Can anyone advise me how I can trace the following number? 08708503492

~ Thread title edited by Dave

Why dont you ring it?
If you gave us more info we might actually be bothered to help you find it.  :-/

I carried out all the steps suggested before posting this request. In addition I also rung the number but was greeted  by an autonated voice..." You have been contacted today by one of our agent and we will contact you soon." When I recieved the call in the first instance I asked the person who they were but they refused to reveal this fact and just hung up . Thanks for putting up with an inexperienced individual.

If you receive a call you aren't expecting, and they won't tell you who they are, why bother to find out who is was? It can't be anything important; if it is they will call you back. Lots of telemarketing companies use 0870 CLI numbers to make extra profit when people call back to see who it was. If these sorts of calls bother you, I suggest registering with the Telephone Preference Service.

hi the number is the HALIFAX, they are a real pain !!!!!!,the automated system and the rudeness of there staff has to be heard and seen to be believed.

This number is for the Halifax Collections dep't, who will call you if your account is in arrears or you are having mortgage difficulties. They used to give no return number but this was changed because of the blocking by Anonymous Caller Reject.

If someone other than an account holder calls them, they will ask for name & account details. Like any financial institution, they are reticent to divulge information to just anyone, so you can understand if they are a little short with people who have nothing to do with them ask questions.

As a shareholder, I contacted them about the unhelpful Recorded Message, comments about it have been noted & it will be looked into being revised to give more information. I suggested that it give the 01422 380880 switchboard number to allow people to call to find out more.

Perhaps I should suggest they change to a recorded message on a Geo number rather than the 0870 they use at present !?

I sympathise with their reluctance to give a switchboard number (I always recommend against this for clients - lest the poor operator is drowned in calls, even polite ones), but BT's 0800 328 9393 is a good example, even if now pricey for mobiles. Hmm, how do they know that we have not been charged?  :)
Yes, there may be concerns about confidentiality, but the 0870 would also cause the same problem.

Twice this weekend we have received a call from this number.  Both times it was early and we missed it because we were in bed.  I just phoned the Halifax number given and they say that their number is 0870 8501291 and a reference number would have been left if it had been from them anyway.

We don't have any accounts with the Halifax so I am mystified as to what this number is.  I'm already registered with BTs call blocking but calls still get through from abroad, which is really annoying as I pay for this service.

Have you had any luck tracking this number down yet?

Thanks so much for this thread!   This number has been calling about 3 times a day for a week now.  On the rare occasion I find a person on the other end it's someone lacking in serious manners.  They ask for my husband and when i say he's at work and always is when they call so can I please have a number he can ring them on..they just hang up while I'm talking.
However i can now confirm this is Halifax collections, i got throught to them today on that 0870 8501291 number and asked if it was them and they said yes.  Thing is if the person ringing me bothered to check they'd of found out they had permission to talk to me!  It could've all been sorted out ages ago!  duh!  

answered once gave my name

5 days later got a childish reply giving my name, with a snigger!

was given a mobile number 07778 792288 to contact guess what? switched off ho ho.

impolite? find a real job. :)

Hello all.

This number is currently calling me 3-4 times a day and hanging up when I answer. I googled the number given on 1471 and this was the only hit.

Anyone have any ideas on how I can block it? is this possible? I wouldn't mind if they actually spoke to me but its driving me crazy!

Ah, Ignore me! I called the alternative number listed by a previous poster and spoke to a person. They said they can keep my number out of their system for 2 weeks (put it on hold) but if they start up again after that i will have to call again and get it put back on hold.

grrr!

thanks anyway!

Betty

If you register with Telephone Preference Service, they shouldn't be calling you at all - and if they do they should be reported.

