Today I was called by a nice sounding lady, very professional, all calls recorded etc..

It started as if she worked for Sky asking if I would like to move my broadband to a lower tariff, effectively describing it as a price cut from mid Jan..

The call soon moved to setting up a direct debit after she read out my name and address..

Then she asked for my bank details.. thats when I refused on the grounds I was suspicious of her motive.. she assured me it was OK to give bank and sort code details as direct debits have a guarantee..

This is where I started asking questions, what was the name of the company? PCGenie.. she even gave me her name number and extension..
Christine 08445677889 ext 403.

Then I asked what was the purpose of the call? To set up a pc health care package was the reply..

Then I asked what had initiated the call to me.. at this point she realised I'd cottoned on to the con and hung up...

Googling PCGenie I see they are a company registered in the UK and checking companys house they are indeed a PLC but not at the address on the website.. The other thing of interest is very similar named company just above it that is dissolved...

http://thepcgenie.com/
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//companysearch?disp=1&frfsh=1357131146&#result

I see this as con, it may be legal but a very clever attempt to get me to hand over money..

BEWARE!!!!!!!!

I had similar recently, discussing it at work, one guy had a really good suggestion for finding out who is calling, and that is to ask for their VAT registration number, genuine companies will have no problem provinding, any stuttering / evasion and its time to hang up.

quote:

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Originally posted by r1_pete
...ask for their VAT registration number...,

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quote:

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Originally posted by r1_pete
ask for their VAT registration

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quote:

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Originally posted by adithorp
I find asking what colour knickers they're wearing, usually finds how serious they are

I was once asked How much I earned as part of a banking "survey" to try and sell me a savings account.... When I asked the nice youg lady what size her bra was, she rplied with "Well that's a bit of a personal question" to which I replied "Well so is my income!" The call didn't last much longer....

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blakep82 - 2/1/13 at 01:49 PM

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Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec

quote:

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Originally posted by r1_pete
ask for their VAT registration

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assuming they're VAT registered, of

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And that's exactly the point! If theyre genuine they'll have one, if not they won't

That said I had the misfortune of working for ribs for a while, wasn't something we knew, or could find quickly to give anyone

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Charlie_Zetec - 2/1/13 at 01:55 PM

I think you mis-understood my reply - I run my own company as I'm self-employed, and I don't have a VAT number as I'm not VAT registered! But if you check Companies House I still have an official trading name, address etc.

I *believe* you only have to be VAT registered for £80k+ turnover, or if you are buying and selling on items/products etc.

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adithorp - 2/1/13 at 03:04 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
I think you mis-understood my reply - I run my own company as I'm self-employed, and I don't have a VAT number as I'm not VAT registered! But if you check Companies House I still have an official trading name, address etc.

I *believe* you only have to be VAT registered for £80k+ turnover, or if you are buying and selling on items/products etc.

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I'd very much doubt that any "reputable" call centre operation had a turnover less than the VAT threshold, but that does assume they're UK based... and that there'sany such thing as a reputable call centre business.

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Charlie_Zetec - 2/1/13 at 03:15 PM

Reputable call centre business.... hahaha - very true!

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Slimy38 - 2/1/13 at 03:39 PM

Personally I don't give any information on an incoming call, I don't even confirm my name and address. Then again, I've never had an incoming call that I've had any interest in!

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chillis - 2/1/13 at 05:34 PM

I always ask them to send me details of whatever it is they're trying to sell me, they usually reply 'oh we can't do that' to which is then the reply I give them when they wasn't to sign me up to something.

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jossey - 2/1/13 at 06:28 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by adithorp

quote:

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Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
I think you mis-understood my reply - I run my own company as I'm self-employed, and I don't have a VAT number as I'm not VAT registered! But if you check Companies House I still have an official trading name, address etc.

I *believe* you only have to be VAT registered for £80k+ turnover, or if you are buying and selling on items/products etc.

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I'd very much doubt that any "reputable" call centre operation had a turnover less than the VAT threshold, but that does assume they're UK based... and that there'sany such thing as a reputable call centre business.

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I thought it was 46k turnover.....???

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