The dark side of price comparison websites?
Posted by Steve (fidgetwith.com)Article last updated: Jun 26, 2010
Apr 19
These days if you want a better deal on anything from a loan to car insurance, one of the best ways to cut the cost is using a price comparison website.
Like most net savvy people, it takes a lot of trust for me to enter my precious personal details into a website. I like to know they are only going to be used for the purpose I am entering them for.
Last week I used a number of price comparison sites – comparethemarket.com, confused.com and moneysupermarket.com to get a better deal on my car insurance renewal. They worked well, saving me quite a lot. So a good result – or so I thought.
I’ve been using price comparison websites for two or three years now without any problems – OK, you might get the odd call from an over enthusiastic sales person who gave you the best quotation, but well, I gave these Insurance companies my details, right? no real harm done.
Cold call
Today, something different happened. I got a cold call on my mobile phone. Now, before I continue I need to make you aware of something. I hate cold callers with a passion. They have no right to disturb my day peddling their rubbish at their convenience and at my expense. Because of this, my mobile number is ex-directory and registered with the TPS to stop cold callers. It normally works, but today it didn’t.
My mobile rang with caller ID 02079807360. I didn’t recognise the number. On answering the call, I was asked to confirm my name. How did this unknown caller know who I was? “Do you have any loans or credit cards?” she asked. I asked who was calling and where they got my number from. “We are ’The Claim Guys’, and we got your details from a price comparison website”. As she did not know which price comparison site it was, I asked to be put through to a supervisor. The caller said she would, then promptly cut me off.
I have called them back and asked for a supervisor to call me back within 24 hours and for them to remove my details from the system. I’m not too hopeful of either happening.
Similar problems
A quick Google of both the caller ID number brought up a number of hits with people having similar problems from “The Claim Guys” all after using price comparison sites since the start of this year, such as:
Keri: Have rung me constantly for 2 days…. have had 17 missed calls!!!!
and:
Joy: Rang me on my mobile. I never answer calls I don’t know. Rang back from landline as withheld number and they are “The Claims Guys”. These rang me once before and I asked them not to ring me back – started ringing me after using a car insurance comparison site. I have warned everyone I know not to use comparison sites.
So, what is happening here? Is one of the price comparison sites abusing our trust and selling our personal details to a third party who supply a service we have not asked for? Or is there a rogue insurance company out there reselling our details?
I’ve done some digging into the company “The Claims Guys”. Here is what I have found out:
Company name: The Claims Guys Limited
Company registration number: 06821134
Registered address:Lynnfield House
Church Street
Altrincham
Cheshire
WA14 4DZ
The company seem to specialise in trying to claim back personal protection insurance you have paid. They may provide a valid service to some, but the ways they get customers would appear to be somewhat underhand.
The company has two directors – Timothy Andrew Berry from Warrington and Mark Philip Simpkins from Wilmslow (Their full home addresses are public information, but I’m not going to publish them in full here – after all, the company has promised they have removed my details, right?).
There is also a holding company called Leadx Holdings Ltd. This is based at the same address in Altrincham. Looking at the other businesses these two individuals are directors of, there is a whole host of loan companies, insurance companies and other financial companies – many of which are dissolved.
The same goes for the holding company.
I’ll leave you to your own conclusions about how personal details are getting to this company, but according to Companies House, the Directors have connections with Insurance companies and I asked the price comparison sites for an Insurance quotation.
My advice to you. If 02079807360 shows up on your called ID – Don’t answer and try to remember if you used a price comparison site recently. If you have, let me know which one/ones by using the comments form below. We may then learn which are the “safe” ones to use. Oh, and if you are wanting to reclaim your PPI – don’t pay – check out the Consumer Action Group website – they will help you do it free of charge :)
I have contacted the three price comparison websites I mentioned above for their comments. I will update this post if/when I receive them.
UPDATE 20th April 2010
I’ve been doing a little more research into this and I have narrowed down most complaints to the use of the comparethemarket.com website. A look at their current partner list shows no trace of Leadx Ltd (the company responsible for these cold calls) – however, a google search of the website for the phrase “leadx” shows otherwise:
(Click image for full size)
It shows the last time Google indexed their “trusted” partners page, Leadx Ltd was listed. So what happened? Have they removed them from the list? Are they using a different name? I’m still awaiting a reply from Comparethemarket.com and will post the response, if any, when I get it.
