[glasnost]

Just put down the phone from a (half hour long!) call from my energy provider. Yhe cal came from a blocked number. The guy from the call centre wanted to offer me a 14% discount on our electicity bill if I extended my contract.

Went through the usual spiel, I said I would go through with it and then he asks me to confirm my DOB, as in I tell him not he tells me. I said that I felt really uncomfortable giving out personal information as this was an unsolicitored call. He then became really defensive and gave me a another spiel about how this particular energy company was so well respected and he then proceeded to give me his full name and his ID number. Eventually I relented and gave it to him.

We then do all the recorded message thing when I had to verbally agree with the conditions of the contract. He then says that he needs to record my drivers license number to finalise the agreement. I said that I also felt uncomfortable giving out this. He becomes quite pushy at this point and suggests I give him my Medicare number or passport ID instead!

By this stage I had three kids going feral (I was trying to get lunch on the table when he called)and did end up giving him my license number however am I the only one who feels really uncomfortable about giving out personal data over the phone like this to unsolicitored callers? I actually feel a bit guilty as my gut feeling in the end was that it was a legit call and I think the guy I was talking to took my suspicion personally.

Am I being paranoid? What do you do when you get these calls?

[Sofia*]

No, I don't think you are being paranoid - I think you are being sensible.

If I get unsolicited calls offering me special deals I ask them to post or email me some information so I can make up my mind in my own time. If they won't do that (which they often can't/won't) then I tell them I'm not interested today but that if I want a better deal I will call back to the company when I'm ready.

Can you tell that I just don't trust unsolicited calls!

[MAGS24]

If they call me then I don't give them any personal information. If I call them then I expect to give personal information but I know who I called.

My other rule is to never change companies with anyone if they call me on the phone because I don't like it when they call when I am busy at home and if I want to change companies, then I will ring them after I have had time to think about it.

If you are worried about it, you should have a 10 day cooling off period and they should have provided you with a contact phone number, so you could ring and check the details etc.

[cheekymonkeysmum]

I've never had one of those calls though might depend on the energy company.

If our energy company needs to tell us anything they send us a letter and if we need any info we ring them though they have never asked for our licence only dob address and account number.

Um did you get the mans details (like his full name etc) can you call your energy provider back to see if it was legit.

I do hope it was a real call for you.

[Mo2k]

My mother had this. She however is even more cantankerous than me so when they asked for personal information she told them quite pointedly that THEY called HER so no.

I personally see those phone calls no more than the idiots who come to your front door. Now that I am a SAHM I am here to answer the door so have noticed it more. Never will they give you their contact details so that you can go away and think about it and contact them at a later date. Now whenever they turn up with the "we've noticed that people on your street are not getting the correct rate" and "we're not trying to sell you anything" I cut them off advising them that I have heard this line 100's of times and goodbye.

Do you know what it is you have signed up for? I.e. will you be getting any paperwork to double check their offer against others? There is usually a cooling of period so you can always cancel but you will need to be quick.

[Brownbear]

My husband just had the exact same call and said the exact same thing about not wanting to give out personal details.

They told him he couldn't get the deal if he didn't give out the details. He said, "Well, I won't get the deal then".

So they put him on to a recorded message.

So he hung up.

Don't feel bad OP, I bet hundreds of people refuse.

[RobotFerretOfDoo...]

I always tell them to give me their extension number, and I will call the switchboard and ask to be put through, so I can confirm that the call originates from the company.

I absolutely refuse to give out my personal information when I have absolutely no way of knowing that the person I'm giving it to is legitimate.

I also do this for charities who call me soliciting funds - if I'm prepared to donate I tell them to send me information or confirm that I can donate online. I no longer make a donation over the phone. Every time I've done this they've been understanding of my position.

[K+M+A+P]

I've never had one of those calls though might depend on the energy company.

If our energy company needs to tell us anything they send us a letter and if we need any info we ring them though they have never asked for our licence only dob address and account number.

Um did you get the mans details (like his full name etc) can you call your energy provider back to see if it was legit.

I do hope it was a real call for you.

Drivers licence was one form of ID put onto accounts with the energy company I used to work for. Although if you could give acct # and DOB then it was very rarely asked for.

OP I can understand why you would feel funny about it but having worked for an energy company and a telecommunications company it is something that they unfortunately HAVE to confirm.

[cinderellainsydn...]

It could be anyone. I can just as easily make up a reference number for the phonecall and give a false name and ID number. The next thing they will be asking is your bank / credit card details "to set up an automatic direct debit of your bills". Sure.

If they are serious about conducting business with you, they will send a letter such as an offer of supply with electricity discount etc.

[Citylovely]

Just be careful as we had very similar calls from 'Telstra' (we are a customer of theirs).
They were trying to offer us free calls from our landline but wanted to confirm our personal details as well. It just sounded a bit fishy so I said I would call them back. They also got very defensive about it.
Called Telstra back and low and behold the call wasn't from Telstra so I would be very very careful.
I hope for your case it was legit.