Data mining and cold-calling - the ethical implications of 'doing your job'

[farfromtheland]

I find myself beleaguered by persons phoning me on false premises. This might seem a minor problem, with no-one materially damaged by it, and heck, jobs are hard enough to come by anyway.

My personal data (or lack of it) is being routinely manupulated by financial services corporations. The premise is that I have been mis-sold a credit deal (not true) and therefore may benefit from a related financial service to claim compensation.

Several issues arise.

First, that the persons calling me are unable to tell me the source of the misinformation they spout from a script.
I eventually discovered from the Financial Conduct Authority that the probable source was my car insurance provider.

Second, that though I might be able to follow complex steps to get my data removed from a particular database, in order to do this I would lose future access to details of exactly how my data got there in the first place. The meta-data is still out there. The data sources and those who later prey on it are in the same wasteful business. Expecting compensation for signing something foolish is not as good as developing caution to proof oneself against routine fraud.

Third, the cold-calling is not harmless. I'm disabled and answering the phone is not easy. I need to answer all calls as I'm seeking urgent legal advice from various sources (with data-sharing consent) whose numbers I don't know until they call me.

Fourth, and most important, the dishonest practices are delegated to low-paid workers. This is at the essence - it happens with my local authority call centre refusing reasonable adjustments as I now lack email access and written applications for benefits are not available. It happens with legal aid 'triage' too. The 'decision makers' are removed from direct public access and the receptionists bear the brunt of complaints which tend to mutually antagonise rather than result in meaningful change.

Please, if you are in this business, consider getting a real job, or at least do a bit of whistle-blowing. 'I'm only doin my job' has never been a valid excuse for doing wrong.

 

[Psamathe]

I believe a lot of these calls come from overseas countries and spoof caller line ID to be phoney UK numbers.

Depending on your phone system options to limit such calls might exist. steps I have taken (that may or may not fit your phone use/lifestyle):

• Some years ago now I gave-up a landline and switched to mobile only (Wi-Fi Calling where no mobile signal and phone works normally through internet, full functionality).
• AND For long term people/companies I can trust I give them my main number (eg HMRC, banks, NHS, etc.) but I also have a burner/2nd SIM (on the same dual SIM phone) that is a PAYG that I give out more freely eg online purchases and anything transaction based where the caller doesn't need my number for more than a few days (ie so I can trash that SIM and get a new number without having to notify loads of people). The PAYG SIM is virtually free and I don't make outgoing calls only incoming use and to keep it live I have to do something chargeable every 6 months (eg send a text through it for a few pence every 6 months).
• AND, on an iPhone you can enable call screening for numbers not in your Contacts - when you are called your phone does not ring but the caller is asked to say who they are and the reason for the call and then what they say is transcribed to text and displayed on your phone as your phone rings (and you can dismiss, answer, etc.). It works with the constraint that some companies you might have saved numbers for still hide their Caller Line ID and so will be "screened" but can still call. ie it's a screening not a blocking.
• MAYBE (I don't use) iPhone supports "Live Voicemail" so a call going to voicemail is transcribed to text as the called speaks to voice mail and it's displayed on your phone and you can press a button whilst the message is still being left to answer the call "mid voicemail".

 

[farfromtheland]

Thanks for the tips. I have indeed considered a separate burner phone for each aspect of my lifestyle. Can't do smartphones as my fingers glitch now, and I take a Steiner-ish angle with tech, plus, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I wrote on the spur of a moment, but well aware that what I'm trying to get at here are the origins and habits that bolster ignorance and exploitation and casual attitudes to truth and integrity. First do no harm.

I quite like old aphorisms as well as optimum tech - that apex point before built in obsolescence gains the upper hand.