Mysterious, unknown caller offering $99 unlimited broadband; legit or not?

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64 posts

Master Geek

# 1006048 15-Mar-2014 10:42

johnr:
BigRat: Actually, to give everyone a break, it was Slingshot, as I've found out today. So nothing to see here!

But so tempting of them but I'm not in a mood to switch over, unless if Telecom is giving us too many headaches.

Main thing I would like to know did you hand over the details requested?

Not the most crucial ones but just the address and our account number.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 1006050 15-Mar-2014 10:49

That might be enough to take the line over call your current ISP and make sure it's not grabbed or in the process of been taken over

nakedmolerat

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# 1006052 15-Mar-2014 10:52

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BigRat:
johnr:
BigRat: Actually, to give everyone a break, it was Slingshot, as I've found out today. So nothing to see here!

But so tempting of them but I'm not in a mood to switch over, unless if Telecom is giving us too many headaches.

Main thing I would like to know did you hand over the details requested?

Not the most crucial ones but just the address and our account number.

well, you better say goodbye to Telecom

you are now a Slingshot customer!

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

# 1006053 15-Mar-2014 10:53

One person supports this post

BigRat:
johnr:
BigRat: Actually, to give everyone a break, it was Slingshot, as I've found out today. So nothing to see here!

But so tempting of them but I'm not in a mood to switch over, unless if Telecom is giving us too many headaches.

Main thing I would like to know did you hand over the details requested?

Not the most crucial ones but just the address and our account number.

They could potentially switch you based on only that.

I would do two things

1) complaint to the comcom, referring to article I linked to before and say the same thing is still happening.
2) call slingshot and make sure they don't 'accidentally' put a switch through for you, making sure that you are clear you did not give permission for a switch and you do not want it. record that conversation if you can so you have evidence if they try to pursue you through the courts later for debt, which they have also done before according to that article.

BigRat

64 posts

Master Geek

# 1006062 15-Mar-2014 11:11

Again, they should know better after a fine. If not, just get them busted again till they go down.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 1006071 15-Mar-2014 11:21

BigRat: Again, they should know better after a fine. If not, just get them busted again till they go down.

So have you called your current ISP to make sure no one is grabbing the line and you will soon be a Slingshot customer?

I can see a new thread popping up soon by you why did ABC ISP just take over myTelcom account,

Why you handed over any details over the phone is beyond me!

BigRat

64 posts

Master Geek

# 1006073 15-Mar-2014 11:26

Doing it now

Sideface

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# 1006079 15-Mar-2014 11:36

BigRat: Actually, to give everyone a break, it was Slingshot, as I've found out today...

Was she REALLY from Slingshot, or just claiming to be?

Sideface

BigRat

64 posts

Master Geek

# 1006080 15-Mar-2014 11:38

It's legitimate as I'm aware. However, the request for the drivers licence number sounds odd.

BigRat

64 posts

Master Geek

# 1006109 15-Mar-2014 12:26

One of the representatives form Telecom confirmed that our line is still connected with them. But she told me that usually this process could take up to 5 working days, so I said that it would be best to check back with them in a few days to confirm that the switchover hasn't proceed.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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# 1006115 15-Mar-2014 12:49

3 people support this post

Lesson: NEVER EVER give away personal information to ANYONE calling. Even less to people claiming to be from your "bank", "credit card company" or telcos.

Imagine this conversation:

Telco sales person: "We have done a survey and found people in your area could get faster and cheaper Internet. If you give me your details, including your name, address, current provider and account number I can check that a better priced/faster service is availabe for you. How does that sound?"

Account owner: "It sounds great. My name is ..."

Telco sales person: "Wow, you can get unlimited broadband for $20 less. Does it sound good to you?"

Account owner: "Yes."

Telco sales person: disconnect.

Next thing you know the "Telco sales person" used that "Yes." you said as a justification to transfer your account. They have all the data they need. They don't even need to give you their company name. That's how slam works and that's how we had many discussions a few years back with people who didn't even know who their provider was. The losing telco can't tell you which is the new provider for "security reasons" or "privacy reasons" (yes, valid ones) so you get in the mud.

Replace this with "bank" or "credit card" and you can see people stealing money from your account.

My technology disclosure | Digital Transformation | Enterprise Content Management | Customer Relationship Management | Data Insights, Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics

mattwnz

15029 posts

Uber Geek

# 1006132 15-Mar-2014 13:01

One person supports this post

My suggestion is never take up any offer from any cold caller, or if you do, get it in writing first, and don't accept it over the phone. Not sure if there is a calling off period with cold callers, like there is/was with door knocker cold callers. I had an ISP call me claiming they were Orcon, with a great offer, and they wanted all my personal details too. I asked for them to email me the deal, so I had all the details in writing. Never heard anything back. Called Orcon, and they told me it was a scam call. Funny thing is that the person had a kiwi accent and it did sound legit. Perhaps these ISPs need a code of practice for marketing, especially as it seems many cold call using third parties who probably get paid on commission, so it is in their best interests to really hard sell the deal.

Buzz Bumble

332 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

# 1006152 15-Mar-2014 13:20

mattwnz: My suggestion is never take up any offer from any cold caller, ...

Yep, and that includes the door-to-door fools trying to get you to switch electricity or Internet companies.

I don't know why any company thinks such methods are good marketing. Just more proof of management stupidity and the gullability of the average public. :-(

quentinreade

312 posts

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Vocus

# 1007373 17-Mar-2014 15:24

3 people support this post

Hi all,

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Listening to the call from this end, it’s pretty clear that the sales agent was totally above board.

We suspect that – despite the sales agent saying twice where she was calling from – that this was missed.

She was asking for account and other details from the OP because she thought he wanted to go ahead with signing up for the deal she was offering (and fair enough, it was a great deal, with two months free ;))

The call centre manager has reviewed the call, and it’s past his pretty darn exacting standards too.

We take our responsibilities here very seriously. There’s been a very clear edict from the top of the business down that we are water-tight with any sales calls.

It’s certainly not our aim to do anything amiss here, apologies to the OP if he felt like something was wrong here.

Cheers,

Head of Brand and Communications
Vocus NZ
[Slingshot, Orcon and Flip]

muppet

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# 1007381 17-Mar-2014 15:32

One person supports this post

quentinreade: Hi all, Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Listening to the call from this end, it’s pretty clear that the sales agent was totally above board. We suspect that – despite the sales agent saying twice where she was calling from – that this was missed. She was asking for account and other details from the OP because she thought he wanted to go ahead with signing up for the deal she was offering (and fair enough, it was a great deal, with two months free ;)) The call centre manager has reviewed the call, and it’s past his pretty darn exacting standards too. We take our responsibilities here very seriously. There’s been a very clear edict from the top of the business down that we are water-tight with any sales calls. It’s certainly not our aim to do anything amiss here, apologies to the OP if he felt like something was wrong here. Cheers,

Where can we download the mp3?

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