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Data Protection Act
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
At work tonight I was having a discussion with a few mates and thought I'd throw it open to you guys.
One of them is going through a messy relationship breakdown. He's moved out of the 'marital' home while it's all being dealt with.
Just before he moved out he had a parking ticket and the fine came through the door which he was planning on getting around to paying, although with his personal problems he didn't get around to doing so, so they sent him an increased fine of £90 for not paying it within 14 days.
This isn't the issue by the way.
Whilst he's estranged from his ex, he doesn't want her knowing anything about his affairs, however when the 2nd demand came through the door (his vehicle is still registered at that address) she opened it and phoned the company to find out more details of any other fines he has outstanding (he has 3).
Apparently she told them she was willing to pay them all with her credit card so the parking company told her exactly how much he owed.
She then ended the call without paying a penny and now knows about his situation which he is not happy about.
The question is, has the parking company broken the DPA?
They aren't married and he's never given her permission to speak to them on his behalf. He's furious that she was able to get this information on the pretence that she would pay it. When he phoned them to complain, all they said was "most people would be grateful to have someone offer to pay their bills".
One of them is going through a messy relationship breakdown. He's moved out of the 'marital' home while it's all being dealt with.
Just before he moved out he had a parking ticket and the fine came through the door which he was planning on getting around to paying, although with his personal problems he didn't get around to doing so, so they sent him an increased fine of £90 for not paying it within 14 days.
This isn't the issue by the way.
Whilst he's estranged from his ex, he doesn't want her knowing anything about his affairs, however when the 2nd demand came through the door (his vehicle is still registered at that address) she opened it and phoned the company to find out more details of any other fines he has outstanding (he has 3).
Apparently she told them she was willing to pay them all with her credit card so the parking company told her exactly how much he owed.
She then ended the call without paying a penny and now knows about his situation which he is not happy about.
The question is, has the parking company broken the DPA?
They aren't married and he's never given her permission to speak to them on his behalf. He's furious that she was able to get this information on the pretence that she would pay it. When he phoned them to complain, all they said was "most people would be grateful to have someone offer to pay their bills".
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Comments
Not sure what he wants to do about it though.
Let's not forget who was in the wrong here...
An awful lot of fraud will be cut out, for starters.
It is quite rightly against the DPA. Because of this very reason.
Like I say, I've taken money from spouses which involved (obviously) disclosing the sum to be charged to the card. Had I not done this, there would have been a lot of angry people. And I can't see how this prevents fraud - as long as the usual checks are carried out - there aren't many fraudsters who will pay for the victim's parking fines.
In this case, the guy is just passing on his frustration with his ex onto the parking company.
The company were in the wrong, the DPA is a good piece of legislation, and comments to the contrary are a bit odd, tbh.
The company is responsible for making sure its talking to the right person, and that they have permission.