I won’t be using comparethemarket.com again in a hurry…
Update 21st April 2010
I have had a reply from Confused.com which reads:
Good Morning,
Thanks for taking the time to get in touch with us regarding your recent blog post. I’d like to confirm that we don’t sell leads to any third parties (as outlined in our Privacy Policy) and any cold calls you have received wouldn’t have come as a result of using Confused.com. The data that we pass to our partners is only done so under strict agreements that we have with them not to misuse this data, and we take this very seriously.
As you say in your post, The Claims Guys received your data from ‘a price comparison website’; if they do contact you again, try and find which site they allegedly received your details from. You’ll then know specifically who to speak to in order to rectify this.
I’m sorry that you’ve had this experience, and I hope it won’t deter you from using Confused.com again in the future. If you do have any further problems or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us again.
Kind Regards,xxxx
Customer Support Team
Confused.com
A big thumbs up from me to Confused.com – not only for confirming you are not using my details for reasons other than I expect, but for also replying. Neither of the other two price comparison sites have yet.
Also, here are some other caller ID numbers known to be used by Leadx recently:
01792656750
08443571621
01454635900
08456851223
Have you been cold called by “The Claims Guys”? Are you from a price comparison site? Please leave your comments below.
UPDATE: Since writing this, I have posted an update with full replies from the Price Comparison sites here
Related posts:
Another number they use is 01753575300. I too have used a comparison website recently. I told the Claims guy that I wasn’t interested and hung up. Had no return calls yet, but then it has only been 1 day.
Sounds like confused.com are legit. I know I won’t be using any sites like this again anyway.
The TPS also do a mail preference service for your post.
Thanks for the updates.
@Mat, thanks for your information. I’ve now had some responses and some more information, so i should be posting an update to this in the next couple of days. Just waiting forone final piece of information. Keep your eyes peeled on the main homepage or follow my twitter feed @fidgetwith.
Have had 3 missed calls in 3 days from 02079807360 – glad I found this blog before ringing back! The only site I’ve used recently is Travel Supermarket – part of Money Supermarket.com. I’ve used confused.com loads for different quotes and have never had cold calls – only calls from insurance companies chasing a quote. Thanks for all your research!
Just had a dropped call from 02079807360.
I have been using the comparethemarket.com over the last few days.
Apart from passing on my details – I am not at all convinced that they give as wide a choice on insurance as they would like you to think. A lot of the Insurance Brands they give top listings to are administered by BISL Ltd – the company behind Budget Insurance.
I won’t be using them anymore – simples!
I have recieved calls from 02079807360 (Claim Guys). The only website I used to check for car insurance two days ago – moneysavingsupermarket.com. Their quotes were loads more expensive than other quotes I obtained from ringing round a few insurers. Will not be using them again – I didn’t realise that they would sell my contact information! Not amused!!
Sorry the above quote was mean’t to say moneysupermarket.com! Silly me!
Thanks for the extra info guys. I should be posting an update about this on Tuesday (I think i’ve given them all enough time to repsond now!) so keep your eyes peeled or subscribe to the RSS feed :) Thanks for reading.
Hi.
To add to Charles’s comment: I used a comparison website a while ago. I recieved calls from the top 5 companies on the results screen. They were all sister companies or had dealings with each other, and they all said they couldn’t insure me at the price I was quoted on screen. A little mis-leading I think. The next cheapest, the 6th one on the list was actually more expensive than what I pay now for my current insurer.
What a waste of time.
Thanks for all the kind feedback. I’ve posted an update article now here http://www.fidgetwith.com/2010/05/04/price-comparison-sites-respond-to-leadx-cold-calling-issue/
Thanks for all your research… being contact by these pests for 2 days… hopefully they’ll go away soon… just been ignoring them.
i’ve come up with a really neat, non-offensive strategy to actually nip this in the bud.
*you have to be in front of your computer for this to work*
let them have their few minutes of fame, let them talk and agree with everything they say.
then…
go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd7UHPaqhZQ and turn your speaker up gently as the ice cream van comes round the corner in the video.
when this happens, simply say: “One moment please…(turn up the speaker)…ICE CREAM MAN!!”
and slam the phone as hard as you can back down on the receiver.
@Big Checka – Haha, nice one.
Hi, I have just read your article and all the related comments and the other page with the replies you have received from the online comparison sites. I must say, I am so glad I found this page. I have received numerous calls from the above number (ending 360) and quite frankly, I never answer my mobile unless I either recognise the number or am expecting a call. If they want me that badly, they can leave a message and I’ll decide if I want to contact them. This company has contacted me a few times and never left a message but I got a bit sick of the calls so punched the number into Google and that’s how I came to your site. These stinking cold callers who intrude your working day, are rude to you and try to sell you something you are not interested in make me sick. One company that specialised in personal injury actually told me I was lying when I said I hadn’t had an accident in the last 3 years and then promptly hung up on me when I told them I was a trained solicitor. I have used comparethemarket.com in the last few months and am absolutely furious they have sold my details to these cowboys. I will never ever use them again and will tell everyone I know to boycott them in favour of confused.com. Thank you for your article. It is a public service!
