I really hate it when…

[Paddy]

I really hate it when…

Call centres say “The Data Protection Act” why they really mean “Company Policy”.

Such as:

Call centre. “We require you to give us your DOB under the DPA”.
Paddy: “You don’t already have my DOB so your not getting it. The DPA is to protect me. It is not an excuse for you to trawl for information.”
Call centre: “We require the information to comply with the act.”
Paddy: “Can you give the phone number of you head office?”
Call centre: “No, it’s against the DPA.”
Paddy: “The DPA referrers to information about individuals, not companies and corporate bodies.”
Call centre: “We have been told to say that.”

[Spacecadet]

I really hate it when shops need yuor address when you buy something from them

[Mich the Tester]

I am allergic to corporate bulltulip, especially corporate bulltulip which involves a blatant lie about a matter of the law. I wonder if there is some law against abusing an imaginary legal requirement to mislead customers or other business parties.

[wobbegong]

I really hate it when shops need yuor address when you buy something from them

Make one up, or tell them 'no'. Did that once, they insisted they needed it, I said they weren't getting it, they backed down rather than loose the sale.

Of course, if you really want your washing machine delivered, you might have to comply!

[Spacecadet]

Make one up, or tell them 'no'. Did that once, they insisted they needed it, I said they weren't getting it, they backed down rather than loose the sale.

I typically give "xx1 1aa" as a postcode

where xx is my local post town postcode identifier. I did have one shop assistant question why I live at a sorting office.

It still fecking annoys me when I'm asked for it for no reason though

[bless 'em all]

...or when some numpty calls you, tells you that he has to verify who he is talking to and proceeds to ask for your DOB etc ....

I tell them I'm not allowed to give out the information. DPA.

[NickFitz]

I typically give "xx1 1aa" as a postcode

where xx is my local post town postcode identifier. I did have one shop assistant question why I live at a sorting office.

It still fecking annoys me when I'm asked for it for no reason though

There's a handy list of "special" postcodes on Wikipedia.

I see E98 1NW is now unused

[stek]

I hate it when you ring the bank and you have to input the long number followed by the hash key and all that, not easy on a moby or a DECT phone since you have to look at phone and can't hear the recorded voice telling you invalid entry. Eventually you get into a queue and then to speak to someone who asks you for the long number....!!

ARGHHH!!

[Mich the Tester]

I hate it when you ring the bank and you have to input the long number followed by the hash key and all that, not easy on a moby or a DECT phone since you have to look at phone and can't hear the recorded voice telling you invalid entry. Eventually you get into a queue and then to speak to someone who asks you for the long number....!!

ARGHHH!!

I suspect that one reason banks got themselves and the rest of the world into such a mess is that they don't actually know their customers personally since getting rid of local bank managers and replacing them with 'service desks' and the like.

[PAH]

...or when some numpty calls you, tells you that he has to verify who he is talking to and proceeds to ask for your DOB etc ....

I tell them I'm not allowed to give out the information. DPA.

Good move. Too many phishing scams by cold callers.

I usually tell them to put it in writing if it's important. If they say they can't do that I say "it can't be that important then, goodbye" and put the phone down.

If they try ringing straight back I don't answer. Always reminds me of Lance in Pulp Fiction, sat there eating his cereals ignoring the phone. I bet it winds them up no end.