Abbey/Santander - has anyone received either Hidden number or silent phone calls

[andrew1]

has anyone had any experiences of incessant number of phone calls from Abbey or Santander chasing arrears? especially silent/hidden number automated calls.

 

Thanks

 

A1

Edited February 19, 2011 by andrew1

[citizenB]

Just bumping this

Edited March 22, 2011 by citizenB

[pumpytums]

Hi,

just found this thread. Myself and my family were subject to repeat silent calls from Santander they started from approx 8am and would finish just before 9pm. The calls were generally from 0845,0113,0844 numbers. On answering them we were met by silence on multiple occasions. It got so bad some nights we had to remove the phone from the socket, they would also phone my mobile straight after the land line with the same result. Eventually we changed our home number the silence as they say is deafening.

 

We were subject over a period of 3-4 months to nothing less than harassment. On the occasion we spoke to a human we found them to be unhelpful and basically told us that our none payment was the reason we were subjected to multiple and incessant calls. The account was and still is subject to major disputes, I requested no further telephone contact my request was ignored and we were forced to change our number. Luckily I'm able to block numbers on my mobile.

 

Pumpytums

Edited March 22, 2011 by citizenB
Amended title

[andrew1]

Thank you pumpytums, you're a star. Now, this is what I need people to understand about these and define for me:

 

The Hidden Number issue is when someone calls you and hides their Calling Line Identity (CLI).

 

In simple terms, it's when no number is displayed if you have a Phone that can show inbound Caller's numbers.

 

Most Mobiles show CLI, but older Analogue Telephones may not have any display, so won't immediately show who has called. But if a Call comes in and is not answered, then dialling 1471 will trigger a BT message to say who called.

 

If the number was hidden, then the BT message will say something like:

 

"You were called Today at 13:31. The caller withheld their number."

 

By comparison,

 

a Silent Call is just one that when you pick up, there is nobody there, such as when a DCA/bank Call Centre makes an automated outbound Call, and has insufficient monkeys to be connected...so the line is silent because the daft system has nobody to connect you to, having called you.

 

A Silent Call can also therefore be a Hidden Call if the Caller also did not display their CLI, In other words, a Hidden Number Call comes in, you pick up, and get Silence.

 

The real key is for people to spot when Abbey or Santander called them with a Hidden Number, and either left a message confirming it was them, or the Consumer picked up the Hidden Number Call and found themselves speaking to Abbey/Santander.

 

That is what I'm after, positive proof that Abbey/Santander made Hidden Number Calls.

 

We know they made Silent Calls, because OFCOM fined them £30,000 in, I think, 2008, along with Barclays.

 

It's the Hidden Number Calls I want to prove were made by them.

 

 

So, which ones have you or anyone else had?

 

Very many thanks.

 

Andrew1

[pumpytums]

Hi Andrew,

sorry I can't be more help, I have changed my number now so I no longer receive calls from them.

 

 

Ours were silent with an active CLI (we have caller id) on answering there was silence then they hung up. Typical automated call centre guff.

 

Pumpytums

[holley]

Hi have just read this tread I get constant calls from 08003890755 which is Santander usually silent but have spoken to someone once only I have logged every call and have had 33 calls since 5th March. I have reported them to TPS and Ofcom and have written requesting they do not call me all to no avail

[MARTIN3030]

Its good you logged them and reported them.

Its essential everyone does.

The fact that others have already incurred penalties for this from the regulators,could probably make things easier to take legal action against them.

 

Its well established that silent calls can cause distress.

[MARTIN3030]

Ofcom issued a reminder recently too.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12331160

[pumpytums]

Satan should be fined £2m in my opinion their tactics are very thinly veiled harassment. How hard would it be to add a message "You have been called by Satan please hold while we try to connect you to a representative" rather than hanging up. You do 1471 and redial "You were called by Satan blah" designed to get the debtor worried in my opinion nothing more.