Hi, i have had many numerous missed calls today from this number 08708503492, and the calls were dropped, i searched the intenet and discovered it was actually from the halifax esate agency, i also reported them to ofcom for not leaving a recorded message after the dropped calls :o

DaveM wrote on Dec 30^th, 2005 at 5:32pm:

This number is for the Halifax Collections dep't, who will call you if your account is in arrears or you are having mortgage difficulties. They used to give no return number but this was changed because of the blocking by Anonymous Caller Reject. If someone other than an account holder calls them, they will ask for name & account details. Like any financial institution, they are reticent to divulge information to just anyone, so you can understand if they are a little short with people who have nothing to do with them ask questions. As a shareholder, I contacted them about the unhelpful Recorded Message, comments about it have been noted & it will be looked into being revised to give more information. I suggested that it give the 01422 380880 switchboard number to allow people to call to find out more. Perhaps I should suggest they change to a recorded message on a Geo number rather than the 0870 they use at present !?

Well that's very odd as I don't have any mortgage difficulties - probably because I don't have a mortgage  ::)
I have a credit card with Halifax, but I clear the balance every month and have checked online to ensure that everything is okay with it - it is.
The only other HBOS product I have is an Pet Insurance policy.  That's paid by DD every month and the payment has cleared this month without any problems.

I'm registered with the TPS and the silent call thingy but they're still calling me every day.  To date, I haven't been at home when they called, but there's a whistle next to the phone just in case they do.  >:(

Okay...

If this number calls you, Halifax would like us to get the callers name and which "department" they claim to be calling from.  Then, call 01133 809 574 (option 7) and tell them what's happening.  DO NOT give any of your personal details to the caller from the 0870 number.

I notice there has been no reply for a few months on this matter.

For the past week I have been recieving calls from this number (08708 503492), and yes they hang up everytime. It is normaly twice in the evening, but today they have called 3 times in the space of 2 hours.

I am registered with BT's telephone preference service yet this number keeps phoning. By all your sugestions and experiences, I see no point in me calling them or asking who it is when they phone.

What can i do apart from just let it keep happening?

Might this eventually be one for BT's Malicious Calls Bureau? Perhaps time to have free incoming calls barred from 0870, 0871 and so on...

Two numbers that were posted in the unverified list now do not accept incoming calls. They are 0113 2977904 and 0113 2977895.

::) Having read the above (thanks guys!), and having been hassled too (!) I rang the HBOS switchboard on 01422 380880 and moaned and got put through to customer services, then pressed option 2 for complaints and (after holding for an age) got a guy who really sounded as though he wanted to resolve the problem! He said it was their  Debt Collection agency and would try to get them off my backs. I told him that they were doing mega harm for HBOS PR with their attitude problems! So good luck all you 7,000+ others out there  with the same hassles!

And just in case HBOS happen to be reading this: I suggest you tell your debt collection department to sort out their own problems! They seem to be incapable of handling the problems they create - clearly plenty!
My case was that I had no debts or problems until they starting ringing me up for no reason!

But then last time I had a BIG problem with HBOS, I wrote personally to the Chairman of the Group. Unfortunately he seemingly couldn't be bothered to reply. So clearly the communications, organisational and attitude problems start at the top! After all - who else is responsible?

Thanks so much for all the advice - these calls have been driving me up the walls for over three months now from the 0870 number, and more recently the 0113 number.

I do have a halifax card but am going through an IVA and this was settled in January.

I just called the 0113 3809574 and pressed all the options relating to having a credit card and made an official complaint. The woman I spoke to actually said sorry and treated me like a human being.

The people who have called me from the 0870 8503492 have hung up, treated me like a criminal, argued with me and generally given call centre staff a VERY bad name.

Thanks to the web, hopefully no more hassles!

Just to add a new twist to this... I've been getting calls from these guys, usually several per day, since moving into my new house 3 weeks ago. They're not calling me though, they're calling some woman who I don't even know. She wasn't the previous tenant of the house, and one of the callers gave her address away to me which is on the other side of the village, so it seems she's changed her number and it's been recycled to me.