02079807360 came up on my mobile 3 days after using confused.com for house insurance
Have also been cold called on my mobile by 02079 807360 about 3 times which I have not answered. This after using moneysupermarket.com so I think they are one of the suspects as I have not been in touch with any other price comparison website for a while now. John.
has anyone actuallly taken up their offer of reclaiming back money from protected loans?
also had call from them after using comparethemarket
I was cold called by the Claims Guys from 020 7980 7360. They said they wanted to help me claim back credit card insurance costs. The caller wanted me to confirm my house number, which I refused to do. I said I would research their company before giving any of my details. They rang back and I asked them to send me information by post. They wanted to know my date of birth ‘for data protection’. I refused to give it – since when does anyone need a date of birth to post a letter, and he said he had it anyway. I suggested he post the information and I would consider it. I expected the matter to end there. I received another call and I asked the caller about 20 times to give me the specific name of the organisation that provided my data. Every time, he refused to do this and said I must not have clicked a box on a price comparison website to prevent my data being given to others. I then asked him about 20 times for the name of his company’s data controller. Every time he refused to do this. He said he wasn’t refusing to answer my questions, his company uses many price comparison websites and my details were found on the internet, and I should just tell him which price comparison wehsites I had been on. He suggested I made a complaint via his company complaint procedure. I said I would prefer to complain to the Information Commissioner. Problem is, the first step is to ask for the data that Claims Guys holds on me, but I would have to provide sufficient proof of my identity e.g. passport, driving licence, bills etc. and send a cheque which would give them even more information about me. Who would want to provide people like this with more personal data? Is there another way of finding out what information is held about me, and complaining about this? I did not visit any websites, but my partner recently did a search for car insurance and must have plugged my data in to insure me too. So, even if he didn’t ‘tick the box’ for data not to be shared, I certainly have not given my permission to have my data shared. Christine
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Keep it coming, All good stuff! It’s good to keep the article up to date. Stats of hits to this article page show they are still at it.
Maybe if we all rally together and contact Watchdog, this will highlight the problem and bring it into the spotlight. They have people who research this sort of thing for a living.
Just a thought.
It seems a lot of people are annoyed about receiving cold calls from “0207 980 7360″. Have a look here: http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/02079807360
My problems started after using tiger.co.uk various insurers call you about the insurance you’re interested in and then get other cold callers.
To make it worse, got put on hold for 20 mins and then cut off by one of the companies that called me re insurance.
I used a few price comparison websites recently and have been getting at least one call a day for the past week from one of the numbers listed above. Have to say, i’ve been using Confused for years with no problem, used CompareTheMarket and GoCompare for the first time this year… and cold calling hear we go!
Won’t be using them again, or recommending them to anyone.
Visited comparethemarket and moneysupermarket sites yesterday (17.06.10). My wife had three calls last night! Each time she answered, the phone went dead. She rang 1471 and got the Claim Guys number each time. We have now registered with BT to have all such calls blocked. As per previous entries, it’s the last time I’ll use those sights
After using comparethemarket.com i wass called by this number but was at work and did not answer.
Sarah.
Got a cold call from this number. Wouldn’t have answered it but was expecting a call from someone else. These people are **** holes.
I used a website called yesloans just for an initial query – they appear to have given my number to all and sundry! )Data Mining!)
I keep getting quite aggressive people ringing both my mobile and work number asking me to claim back my insurance on my mortgage! When I told them I wasnt interested for the millionth time, they then got quite aggresive as to WHY i wasnt interested. I asked for a supervisor and was also quite promptly hung up on.
The numbers that keep calling me are 0207 9807360 and 01702 430225…both offering the same thing!
I have been plagued by this company since April, under exactly the same circumstances as described in the original posting. I have reported the company to both the Telephone Preference Service and Trading Standards, linking them to this blog post. I have also reported it to BBC Watchdog in case they are interested. I would suggest anyone who has also received such calls does the same, something will only be done about this company and their nefarious deeds if enough people report them to the appropriate authorities.
i’ve just had a call from this number, i’ve not used any price comparison sites though, i’ll try and think what i have entered any details for
I have had an e-mail back from the Telephone Preference Service in reply to my complaint. They have ordered the company to stop calling my numbers. If they don’t comply within 28 days I am to advise them and they will be referred to the Information Commissioner’s Office under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. Since complaining I have not received any more calls from this number.
