Is this legal?

[Smiler.]

Just received the following text message :


Hi ****, we've received your loan enquiry. Please call YesLoansUK.com now on 08451309521 or reply YES for a callback. txtSTOP2optout.


This kind of thing really annoys me:

1. How did they get my name & mobile phone number?
2. Clearly a scam from some low-life cowboy outfit.


Is this kind of touting legal, or would the FSA have something to say about it?

[funster]

IMO it would raise interest from the FSA as a phonecall requires 'real time' interaction (ie, with a letter you can deal with it (bin) in a time fit to yourself) - as such this is banned (although some companies use loopholes such as offshore call centers and plead ignorance). More importantly I'd ensure they haven't left a 'footprint' on your credit record (Experian)- without your acknowledgment this is a serious issue (and one that over time creates a credit issue problem. Finally they will need to have a license from the Data Commission, complain to the Data Officer of the company and by law they are obliged to respond to you in writing explaining how their 'mistake' happened. Finally I'd say that unfortunately some poor bloke was no doubt just given a page of the phonebook and asked to 'get lucky' by phoning everyone (statistically someone will fall into their category) and although annoying certainly not sinister.

[playerone]

Smiler. said:

Just received the following text message :


Hi ****, we've received your loan enquiry. Please call YesLoansUK.com now on 08451309521 or reply YES for a callback.


This kind of thing really annoys me:

1. How did they get my name & mobile phone number?
2. Clearly a scam from some low-life cowboy outfit.


Is this kind of touting legal, or would the FSA have something to say about it?

Why would it be illegal? They have given you the option to opt out as required by OFCOM.

Why would the FSA be interested in a unsecured consumer credit provider?

This kind of thing "really annoys you". Really? Its a text message. The option you should take is given to you "txtSTOP2optout" yet you have logged in here to moan......

[TooLateForAName]

It would annoy me.

They lie in the first few words.

I'd complain to the FSA. Is the mobile number listed on TPS?

[playerone]

TooLateForAName said:

It would annoy me.

They lie in the first few words.

I'd complain to the FSA. Is the mobile number listed on TPS?

For goodness sake.

The FSA have nothing to do with this.

This is a consumer credit issue. The ombudsman deals with complaints but you cant make a complaint to the ombudsman until you have exhausted the companies complaints proceedures. Unsubscribe from their database and IF they contact you again maybe go to the trouble of writing a letter (after you have finsihed reading the Daily Mail, ofcourse). They are VERY unlikely to have performed a credit search on you as they are a broker, not a lender.

What is with everyone being so outraged at being marketed to these days?

[deckster]

playerone said:

TooLateForAName said:

It would annoy me.

They lie in the first few words.

I'd complain to the FSA. Is the mobile number listed on TPS?

For goodness sake.

The FSA have nothing to do with this.

This is a consumer credit issue. The ombudsman deals with complaints but you cant make a complaint to the ombudsman until you have exhausted the companies complaints proceedures. Unsubscribe from their database and IF they contact you again maybe go to the trouble of writing a letter (after you have finsihed reading the Daily Mail, ofcourse). They are VERY unlikely to have performed a credit search on you as they are a broker, not a lender.

What is with everyone being so outraged at being marketed to these days?

You call this marketing? Lying to people? Trying to get you to call their salespeople just to make sure that you're not going to get a loan you didn't ask for? I call it deceit, and a despicable attempt to con vulnerable people who will be genuinely concerned about having to pay something back that they don't want.

I have no idea what the law is, or who should handle the complaint, but at the very least it's an astonishingly low tactic from a company that appears to have very few morals.

[Smiler.]

deckster said:

playerone said:

TooLateForAName said:

It would annoy me.

They lie in the first few words.

I'd complain to the FSA. Is the mobile number listed on TPS?

For goodness sake.

The FSA have nothing to do with this.

This is a consumer credit issue. The ombudsman deals with complaints but you cant make a complaint to the ombudsman until you have exhausted the companies complaints proceedures. Unsubscribe from their database and IF they contact you again maybe go to the trouble of writing a letter (after you have finsihed reading the Daily Mail, ofcourse). They are VERY unlikely to have performed a credit search on you as they are a broker, not a lender.

What is with everyone being so outraged at being marketed to these days?

You call this marketing? Lying to people? Trying to get you to call their salespeople just to make sure that you're not going to get a loan you didn't ask for? I call it deceit, and a despicable attempt to con vulnerable people who will be genuinely concerned about having to pay something back that they don't want.

I have no idea what the law is, or who should handle the complaint, but at the very least it's an astonishingly low tactic from a company that appears to have very few morals.

That's exactly my point.


Marketing:

At best "here we are"

At worst "can I interest you in" - a necessary evil.

But this crowd lied - telling me they've received my application.

As for replying to the original message, I suppose it's a good idea to reply to spam email as well eh?

Woeful.

[playerone]

Smiler. said:

As for replying to the original message, I suppose it's a good idea to reply to spam email as well eh?

Woeful.

"txtSTOP2optout" they give you the option of opting out. They cant contact after that as Ofcom will have a word.

I cant be bothered. You're just one of those people who revel in being outraged and wronged.

[mrmr96]

Is there a chance that someone has submitted an application to them using your phone number?
Either text "STOP" to prevent further messages being recieved, or call them up to find out what's going on.

Are you the sort of person who also posts their scam emails on forums? Stop being a weiner and deal with it.

[stefd]

playerone said:

Smiler. said:

As for replying to the original message, I suppose it's a good idea to reply to spam email as well eh?

Woeful.

"txtSTOP2optout" they give you the option of opting out. They cant contact after that as Ofcom will have a word.

I cant be bothered. You're just one of those people who revel in being outraged and wronged.

Since when have text message been free to send?

[RichBurley]

I've had that message a few times recently. I haven't applied for any loans, so it is definitely a deceitful and low life, untrustworthy source. I wouldn't reply as that might encourage them. I suspect like all spam, they will keep contacting you. If it's an email, you can use junk mail settings, but on a phone, you can't. It's bloody annoying.

[purplepolarbear]

Text back YES for a callback - then try and make the call last as long as possible if they are paying for it.

1 point for every minute the call lasts.
3 points for every individual you speak to that spells out their name.
5 points if you can get put through to a supervisor.
10 points if you can manage to get them to swear.
25 points if you can get put through to a director.

Also, record the call and put it on youtube. Tell them at the start it's a work phone and you've been told you have to say that "all calls are being recorded and the company reserves the right to disclose them to 3rd parties at its discretion".

[Smiler.]

playerone said:

Smiler. said:

As for replying to the original message, I suppose it's a good idea to reply to spam email as well eh?

Woeful.

"txtSTOP2optout" they give you the option of opting out. They cant contact after that as Ofcom will have a word.

I cant be bothered. You're just one of those people who revel in being outraged and wronged.

It would appear not

[Seany88]

Along similar lines, I also get the 'This call could be worth a considerable sum to you...if you have any outstanding loans etc' and at the end it says press 9 to not receive this message again. I always press 9 and then the line goes dead, yet the following week I'll get the same message again!

So I thought i'd press to speak to an adviser, asked him where he got my number from and can he remove me from their list and guess what, he hangs up on me! grrr