Financial company calling my place of work and leaving messages. Case of mistaken identity but keep calling. Any options for me?

gooner85 on 01/03/2019 - 13:29
Last edited 01/03/2019 - 13:30

Hi all.
I have been chased by a group pioneer credit who have found my name on Google. They are looking for a person with the same name and in Melbourne where I live.

Now they have called a few times and introduced themselves as financial people and it comes across to my boss and workmates who have taken the phone message that I have some financial issue which I don't have.

This is mistaken identity as the person was born in 82 not my date of birth.

Is there any breach of privacy as they have called my work and not contacted me privately. They say they use a public database which is Google. But say of my name my John Smith they wouldn't be calling every John Smith in Melbourne so smells of a bit of racism as I have a unique ethnic name.

They have done this before and I have told them to stop. Any board or people I can report this to. Are they breaching my privacy googling my professional role and calling my place or work?

Thanks for the help

Financial

Related Stores

pioneercredit.com.au
pioneercredit.com.au

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 01/03/2019 - 13:32
    -2

    Scam

    /thread

  • TRAVELO on 01/03/2019 - 13:33
    +4

    https://ocf.afca.org.au/

  • [Deactivated] on 01/03/2019 - 13:36
    +1

    Do they say a proper name of a debt collection agency?

  • Randxyz123 on 01/03/2019 - 13:42
    +4

    Call them (via their number found on their website), tell them it isn't you and to stop calling you at work.

  • Seraphin7 on 01/03/2019 - 13:43
    +7

    Have you spoken them and told them they are not who they are looking for? Have you told them to stop calling you?

    Ensure you have done these things first. If they call again, you can then take further action.

    There's no racism involved. These sorts of outfits use various techniques to track people down. The fact that you have a unique name just makes it a bit easier for them (and unfortunate for you).

  • trustnoone on 01/03/2019 - 13:44
    +1

    Get their info, depending on how bad it is, could you report it as harassment? Maybe worth keeping a diary now, of all the times they've contacted you, dates, issues etc probably helps build a case of some sort if things get worse? (not a lawyer no idea if this would work well though).

  • salmon123 on 01/03/2019 - 13:46

    I have a similar issue with AGL. Seems like my options for complaints are pretty limited.

  • Baysew on 01/03/2019 - 13:48
    +8

    so smells of a bit of racism as I have a unique ethnic name.

    Your name can't be unique if you are claiming mistaken identity.

    • gooner85 on 01/03/2019 - 14:33

      I guess not!

    • bobbified on 01/03/2019 - 15:09
      +7

      Definitely not unique. I know lots of people who share the same name as OP, but slightly different surnames.

      Couq Head
      Couq Sucker
      Couq Block
      … and a few others 😝

  • [Deactivated] on 01/03/2019 - 13:57
    -1

    how often are they calling? if its frequent, you can raise a complaint with your companys telco about receiving the calls.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/03/2019 - 14:09

    Pioneer are a dent collection agency. I used to work debt collection, from memory they are not allowed to continually contact you at work.

    Call them and tell them they have the wrong person.

    You probably want to figure out where they got the info (probably linked in) and adjusting that. Try googling your name yourself. I do a couple of times a year as I have a unique last/first name combination.

    • Quantumcat on 01/03/2019 - 14:35
      +7

      They can have some of my car's dents

    • Bargain80 on 04/03/2019 - 16:42

      didn't know some people are collecting dent. maybe I should call them for my car's dent.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 01/03/2019 - 14:17
    -2

    There is no general right to privacy under Australian law unless you work for the government.

    Regardless, they aren't breaching YOUR privacy as you aren't the person they have details of and are attempting to contact.

  • gooner85 on 01/03/2019 - 14:32

    Thanks guys

    It's the third time but just frustrating to be called at work.

    I've talked to the supervisor and they have assured me no more calls.

    Dodgy af

  • elgrande on 01/03/2019 - 14:45

    If your info is on the web then no privacy breach

  • Stimps on 01/03/2019 - 16:03
    +1

    The child in me says to find direct contact numbers for them and return the harassment tenfold.

  • Donaldhump on 01/03/2019 - 17:19
    +1

    brew up a fart and blast it down the line at them. that will stop them quick

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