Every time they call I explain the situation (with increasingly less patience) and they promise not to call again. Then they call again -- needless to say it's a different voice every time. They wake me up in the morning. They disturb me on Sundays. They fill my ansaphone with blank messages. What do I have to do to get them to stop? From reading all your tales of woe, things don't look hopeful... maybe the woman who previously had my number isn't running away from debt at all, she just got fed up with their constant harrassment!

I'm on TPS but I assume they'll be no use here, as these people aren't cold calling, they're just calling the wrong person.
Have I got any chance of getting BT to block the number (without paying for it)?

BT do have something in place to deal with harassing calls.
I suggest you give them a call.
If you have caller ID, then a very loud whistle, or a sharp burst of extreme verbal abuse tends to give some thought.
And before anyone mentions that foul and abusive language or threatening behaviour is not permitted on a telecommunication device, that law was for the maker, not the receiver.

q-star wrote on Jun 11^th, 2007 at 7:48pm:

Just to add a new twist to this... I've been getting calls from these guys, usually several per day, since moving into my new house 3 weeks ago. They're not calling me though, they're calling some woman who I don't even know. She wasn't the previous tenant of the house, and one of the callers gave her address away to me which is on the other side of the village, so it seems she's changed her number and it's been recycled to me.

As you know her name and address, can you get her new number - and give it to your problem callers (and/or put it on your answering machine's outgoing message)?

Or pretend to be her and invite them to come round and discuss the matter!

Certainly BT should change your number, without charge in these circumstances as part of their standard service.
Sorry, too late to look up the page in the(ir) Price List  :-[

I see this appalling situation seems to continue to raise it's head.  I was in a similar position of being plagued with calls from them. Their conduct was totally opposite to the advise given out by banks regarding fraud and some of them were quiet rude.   I finally managed to get a number to ring  0113 2356901 and spoke to a supervisor. I asked for the name of the Chief Executive so that I could write and make an official complaint.    His name is Andrew Hornby Halifax PLC PO box 607 Trinity Road Halifax. HX1 2UJ.   I'm sure it was not a coincident but the calls ceased.  
The worst thing about their attitude is that they want your details over the phone but will not even tell you what the inquiry is about, hiding behind the data  protection act.

I hope you finally get them off your back.  I don't even bank with them!!!!!        

Andy Hornbys e-mail address is:- AndyHornby@HBOSplc.com

:)

Thanks for the e-mail address Derrick, we had been receiving between 3 and 6 calls a day for some weeks from this number. They wanted to contact the previous occupant of our house and would not stop though we had no forwarding address or number.

I e-mailed Andy Hornby received a prompt reply and the matter was passed to Shaun Doherty,  Operations Director, HBOS Retail. The calls stopped immediately I have received very courteous e-mails and letters from them. They are grateful for the feedback and keen to sort out the problem so a great result for everyone.

ref 08708503492  please ensure you tell Oftel about this practise

This number is also used by Sainsbury's Bank if that's any help.  They are plaguing me up to 10 times per day 7 days per week.  I am logging the calls on forms provided by Trading Standards with a view of having them prosecuted for criminal harassment by the Office of Fair Trading under the Administration of Justice Act 1970.

I hope this helps.

I've been getting "blank" or extremely rude calls from this number as well.  This seems to be the only useful page which comes up for the number in google.

If you call 01422 380880 (thanks to prev poster) and ask for complaints you can hopefully get this solved.

I called with the times of the calls and the guy on the phone looked and found out who was the specific member of staff that had been rude.  As well as sending an email to their supervisor he claims to have taken my number out of the system.  Hopefully no more calls.

Cheers guys
Iain

Register with this company...http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/ and when any one telephones say that you are a member of the Telephone Preference Service and you should not be getting unsolicited calls. They soon put the phone down. Since I joined I get about a couple a year and soon put them right. By the way I don't think it covers calls from outside U.K.

You can register on line and it says  takes a few weeks to take effect but in my case calls took about ten days to stop.

I am sure this must have been mentioned somewhere else on this site, if so apologies for the repitition. :)

Cheers for the tip.  I'm infact already registered with the TPS.

