Rather unsettling, yet rather silly

[slycat]

While I was tucking in to my fish and chip supper this evening, I received a call from a land line number I didn't reckognise. As it may have been a job agent, I took the call. Firstly he asked if I was Mike Watts to which I replied "yes" and he then subsequently rephrased the question twice more making me subconsciously say "yes" another two times. The manner in which the chap spoke didn't scream of professionalism but I let him go on...
"Are you free to talk?"
"Not really, I'm having my lunch at the moment"
"You're having your lunch at 8pm? That's a bit late" (Or words to that effect, just as unprofessionally spoken)
"Yes, I get home late from work"
"OK, what time do you start work in the Morning, it's just that I need to talk to you about your Egg credit card"
"What's wrong with my Egg Card?"
"For that, I'm going to have to take some security details"

At which point, I just hung up. It all seemed far too dodgy, the fact that he was going straight in to my security details and not stating who he was calling from. Memories of news articles regarding people asking for passwords and things to crack online bank accounts were fresh in my mind. I recalled something about them tricking you into saying "Yes" three times agreeing to something but I wasn't sure. Maybe it was just paranoia, I didn't know, once I finished my lunch I immediately called Egg.

I would have logged into my account but the site seemed to be rather slow. Paranoia was sinking in and I was wondering if it was slow because of hackers and the like. After a lengthy hold process, I got through and gave the security details I'd expect (2 letters of password, Mum's maiden name, etc). After explaining what happened, she said that there was something wrong with my card afterall, I was £20 over my limit. She said that there was a log on my record for today that I had been contacted by VISA, not by Egg, to let me know about the credit limit. She seemed rather concerned at the level of professionalism which the chap spoke to me with and said she'd pass my concern on. She of course then covered Egg's back by saying that the company who called me was calling on Egg's behalf and they did not condone the attitude of the caller.

*phew* So at least that was cleared up. She did say that I hadn't been fined for being over my limit (which was £500, I had reduced it from £6000 using their site once I paid it off) but I should pay the outstanding amount to ensure that I don't get fined. The fine incidentally was £20 anyway. I'm already in my overdraft (by £5) on my current account so I didn't really want to dip any further into it as I get paid on Monday but I thought it would be for the best just to pay the £20 excess now. My overdraft is interest free anyway.

Needless to say the whole ordeal made me feel rather silly, another example of how paranoid people get due to scare stories in the media. Then again, I blame the VISA guy for being less than professional.

Comments

[gerald_duck]

I've had much the same problem with Abbey National, recently. I ordered a new cheque book via a cashpoint, and they phoned me to query it because they thought I already had plenty of cheques.

The woman sounded most put out when I wanted her to prove she was from Abbey National before I provided her with any confidential information. Since she couldn't, I asked for her name and department, and said I'd phone her back through Abbey National's main number.

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't blame your response in the least! It did sound like a very dodgy call. (And speaking of which, maybe I'll try answering one of these occasional +92 calls I seem to receive on the mobile.. they're always when I'm asleep, though, so I'd have to be conscious in the morning, which would be quite a price to pay for idle curiosity. Pandas and their sleep, you know)

I'm surprised they'd be that concerned over as trivial an excess as that, though. It seems to become much simpler once you're overdrawn by a few hundred million, by observation.

HybrydFox is still alive? Coolness! We met a couple years ago, though unfortunately, at a rather awkward time personally.

[lazerus101.livejournal.com]

Yes I would be very suspicious of a call like that too. Better safe than sorry with the world of scammers and con artists we live in. I think you were right to act as you did, even if you did feel a little silly.

[sphelx.livejournal.com]

"the VISA guy for being less than professional"

Well said, people who work at VISA are cunts, the lot of them.

did you do 1471 after the call?

Sphelx,

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Didn't need to, their number came up on my mobile. was some number from Essex.

[sphelx.livejournal.com]

ahh it was a mobile call? that just pushes it even further -credit card companies only use landline :)

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Nah, it was a land line from Essex.

[sphelx.livejournal.com]

no no, i meant, they called you on -your- mobile,