Hoax Data.

[markpearcy]

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As a purchaser of finance leads, we undertook some analysis recently on the hoax subset of data we receive on a daily basis.

Do you feel there is anything financal enquiry web sites can do to help reduce the amount of people who leave false data? Hoax rates can be as high as 1 in 4, so we're just trying to fathom why so many surfers choose to leave wrong/dead phone numbers. Whilst it's something we'll never fully eradicate, we are keen to kickstart a debate about it, and see if all parties (purchasers/merchants/lead gens and affiliates) could do something to reduce the impact.

In our industry many sites are geared up around the price comparison model and we feel there may be an expectation of "if I leave my details, any details for that matter, I'll get a screen that pops up and gives me an instant quote" Just interested whether you feel your site may/may not give off that impression.

It seems a shame and in a way ridiculous, to leave it as "something you have to deal with" as a) you affiliates must get incorrect conversion data as you never know just how many leads will be returned, b) the lead gen has to process all of the returns, c) we have to send them back.

We have one idea to solve the problem and we feel it shouldnt adversely affect conversion rates, as it only filters out the person you currently don't get paid for, and that's a pop up box that implicity somehow states, and we'ere trying to work out how to do this in a positive way.... "you will not get a best buy table when you click submit"

Interested to hear what your thoughts are (that includes merchants on this forum too), + we are canvassing opinion at the major lead gens as we speak.

Thanks.

[Gingertom]

IMO the problem with hoax details is the fact that many people are simply looking to see what they can get, rather than actually wanting the product. They are "just looking", therefore because they are not ready to commit, they don't want to be contacted. This may be the inherent problem with comparison sites, it gives the impression of non commital browsing, imo. We have tried a variety of different site styles, for our leads, and we found that, with the more direct type of site,(click here to get your quote) type of site, you get less enquiries, but the quality is much better.