Bradford and Bingley - the Lying Insurance Firm

Continuing the recent posts of such-and-Such as bastards (Home, PC World, etc), can I now add ?Bradford and Bingley (insurance)? are lying gits too.

Had to renew my insurance (letter through the door, insurance up by a third). Went to the B&B web site, filled out all my details again, and web site said actually had to pay £10 less. Got the quote number and phoned B&B to transfer.

Last ?security check? question was my home phone number. ?Can I confirm it?? they ask. ?Doubt it? says I, ?as I don?t give it out to any companies so I don?t get cold calls, therefore you cant have it? (My the phone has ?141? added as a prefix for such calls).

?Oh but we do? they insist. ?Prove it? I respond, ??give me th e last digit?.

?We cant? they cherp back ?because of data protection?.

Conversation carrys on. Effectively, they wont let me do anything (cancel policy, get passed to supervisor, give any more information) unless I give them my phone number.

?OK, ? I say, ?my number is ?01256 ? followed by 6 made up numbers . ?Thank you he says, that?s what we have. How can I help you??

After I renew, I ask to speak to the supervisor, who spends 5 minutes giving me complete bollox about Data Protection, but also how they have to use the number in case of ?insurance emergencies which may effect my policy?. I argue that they have my address, and challenge him to give an example of an ?emergency? where a letter wont do. ?Oh that?s besides the point? he says, and gets all flustered (its what happens when you employ 12 year old supervisors).

I am getting more and more cheesed off with big Companies hiding behind the two nice walls that have been created for them? ?Health and Safety? and ?Data Protection?. Or is it me, im just turning into a grumpy old bast*rd and becoming like Mr MiFive persecution?

Report them to the data protection czar.

Had to renew my insurance (letter through the door, insurance up by a third). Went to the B&B web site, filled out all my details again, and web site said actually had to pay 10 less. Got the quote number and phoned B&B to transfer.

Last security check question was my home phone number. Can I confirm it? they ask. Doubt it says I, as I dont give it out to any companies so I dont get cold calls, therefore you cant have it (My the phone has 141 added as a prefix for such calls).

Oh but we do they insist. Prove it I respond, give me the last digit.

We cant they cherp back because of data protection.

Conversation carrys on. Effectively, they wont let me do anything (cancel policy, get passed to supervisor, give any more information) unless I give them my phone number.

OK, I say, my number is 01256 followed by 6 made up numbers. Thank you he says, thats what we have. How can I help you?

After I renew, I ask to speak to the supervisor, who spends 5 minutes giving me complete bollox about Data Protection, but also how they have to use the number in case of insurance emergencies which may effect my policy. I argue that they have my address, and challenge him to give an example of an emergency where a letter wont do. Oh thats besides the point he says, and gets all flustered (its what happens when you employ 12 year old supervisors).

I am getting more and more cheesed off with big Companies hiding behind the two nice walls that have been created for them Health and Safety and Data Protection. Or is it me, im just turning into a grumpy old bast*rd and becoming like Mr MiFive persecution?