Basically I only got this number 3 weeks ago and have been inundated with nusience calls, I've confirmed with Virgin that it's not a crossed connection or a recycled number, unfortunately getting a new phone number (as virgin offered) is not an option due to the number of CVs I've sent out with my current number.  Getting withheld number rejection and TPS registration has killed most of the called however I'm under the impression that TPS wont help with this situation as the agents are chasing an "account holder" rather than cold calling.

TPS is useful though, although it takes 4 weeks to cut in completely.

I'm hoping that the HBOS complaints angle will solve the problem but I'll keep this thread updated as it seems to be the only useful hit on google.

Regards
Iain

Hey Guys, What Alice says below is right. These people are really rude and they call you none stop even when you tell them not to. I complained and the woman gave ME greif. Its an unsolicited call they should respect you !! I know there are worse things happing in the world. But if we dont stand up against this stuff people get ripped of and there privicy is compromise. Give um greif I know I will and we can stop all trhis crap. ;D

I too have been involved in serious harassment by these HBOS people- over 50 calls logged. The problem arose because Halifax took almost 4 months to respond  a written complaint about Halifax Card practice of applying interest during an interest-free period - response still incomplete since June! They are supposed to deal within 2 months!
The Chief Executive, Andrew Hornby (mentioned elsewhere) seems unrepentant. Any negotiated interruption in their harrassment programme only lasts for 14 days. One of A.H.'s staff says so.
The way it works clearly constitutes harassment within the scope of Clause 1 (2) of The Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
The only uncertainty is whether the threat of re-starting the harrasment after 14 days is also an actionable offence under that legislation. I suspect it is.
The Halifax callers have never been able to verify their authenticity in the way they require those called.
Another interesting facet is that although the caller display shows the 0870 number, if you use BT "Choose to Refuse" the number refused is actually one of their many landline numbers. Over time, I suppose, it may be possible to 'refuse' them all!

It's not just HBOS that are rude - I had a sequence of calls from HSBC the other week, demanding I put money into my bank account.  (It's a secondary account that I've not used for some time.)  There was no phone number on CLI,  she wouldn't give me any identification but tried to get my personal details, and wanted debit card to take some cash there and then. It could have been absolutely anybody.

I wonder sometimes how easy it much be to phone random phone numbers, say "It's about your bank account", ask for their mothers maiden name, etc, and get answers.  The rude woman who phoned me certainly expected me to comply.

In my case, I checked the account online, wrote a cheque for the slight overdraft, and posted it to my branch with a letter of complaint and a request to close the account.

I have received an email..too long to put here, but if anyone wants to read it if you PM me I will post it to you. This is a brief resumee..



Never give any card or personal details to callers.
This particular scam involves sophisticated fraudsters who already know
everything about you they need i.e. name, address and main card number.
They just need the 3 digit number on the back of the card to start using
your account straight away. Scammers are pretending to be from your card
company, asking if you spent $400 dollars in Arizona (or similar). They
instruct you that you will be re-credited, but ask for that 3 digit
number.

Hang up, or just say you will ring back via the phone number on the rear
of your card to verify what they are saying.

nov 2007

Hi,

I keep getting calls from fraudsters saying it's The #### credit card service. 0870 8501291 is the number they give to call back on.... What a load of rubbish.

I always call the number I know is correct and not a tel number someone else gives me!

The only thing fraudsters want is personal details or security details - NEVER give these to anyone!!

I did the 1471 on the fraudster calling me and it was 02031 035179 !! - so it's been passed to the fraud squad at the credit card.

When I said I hope the police get them - they hung up immediately.

Why oh why can people get these stupid 0870 numbers

Be lucky - stay smart

hatter12 wrote on Nov 27^th, 2007 at 1:20pm:

I keep getting calls from fraudsters saying it's The #### credit card service. 0870 8501291 is the number they give to call back on.... What a load of rubbish.