 

I wrote to them about the frequency and number of silent calls they ignored my letter and sent a template letter about another matter. It's good to know they screw over customers that save with them too as they lose business which in my mind is very good.

 

If you want a laugh have a read of the following.

 

http://www.santander.co.uk/csgs/Satellite?appID=abbey.internet.Abbeycom&canal=CABBEYCOM&cid=1237873480044&empr=Abbeycom&leng=en_GB&pagename=Abbeycom%2FPage%2FWC_ACOM_TemplateA2

 

The thing about Satan is if you don't reply to their response within 8 weeks they consider it closed thus sorted.

 

 

Sorry to pull this thread of course.

 

Pumpytums

[Red smartie]

Hi

 

I am due to go to court re harassment from Santander - they are claiming that the only reason that they have kept phoning, and also contacting former work places is because I have not been picking up the phone to them. I have done so but as I am not working at the moment, but looking for work, I cannot pay the amounts that they are asking for. Where does this stand legally.

[andrew1]

Red Smartie - you may like to have a read of this and use it

 

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Mercantile/2011/B3.html

 

and this was High Court so no messing...the real macoy!...

 

Good luck

[pumpytums]

Due to your current circumstances are you unable to make any payments at all, or do you pay them a reduced amount? Either way have you explained this to them on multiple occasions and your situation?

 

If so then I believe you may be subject to an unfair relationship the creditor is fully aware of your situation but continues to push have a look under s140 of the CCA. In my books it's harassment end of.

 

You are not alone by any means we had to change our home number. I wish you all the best.

 

I hope this helps

 

Pumpytums

[Red smartie]

Hi

 

I am making a reduced payment. MBNA agreed this in writing but their call are still calling regularly.

[Red smartie]

Thank for the info I am reading through it at the moment. Although I do have an agreement it was for a previous card which then became a MBNA card so I don't have any terms and conditions from MBNA so I am not sure what to do.

[gemspan]

I have been subjected to 33 calls today from Santander. Twelve of the calls have been from an "unknown" number on my mobile. I picked up a couple of them that told me they were from Santander and I was told to hold. The line then went dead. The other occasions I have picked up calls from them, been told to hold and then told I would be passed through to an adviser. The automated service then tells me that there are no advisers available and hangs up. 5 minutes later I get another call.

 

I have been in bed ill today and I feel this is nothing short of harrassment. What can I do?

 

Just want to say that this was because I stopped using my account when I thought I had paid off all the previous £75 charges. Unfortunately I miscalculated and had £10 still to pay. My account is now standing at £128+ and its all charges. I have had no letters referring to this and the phone calls started over the weekend. They have been continuous.

Edited April 7, 2011 by gemspan
to add last para

[citizenB]

I have been subjected to 33 calls today from Santander. Twelve of the calls have been from an "unknown" number on my mobile. I picked up a couple of them that told me they were from Santander and I was told to hold. The line then went dead. The other occasions I have picked up calls from them, been told to hold and then told I would be passed through to an adviser. The automated service then tells me that there are no advisers available and hangs up. 5 minutes later I get another call.

 

I have been in bed ill today and I feel this is nothing short of harrassment. What can I do?

 

Just want to say that this was because I stopped using my account when I thought I had paid off all the previous £75 charges. Unfortunately I miscalculated and had £10 still to pay. My account is now standing at £128+ and its all charges. I have had no letters referring to this and the phone calls started over the weekend. They have been continuous.

 

You could make a claim for any/all charges that have been applied to the account ?

[andrew1]

Thank you gemspan, much appreciated.

 

Any more just keep them coming, we are in need of more...

[Goatan]

I have had hidden number calls from them all weekend when i answer i jsut says important call for goatan please call. Well if it is important they would have had a human call and im not paying to call them especailly as know it asbout an overdraft that was paid of this weekend.

[andrew1]

....and im not paying to call them

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?121303-Don-t-Pay-to-Listen-to-Abbey-s-music-Use-Freephone....&highlight=

[Goatan]

Very nice andrew1