So my recommendations are:
1) Register your numbers with TPS. And;
2) Don’t just take it, COMPLAIN!
@Howard – Thanks for the update and some sound advice!
got a call from them today, asking for my boyfriend (i used comparethemarket.com with his details about 9 months ago as the car is in his name). i haven’t put our details into any other websites since, so found it odd that someone called after so long. thanks for the info, the guy wouldn’t tell me anything, said he’d try the other number he had for my boyfriend, and that he had been on a website … something to do with claims. (all rubbish, my boyfriend hates and doesn’t understand the internet, and never got a call).
keep up the good work. hope we can put a stop to this somehow.
sarah.
just had a drop call from them, so done google search and found you. I for one will not be calling them back. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Gary
I used skyscanners to search for cheap flights and within24hours received a call from 02079807360. I was unable to answer it then I googled then number. The interesting thing is that I used my home computer but my phone is provided by my work.
Blue.
Saw this : http://www.theclaimsguys.co.uk/terms.php – it looks like them – same address etc… I note they have a “Careers” link. I think we should get one of us on “the inside” and see what they’re up to. (Just the two missed calls today for me btw).
I’ve had a missed call every day for the last couple of weeks from 0207 9807360. I’ve been looking for car insurance on moneysupermarket.com and gocompare.com. I haven’t used go compare. The strange thing is, I’m sure I didn’t put my mobile number into these sites!
I haven’t been on-line for months. Today I checked my e-mails and entered a competition through ITV.com. This is the only possible place that could have sold my details.
I just got missed call on
mobile from this number so googles it to find this.
I used confused . Com 2 weeks ago and was ONLY site I used so was them.
Hi, I have recently been bombarded on my mobile by the number 02079807360. The first couple of times I answered it the line was quiet, since then I have rejected around 15 more calls from this number in the space of a week – it’s now getting annoying!! My car insurance was up for renewal this month and the last time I used a price comparison website was probably around the end of July last year (2009), so maybe that explains everything!!
It’s interesting to see just how many people are suffering cold calls from this company. I had a missed call from them yesterday and again today… Interestingly, they’ve just called me whilst i used my phone reading the entries on this webpage! They’ve also called my fiance yesterday, and hung up when she answered…
The thing is, i believe these firms have another way of getting people’s numbers. Neither of us have been on a price comparrison site for over a year, BUT my fiance HAS recently sold her old mobile phone to one of these ‘we’ll buy your old phone’ websites, similar to Mazuma. Although her contact list was deleted, I know it’s possible for people using specific software to retrieve information from mobile handsets. Could these campanies be selling this info on..?
It’s the only logical reason i can see how this company could have both mine and my partners mobile number…
It’s just a thought worth bearing in mind if you, or anyone you know that has your number, has sold on an old mobile phone.
http://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/Default.aspx
Got 2 calls from these jokers and we are registered with TPS.
Above is direct link to complain to TPS, I pasted in their details from your good work. My wife used GoCompare and had to put in our home number or it wouldn’t give her the quote. Now we know why.
Keep up the good work!!
comparethemarket.com, same thing, loads of calls, driving me nuts, luckily I have not answered one yet
I see that you found Leadx listed as a “trusted partner” for Compare the Market. The phrase, “you agree to receive communications from our trusted partners” always brings a wry smile. When someone phone or emails out of the blue, how do you know they’re a trusted partner of a company with a legitimate business relationship with you? They never say that we got your phone number or email from **** at the start of the conversation or in the email subject. So how do you distinguish a communication from a “Trusted Partner” from the rest of the spam?
Hi.
I have just googled the number 0207 9807360 and this post came up. After having read it through, I thought i ought to let you know, just last week I used confused.com to compare car insurance for my new car. And today (1 week later) i received a call from this number, asking for me, I asked who was calling and they disconnected the call. I have ONLY used confused.com and no other comparison sites or any other sites recently where I have been asked to enter my contact details. So I believe confused.com is the only source to my details being passed on……?
Hi, same story here, but I just would like to add that I have never used any price comparison sites except confused.com (and that was a while ago). I was called by the claim guys and when demanded for my number to be removed from their database, they simply hung up.
I have got a call from the number today and I haven’t used any price comparison sights. A month ago I did use travel supermarket but didn’t enter my personal details. I have however used Experian quite recently and have noticed (via forums like this) that they are passing numbers out to 3rd parties as I have been called by at least 3 different vendors in the last month.
