This is a regular problem and one that I am at pains to explain to the
companies that I do work for.
I did work for a major mobile phone company a few years ago and they had
created eight fields on their database to allow them to opt in/out people
who expressed direct preferences, you would be surprised how many people
they had lost for marketing through not having this facility.
As for the phone number, you may have given it in the past, but if it is not
essential to the contract then you can have it removed. However it does not
stop organisations asking.
A year or so ago I bought a new fridge=freezer, oven and washing machine as
40th anniversary presents for the in-laws, I was having them delivered to me
first as they were a surprise. I asked the usual details and then I was
asked if I was married or single. I queried this and the response was
"...you don't have to give the information sir, but we use the data to do
research on product buying which we then use to try and stock products that
suit our customers better..." or words to that effect. I gave the
information on this basis (and I am not bothered if people know I am married
or not, I have been for 16 years so the novelty either way has worn off).
I suppose what I am saying is that there is no harm in companies asking for
data, but it's nice if they justify the reasons for collection....
Merry Christmas all, and if you are not Christian, may your God walk with
you.
Simon.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Trent
Sent: 23 December 2005 08:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] When does processing become Unfair?
I have just phoned what one used to call "a major public utility" to query
my bill. This utility now supplies gas, electrickery (small prize for
identifying the kids' TV programme that comes from) and telephony.
I identified myself with customer number, name and first line of my address
(actually that is pretty poor identification!), and they asked me to confirm
my phone number. Hard to confirm it since I have never given it!
The call centre person had no idea why the number was being collected when
challenged. He stated that it was lawful to collect this data (differs from
my opinion), but was happy that he would now delete the data from his
record. This means it was not essential data and was thus "Excessive". So
we have twin issues: Unfair processing and Excessive data collection.
"You have opted-in to marketing, sir."
"Ok, opt me in to snail mail, and out of all other methods"
"I can only opt you right in or right out"
Additional Issue:
------------------------
So he has opted me right out, which is not what I want. Nor do I want any
form of marketing other than snail mail. This means that this large
corporation can now no longer market to me. They can arguably not even ask
me, now, if I wish to be marketed to! While my money is unimportant, 100
people like me start to become important (Ok, there are surely not 100
anally retentive people like me who understand DP and Marketing!) 1000 is
significant.
Tim Trent - Consultant
Direct: +44(0)1344 392644 Mobile:+44(0)7710 126618
email: [log in to unmask]
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