@britishgashelp British Gas recording home phone number

[obiter dictum]

I have just phoned Brtish gas customer services, nothng wrong in that as i pay £5.00 a week off an oustanding bill

 

I have never given British Gas my telephone number like most companies. There call waiting tried their hardest to get my number so i ignore and it puts me through to an operator, based in South Africa. This is a new system , not the usual push 1 push 2 routine

 

10 minutes later They call me back asking to do an automatic survey on how was my experience with British Gas

 

Who the hell gave them permission to call me, let alone record my phone number to call me without my prior consent

 

I have now made an official complaint for which i will get an email response within 5 days

 

Comments people

[citizenB]

Perhaps you should have hidden your telephone number before making the call.

[obiter dictum]

For a start it is an 0800 number, Briish Gas pay for the call and it is simple for them to find out the numbers of those who called

 

But hiding my telephone number is not answering the question, is it??

 

I have not given my consent for them to record and store my personal phone number.

 

This is a major breach of my privacy

[citizenB]

If you say so !

[obiter dictum]

I am asking a question to receive an objective response to a valid concern, not flipancy

[citizenB]

I rather got the impression you were having a rant

[obiter dictum]

I was having a rant the way British Gas were treating a customers personal data and i am holding them to task over it

 

I was a Victim of ID fraud six years ago and my credit file will be clean of all nasties in 3 months. Being in the financial wilderness is no fun

 

I guard my personal data like the Crown Jewles and object to any company, no matter how big they are thinking they can use your personal data for their own glorification.

 

A market research company has now my name, Address and a live phone number to flog onto any tom dick or harry

 

That is why i am angry and having a rant

Edited October 1, 2015 by obiter dictum

[citizenB]

Fair enough, why not write to the company and request they take the information OFF their data base - ask them why they felt they had the right to record your number. Do it under a Formal Complaint.

 

Perhaps speak with the Information Commissioner, see what they have to say about this ?

[obiter dictum]

The ICO will be my next step

 

I have made an official complant for which ther complaints department will respond wihin 5 days by email. That is British Gas

 

I will update with their response

[dx100uk]

You gave them perm when you opened the account you defaulted on

 

Dx

[obiter dictum]

British Gas has never had my phone number

 

Communication has always been through email

 

I never trust what is stated on the phone, only in print

 

I have not defauted either as i faced up to financial problems before they caused troubles for me, i have an agreed arrangement to pay with Brish Gas. As long as i uphold the repayment arrangement British Gas has stated in writing they will take no enforcement action against me, including negative info on my credit file

[citizenB]

British Gas has never had my phone number

 

Communication has always been through email

 

I never trust what is stated on the phone, only in print

 

I have not defauted either as i faced up to financial problems before they caused troubles for me, i have an agreed arrangement to pay with Brish Gas. As long as i uphold the repayment arrangement British Gas has stated in writing they will take no enforcement action against me, including negative info on my credit file

 

So why phone them today ?

[fkofilee]

Im with CitB on this one... Why phone? If you normally Email. It works both ways

[obiter dictum]

You cannot make payment on a Prepaid credit card via email

 

I have been making payment every week for the last 6 months with no issue until today

 

They do not do standing order

[citizenB]

So one assumes that it is likely they had retrieved your phone number previously, but chose today to use it.

[obiter dictum]

Possible but still does not excuse them recording and retaining my phone number without my consent and contacting me on that number

[Consumer dude]

There is no legal obligation to talk to anyone on the phone..

[obiter dictum]

That may be so Consumer dude but the issue is them recording and retaining my phone number without my consent

[ericsbrother]

their automated system gathers your number so even if you refuse to tell them it and say they are not to call they still do. A formal complaint is the only way forward and if you have refused to give your number or refused consent to call then they are in breach of DPA but other than getting number removed from database little you can do.

Even if they do say number removed the chances are it is just hidden from CS front line and when you leave BG they will call you to persuade you to stay.

[Consumer dude]

That may be so Consumer dude but the issue is them recording and retaining my phone number without my consent

 

I hear you and it is out of order what they have done..