I just received a call from 020 7980 7360, I missed the call so naturally I called it back to be told,
“thank you for returning our call, someone from the claims team will answer your call shortly”
9 mins later!! Someone answered only to cut me off straight away!! So I googled the number and here I am! I don’t recall using a comparison site recently though, so where on earth have they hot my number from? I never give my mobile number out anyway! I’m utterly puzzled! (not to mention annoyed for being on hold for going on 10 minutes!)
I just read the post from Tina Jones and I am also a member of Experian, but I would be appalled to think that a company that holds such sensitive personal information would sell there data on! I really hope not!
I have received calls from 020 7980 7360 at approx 11.00 and 17.00 every week day since 28th September. I have never entered my number on a price comparison website!
My mobile number is on my c.v. which has been registered with Monster and Total Jobs.
I will just continue to ignore their calls they will get the message eventually…I hope
020 7980 7360 called me 24 hours after using Compare the Market. I know it is them as I always normally use the Merecat but for some reason changed on this occasion.
amazingly im now getting this. and i used uswitch.com and comparethemarket.com
Used confused.com and comparethemarket last month – for past week have been rung three times a day by 02079 807360.
Hi – think everyone should follow this link and fill in the complaint form fro TPS like this person suggested:
http://complaints.tpsonline.org.uk/Consumer/Default.aspx
Got 2 calls from these jokers and we are registered with TPS.
Above is direct link to complain to TPS, I pasted in their details from your good work. My wife used GoCompare and had to put in our home number or it wouldn’t give her the quote. Now we know why.
Keep up the good work!!
I went on Go Compare and this number called me two days later, after reading the above messages i expect more now!
In my experience the best way to avoid these problems is to use a price comparison website, supplying a bogus number (01234567890, for example – you’re likely buying online and not over the ‘phone, right?), then go direct to the website of the company whose quote you like and use their own website to buy insurance or whatever, using your real information.
Also, read the line next to the opt-out checkbox. As many of them say, “Tick the box if you do NOT want us to send you junk or give your details to all and sundry,” people often assume they all do the same and tick the box – especially if they are pressed for time. A lot of cunning companies are wording the get-out in a way that a speed-read would make you think you’re saying “No” when you are actually saying “Yes,” which becomes apparently if you read the sentence slowly.
Oh, and if you go into an O2 shop to upgrade your O2 mobile, watch it. They tick the “Contact me with offers” and “Share my details” boxes and then tell you that they can’t change it once it’s printed out for you to sign. Last time I upgraded I refused to sign up until it was changed and the manager had to come down in the end, when I demanded it – and he was quite aware that consumer law requires them to ask you the questions and submit the answers you give. It’s shocking, really.
When i’m searching for car insurance etc, i do all the comparison sites and even though i tick all the relevant no-contact boxes i still get inundated with texts and calls..frustrating but i have grown to recognise the calls and just ignore them. however… i have had a fairly long run of peace until these last few days!
Having cut up my credit cards recently and with my overdraft up the hilt i needed a quick fix to get my car out of the garage with a huge bill. I stupidly called provident/ greenwoods and have now been bombarded with irrelevent texts and calls. mainly 02079807360 and texts from FAST7.co.uk 07786209445 and asking to contact 01234482614.
It seems everyone these days sells your info and every opportunity i get to give out an alternative contact number i just give one of these numbers out. Egg is a good one..if they bombard u with calls they give u an option to input an alternative contact number..i just input their own number and the calls stop for weeks.
Without a doubt it’s linked to compare the market. They are the only comparison site I’ve ever used as I’ve never owned a normal car before this week. I used them to get an idea of price and now im getting three to four calls a day.
Tps here I come!
I have to agree, My home insurance is now due I am getting calls from Lead x, on my office & mobile. 08443571618 just another number to look out for, as I’m sure they change them at will. I googled them found this very inteesing artical, hope they don’t call back,
I had a call from ‘The Claims Guys’ this morning. Normally I don’t answer if I don’t recognise the number – I Google it and if it’s a nuisance caller like The Claims Guys/LeadX I answer the second time telling them they’ve got the wrong number. Works a treat :)
Anyway… they ‘had reason to believe’ I’d been mis-sold PPI. When I asked where they’d got this information the caller said either from Swinton Insurance or The Insurance Guys. Now I’ve never done any business with either of these firms, but it’s possible they got the information a price comparison website. The only one I’ve used in the last year or so is confused.com, and I’m always careful to opt out…
For the benefit of those using a search engine, the number they called me from came up as 002031671196.
Used confused.com and moneysupermarket.com, for car ins quotes, so its one of these, never used confused.com before and now have started getting these calls.