** Reply to note from Tim Trent <[log in to unmask]> Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:51:32 +0100
> I have just had a very weird correspondence with a web based business that I
> will not name! I subscribed, thinking it was of use to me. It wasn't, so I
> tried to unsubscribe. There was no obvious way so I emailed the "info@"
> email address (enclosing the auto-email confirming my subscription thus:
>
> "Please see the enclosed email. I see no way of unsubscribing, so please
> delete my data record in accordance with the UK Data protection Act 1998 "
>
> And I received the most extraordinary reply:
>
> "Hello Tim,
>
> I fail to understand why you register then decide within the space of 5
> minutes to cancel the registration.
>
> The way you have worded your email sounds much like a threat. However, you
> may have failed to read our privacy policy.
>
> I have removed your details as requested. Something I have noticed though is
> that you have failed to request that your carefully worded email be deleted.
> Perhaps you should put a signature on the end to the effect of:
>
> This email is for immediate information only. Please read then feed the
> email to thin air, thus ensuring there is no trace of my conversation to
> you."
>
> I admit to astonishment, so I place it here as a case study in alienating
> customers. I will, of course, make a point of avoiding this organisation
> because of the overt hostility of their staff member! And I have emailed
> him and informed him that I am deleting him from the servers of
> http://partnermine.com, the business I own and was writing to him from,
> within the 21 days that I am required to do!
>
> Unsurprisingly I can find no trace of this organisation's notification under
> the DPA 1998! That seems to me like tempting providence, especially since
> they ask people online to subscribe to their site which is well positioned
> in sites of its class in search engines, and is UK based.
Ehmmm,
Do consider using a finer emery wet and dry paper from time to time.
Coarse sandpaper results in coarse finishing.
The translation. Yes you used threatening behaviour by claiming your
rights under the law etc etc, a friendly email could have done the trick.
Sorry if you don't see it ... I do and I am not saying this in order to annoy
you. Honestly, use a finer emery paper.
There can be another prolonged discussion about whether they should
delete all your data and how will they know that they should do so without
keeping a record that you asked them to do so ... chicken egg ... going
home for some liquid refreshments.
Charles
--
Charles Christacopoulos, Management Information Officer,
Planning & Information, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN,
Scotland, United Kingdom. Tel: 44(0)1382-344891. Fax: 44(0)1382-348845.
http://www.somis.dundee.ac.uk/ ::egothor http://www.egothor.org/
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