People are getting a lot more cold calls and unsolicited offers on their home and business phones than they used to. The process can be very annoying and frustrating, and people are getting more and more upset about it. Many of these calls come from phone companies, especially mobile phone companies. Other calls are for things like new windows, insurance, and credit.
If you have bad credit or have had trouble getting credit in the past, being offered credit over the phone can be very tempting. There are, however, some risks that you should be aware of. The biggest problem with these calls is that you don't know who is calling you. Even if someone says they are from a good bank or credit card company, that doesn't mean they are. Because of this, you should be careful about what information you give out over the phone. Of course, you won't have to worry about this as much if you called or asked a reputable lender for the loan.
Under no circumstances should you feel like you have to give sensitive information over the phone or accept credit if you don't want to. If you do decide to take the credit offer over the phone, give out as little information as possible. They will probably need your address, but you can send them any other information in an application form through the mail. If someone calls you and asks for your payment information, bank account number, or other similar information, you should be very wary of them. If they are a real business, they should be glad to send you an application form in the mail.
Also, be sure to find out who you're talking to and what company they work for. Ask them for the address of their website so you can learn more about the company online. Also, when the application form does arrive by post, read it carefully and satisfy yourself not only that the offer is one you would like to accept, but also that the company is one that you would like to be dealing with. Finally, look at the address carefully and make sure that it all appears above board.
