Has anyone else experienced this? Today I ordered a Christmas gift over the phone from a catalog? I gave my order and NOTHING ELSE, and she had my address and credit card number right there without me identifying myself in any way. I did not give her my name, phone number, credit card number, a catalog code number, nothing. I assume they have caller ID, but isn't that getting just a tad too "efficient" for comfort?? Maybe I'm just behind the times here, I don't order over the phone very much, because I don't like to use my credit card. Usually Christmas is the only time that I break down and order this way, and I have never had this happen before. I don't like that feeling of being that "exposed" and don't think I will be doing business over the phone with a credit card any longer. What do some of the rest of you feel about this? Am I just out of touch with the times?

-- Tie A. (knot@endof rope.com), November 29, 2000

Answers

That sounds pretty fishy. I've ordered things over the phone and they always ask for some sort of identifying info, even if it's just confirming things they already have on file. What happens when you move and someone else gets your old number?

-- Leslie A. (lesliea@home.com), November 29, 2000.

I suspect we're talking cookies here. You may have ordered something from these folks in the past, even a different company under a corporate structure, and they kept the computer id number your computer sends and cross-referenced it to address and credit card number. Don't think they are suspose to do that but... I don't know how to do it, but there are fairly simple steps you can take to have your PC not send out cookies.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), November 29, 2000.

O.K. Ken, what are the fairly simple steps you can take to keep your computer from handing out cookies??? This I would really like to know. diane

-- Diane Green (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), November 29, 2000.

You or your spouse must have ordered from this company before. That's the only way they can put your credit card # with your name. When you order with credit card, they always keep them on file. The companys I do business with do. They cannot get account info from caller ID's, only phone book info.

If someone gets your old number, then the caller ID will show their name, not yours.

I ordered a catalog from a new place over the phone and the guy had my address on the caller ID. Just a more expensive caller ID. I wouldn't worry to much about it.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), November 29, 2000.

Uh Ken, the last I knew phones didn't do cookies.

Most browsers have a way to turn cookies off, but you probably don't want to. They can only save what you've already told the site, and lots of sites won't work without them. Notice how this site keeps track of your name and email so you don't have to enter it every time you post? That's cookies doing what they do.

==>paul

-- paul (p@ledgewood-consulting.com), November 29, 2000.

Funny this should come up. I just got back from bible study tonight and our teacher was talking about how she called up a company the other day and they knew everything about her without her saying anything. She asked about this (they knew checking and credit card info too) and the person told her that a lot of companies are capable of this now. It is a sort of super caller ID. We were studying revelations....eerie huh?

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), November 29, 2000.

==>paul is right. You can turn the "cookie" feature off, but then you will be bitchin about how hard your commonly accessed sites are to use. Even if a cookie is used for credit card info, generally the site requires a pin ID. AS to the phone business, I would report it to the FED's. Before you do however, make sure of your facts as false reporting can cause you problems.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), November 30, 2000.

I forgot to finish my last post. Since they aren't using cookies over the phone, they must have a caller-ID unit tied to their customer database--as others have said.

There is a magic number you can dial before you call out that blocks sending your number to the caller-ID unit. The only thing that will accomplish though is the first thing the sells-droid will do is ask you for your phone number.

==>paul

-- paul (p@ledgewood-consulting.com), November 30, 2000.

We have a "firewall" on our computer that blocks others from reading your cookies. The names of these free downloads are Neotrace and Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm blocks others, and Neotrace identifies the IP numbers of those trying to read your cookies!!!You need both downloads--they work together. You can find the downloads at www.downloads.cnet.com

Also interesting...Quest Communications SLAMMED our business phoneline...Marty called and complained, and the next day they tried to read our cookies over 120 times!!!!Weird huh??!!

-- Beth Weber (talmidim88@hotmail.com), November 30, 2000.

Just another of the many reasons I refuse to own a credit card.

-- Sandy Davis (smd2@netzero.net), November 30, 2000.

Fifteen years ago, I worked at a pet supply warehouse. One of my jobs was taking orders over the phone. This was when credit cards first were accepted as payment. I remember one woman saying she was going to pay by credit card. When I asked for her number, she said she wouldn't give it to me. When I asked how she planned on paying, she said by credit card. She couldn't understand the concept back then. Boy, times have changed.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), November 30, 2000.

Hey Beth. AT&T slammed by home phone 3 years ago. They sent one of those checks (50.00) to the person who had my new number before I got it. I had this number 6 months and they sent HIM the check to switch. Well, the turd cashed the check, and switched my long distance to AT&T. I found out 30 days later when the bill came. I do not take these things to lightly, and by the time I was through with AT&T, they sent me a check for $100.00. Twice what the phone charges were. I did not, nor would I give AT&T one cent. And I had a FREEZE put on my long distance. Everyone needs to FREEZE theirs. If you don't have a FREEZE, those telemarketers can push one button if you make them mad. Every time AT&T calls me to switch, I give them the whole story again, and they hang up! You get your money, Beth, your time for all the calling is not free.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 01, 2000.

== Just another of the many reasons I refuse to own a credit card. ==

Makes it kinda tough to rent a car, reserve a hotel/motel room, get airline tickets....

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), December 02, 2000.

Well folks, it has nothing to do with having a credit card, except that it is difficult to order over the phone without one. Some companies will go the (much more expensive) COD route, though. The database emanates from the phonecall, and they MAY keep your credit card # on file, but will usually not. You can have your phone company put a block on caller ID. ie., those with the caller ID capability will not be able to identify you when you call, and this service is free. HOWEVER, it DOES NOT WORK with toll free numbers, such as 800 or 888. If you really want them to be unable to automatically identify you, use the number by which you will pay for the call. Seems to be self-defeating though. You're going to have to tell them who you are if you order anything. Don't worry - be happy!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 06, 2000.

I think it's scary. My friend has been dealing with a credit card fraud problem for the past seven years. It seems someone in the Human Resources Department of her former employer (a large NYC medical center) stole her identity and sold it to other criminals. They had every bit of information on her needed to take her identify, including mother's maiden name and fingerprints! It ended up in a Federal investigation because it involved mail fraud. The people were caught--were part of a huge organized crime ring. Anyway, these people were able to change her address on her bank accounts and almost wiped out her entire savings account. They also charged up a storm on her numerous credit cards by changing the address on those accounts too. What is even scarier is that the bank and credit card companies make it so easy for criminals to commit fraud. My friend was advised to always be vigilent because her information is out there. Her accounts are not even in her name anymore. She says she feels terribly violated. I believe we have allowed things to become this way, by giving out our SS #'s so freely. We cannot even trust employers to keep our information secure.l

-- Amy (acook@in4web.com), December 06, 2000.