Is there some legislation to giving personal details on the phone?

Hi - Im sick of companies (who I do admittingly have conncetions with) calling ME but then asking me to go through security before I complete the call.

My argument is that THEY have called ME! If I call them then no problem

They never seem to get that i find it a preech of my personal identity to give out my DOB or ADDRESS to a complete strange who just 'says' they are who they are

I DO kindly ask (after they tend to argue with me) that if they contact me via email or letter ill respond accordingly OR if they tell me whats it regarding (for example an account issue rather then a cold call ill call them back) but they are unable to give me that information

Wondering if anyone has and idea of any thing more 'professional' 'legal' I can say

thanks

If they are legitimate they are asking you this so that they can verify that you are the person they actually want to talk to before proceeding. You might be annoyed if someone picked up your phone on the way past and the company started discussing your private business with them by mistake.

Having said that, you don't have to talk to them if you don't want to. You are quite right that if they want to discuss something with you they could put it in writing. I would recommend that you firmly but politely explain that you don't feel comfortable discussing business over the phone, and you would like them to write to you using the details they already have on record, which you see no need to confirm. If they persist, e.g. because it is an urgent matter, insist on a number and contact name.

Finally remember that the more you talk to cold-callers, the more you'll have to talk to in future, because they pass your information around. Don't be afraid to ask any company to remove your name from their calling database.

Good luck!

Mail a letter to the "do not call" registry. Don't just use the online database, MAIL them. That way you are PERMANENTLY in the registry, and not just for 3 years.

Also, look at the number of who is calling you if you don't have caller ID. Most of the people who are calling you for advertising tend to be outside of your area code. Your friends and family tend to be within your area code, or a familiar area code. You can program the names of your friends and family into your cell phone, even if you don't have caller ID. Just let the cell phone answer any number you don't recognize.

You don't have to give any personal info over the phone if they are calling you. I wouldn't and say in this day and age with all the people out there phishing/scamming for info you don't feel comfortable doing that and they should mail you the info.

I understand that you would need to give some info over the phone to certain companies when YOU are the one calling them (such as when you are setting up utlities, etc.) and giving them the account number to check your account, other than that I wouldn't give anybody who calls me any personal info.

No, you won't find any law that provides that people have to give out personal information over the phone unless they have initiated the call in order to buy something or conduct personal business.

hmmm legally you don't have to tell them squat over the phone...

just say no i am not providing that information to you.. if they deal with you in an unprofessional manner.. hang up.

Your Personal and Private Info is yours.

Invite them to write or sue.

THEY are under the obligation that they cannot discuss any account, etc, unless they know for sure, that it is the right person. So, asking for personal info/ identifying yourself, is for their own protection. The corner that they are backed into..is that you have NO obligation to tell anyone anything on the phone, and it is risky. You don't have to tell them what they want.
Collection companies being what they are.. of course, they will try to bully you into that info, for their advantage. They are trained to be forceful. All you need to tell them is that you refuse to give personal info on the phone to anyone. The legal obligation is on them, not you.
We get collection calls for persons who had our phone number over 3 yrs ago. I have gotten to the point that I don't even pick up the phone unless caller id has someone I know.
You can be courteous when refusing. When it gets to the point of being harrassed, I don't feel even that obligation any more.