Santander marketing techniques.

[lindybee]

Last year my son switched bank accounts to Santander.
Just as we both always do, he did not agree to either his work, home or mobile phone number to be used for marketing purposes.
In addtiton our BT house phone is registered to the same effect with the TPS.
In the last month we have been plagued with phone calls from both call centres and withheld numbers starting just after 9a.m. and continuing up until 9p.m.
Last week a message was left on our answer machine by a very amicable Scottish voice by the name of "Donald" requesting that my son ring him back giving a reference number. We ignored it as my son did not know either the name of the contact number left. 2 days ago at about 8.30p.m. he again rang back, when I answered his call, he said he was a personal friend of my son so I passed the phone over to my son. My son did not know him so he hang up.
Five minutes later our neighbour knocked on the door saying that a man named "Donald" had phoned him to ask the surname of his neighbours (i.e. us!) My son immediately rang the number on the previous number left on the answer machine which connected him to what we believe to be a marketing call centre, as all we got was a fax tone. The next day he rang the number again during the day from work and was connected to Santander, He questioned what it was about, but they were totally unaware of any contact having being made by them.
The calls made to him at work have been from Talk Talk and various firms offering to act to reclaim PPI. We suspect that our phone numbers have been sold on for marketing purposes.
Has any-one else had this problem? And can any-one tell me what to do in order to stop it? Our home phone is ex-directory so whoever rang must have had our address in order to find my neighbour's phone number.
I find this very disconcerting to say the least!

[The Debt Star]

Re: Santander marketing techniques.

they're not known as Satan'der for nothing.

[leclerc]

Re: Santander marketing techniques.

I would write a formal letter of complaint to Santander with regards to phone calls being received since it was not about any form of alleged debt(is that right?) or any alleged fraudulent activity on the account(is that right?). Furthermore, when you pick up the phone and someone says it's a friend, then tell them that he couldn't be a friend as his friends would have called his mobile. With regards to the "Donald" phone call, complain to Santander with regards to the neighbour's phone call as that is absolutely outrageous. Make them aware that the account will be closed if this matter is not resolved.
If it is any firm claiming PPI then get their company details and name next time if they use the "friend" thing and formally complain to the firm and MOJ as they aren't allowed to do that.

[lindybee]

Re: Santander marketing techniques.

I would write a formal letter of complaint to Santander with regards to phone calls being received since it was not about any form of alleged debt(is that right?) or any alleged fraudulent activity on the account(is that right?). Furthermore, when you pick up the phone and someone says it's a friend, then tell them that he couldn't be a friend as his friends would have called his mobile. With regards to the "Donald" phone call, complain to Santander with regards to the neighbour's phone call as that is absolutely outrageous. Make them aware that the account will be closed if this matter is not resolved.
If it is any firm claiming PPI then get their company details and name next time if they use the "friend" thing and formally complain to the firm and MOJ as they aren't allowed to do that.

That's correct leclerc. Thanks for your help. My son has no debts or arrears with Santander.
We have complained to Santander about the phone call to the neighbour, they claim no knowledge of "Donald". I have also contacted BT and they have agreed to track any future "witheld" calls, it seems they can do so when we have reported receiving nuisance calls. Santander have been informed that we've done that, and almost all witheld calls to our house phone have magically stopped! We now NEVER answer ANY witheld calls and I have also placed a voice message on my answerphone to the effect that "Please note we do not accept calls from witheld numbers or any marketing calls. Due to receiving numerous such calls, these will now be traced and action may be taken. If your call is genuine please leave your name, number and reason for the call and we will call you back"
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they're not known as Satan'der for nothing.

:amen:

[P.Pilcher]

Re: Santander marketing techniques.

Santander's customer service reputation is not great. The above is another reason that I would never consider doing business with them and I bet I am not the only one.

They only have themselves to blame!

P.P.