we need your date of birth ?

[green thing]

I've just got my electricity bill

I've always paid over the phone via a automated system
Or by talking to a human giving them my debit card details
With no problems

However they now have a new automated system that requires
My date of birth on the first question.

why do they need it

Do you think they going to send me a birthday card?

[rustylady]

Bladdy security question??

Doubt very much whether they will send you a birthday card or present

[Aberdeenplotter]

|Data Protection issues

[alldigging]

Make one up. something like 1st Jan 1766.
Just to see whether they're paying attention.

[Kleftiwallah]

So they can sell your details on to Parkinson and his cronies.

Cheers, Tony.

[weekendwellies]

I dont push the buttons any more - if you just hang on there, it may run through the options twice, but eventually you get put through to a real person.

[Florence Fennel]

Nat West Bank reminded me of my date of birth when I applied for on line banking. They never send me a birthday card, but I do get one from La Redoute, that's the French for you

[Two_Sheds]

and there was an MP talking last week, telling us NEVER to put our correct name or date of birth on anything online, because that way someone could steal our identity.

So which is it?

[Feral007]

Someone at work was saying they had a cold caller who sounded like they were offering a great deal...until they asked for her medicare care (like an nhs card?) number....maybe they were going to call in sick to work for her? Or send her a get well card!

I love the places that have a list of questions, dob, licence number, mothers maiden name.
Even better are the ones that you have a special question: The name of an animal you have. Well cr@p we've got a lot of animals. So I list off all the animals names. Nope. Then I start on the ones who have died recently. If it's not them, then I start with ones that I had as a kid. 10 mins down the track YES!

[maytreefrannie]

I've just got my electricity bill

Do you think they going to send me a birthday card?

Ehm... no, I wouldn't hold your breath about the birthday card.

[green thing]

Got a reply from my electric supplier
Thay have set up a new accounting system and said
Your DOB is required to set up the account
To check your credit rating and checks with other
Agencies and to comply with the DPA

I've told them that you are preventing me from paying
I would like to pay my bill without disclosing my DOB
They gave me a direct number to pay

It annoys me the way they go about obtaining this information
99% of people would have just typed it in without thinking about it

If they said we would like to carry out checks on you and your credit rating

In order to do so we need your DOB .your not required to give it by law
would you give it

DOB is your personal pin number.

[Mikey]

I hate automated systems, you fill in all the details supposedly to save time when you get through, then they go and ask you all the same questions again. Infuriates the heck out of me.

I had a call this morning, confirming my business details, and asking me how many phone lines I have....mmmm. No they weren't trying to sell me something, doesn't mean they don't want to sell my information to someone else though. They got short change out of me.

[Nicos]

Just booked with Brittany Ferries.
They've asked for each travellers DOB too!