being given training in British news & sport so that they can chat with callers. Quite bizarre that one.