See replies #7 and #8 here. It appears to be the Halifax (HBOS)

These people are seriously peeing me off too.  We have a joint account, on which everything is sorted out, there is no problem.  They ring regarding this account and hang up upon hearing my husband is not in.  But it's my account too.  I am so offended by them when the hang up when I am mid sentence.  It's just disgusting.  I have made an official complaint, but the calls still come.  
I've decided to rick roll them anytime they call me now.  They don't listen to me so why do they still call?

The number now being used in the same way is 0844 5811014.
See http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08445811014/5

Tanllan wrote on Dec 30^th, 2005 at 7:02pm:

I sympathise with their reluctance to give a switchboard number (I always recommend against this for clients - lest the poor operator is drowned in calls, even polite ones), but BT's 0800 328 9393 is a good example, even if now pricey for mobiles. Hmm, how do they know that we have not been charged?  :) Yes, there may be concerns about confidentiality, but the 0870 would also cause the same problem.

In case anyone else experience this issue. BT called from this number 0800 328 9393 twice.

Today BT called from above number they said to me that since march they have a new feature available to option 1 users i think they said.  You can already make free weekend calls, but they would sign me up if i wanted to get free EVENING calls.  They said they could activate it right now, i said no can i do this at a later date, they said yes.  i asked wouldn't this info be in the latest communication or bill i recently received, she said yes, so i thought to myself, so why bother calling me up if it is in the letter?

so i finished the call, and called up bt customer service and told her about the call, she confirmed it is a BT number and that it is a new offer they have, and its free.  She also added that the facility is for a 12 month contract and that if i didn't ring to re-confirm or cancel the service after 12 months was up i would be charged £2.75 a month for the service.

Now i initially thought it was a third party company as bt never call me up for any promotional or to sell me anything in the 7 years i have been with them.  They never said anything about the 12 month contract nor the charge was ever explained to me. Which disgusted me as i could have signed up for something and i didn't know about the implications.  i think they are calling people up in this manner because they get paid commission so by not revealing this information they get everyone to sign up, as they think its a good service.

Let this be a warning. People will probably do a search for this telephone number and find my post here, so i hope they will not get stung by this.

I got a call from BT offering the same offer and to be fair he explained everything to the last detail. I signed up for 12 months and get free week end and evening calls. (To 01,02 & 03 numbers only.) However what they seem to do is charge you the £2.75 a month and then take it off as a discount. A week later I got another call offering to renew my broadband contract offering me £3 a month off, if I signed up for another 12 months. (My existing 18 month contract still had three months to run, but he said that the new one will start straight away, so took that offer up as well. I guess they are scared to lose their customers. I should add that both contracts were confirmed within 48 hours by email.

I have to say that I have always been treated pretty well by BT, I know others have had problems. I once phoned them and got this Indian guy who I could not understand, so I said that I was deaf (which I am) and could not understand what he was saying and politely asked him if there was someone English I could speak to, and much to my surprise I found myself then talking to a very helpful English lady.

So all in all after 32 years of having been a BT customer I can not complain.

I've had a number of calls from this 0870 number, and those that I've been able to answer have been VERY rude.  Each time I've been trying to turn off the radio or sort something in the kitchen, so I ask for a moment, and they hang up.  This is at the very least discourteous, if not down right rude.  Tomorrow I'm heading into my local branch to lodge a formal complaint about this (so called) service.  I don't know what they are going to say, but at least it will be a human, and face to face, not someone in a small cell in a call centre who is running to a script, and hasn't the time available to wait 10 seconds to carry on.

Who else should I report this to - Ofcom? and/or someone else???

Hi.

I am also getting calls from this number, over the last few days & when I answer it the line stays quiet then the call is ended from the other end. I am with the Halifax, I have an ISA & a current account with them, but I am not in debt or behind with anything with them, strange.

I am with BT & I got the TPS through BT free of charge, I have checked & my number is registered on the TPS site.

I just tried to ring the above 01422 number, but switchboard is closed. so i'll ring them Monday (tomorrow).

At least I know what this number is now, thanks to this site.  8-)

Daz.