Data Protection Act -Is This A Myth

[barnaclebill58]

I sent an item off for repair and got a quote. Asked Mrs Bill to ring up and pay for it. The company refuse to speak to her citing the DPA. Is this right-she knows the reference , knows the amount , knows what it is about and just wants to pay them. She doesn't want any information from them.

[jno]

if they aren't being asked to hand over data, I can't see what needs protection. Their loss!

[woofgang]

utter botox. DPA controls what they tell others about you and how they use your info.
When my husband died I had to do the usual phoning round, cancelling stuff and moving DD's. Everyone was helpful except for Homeserve who wouldn't speak to me as my husband hadn't given permission. Fair enough, when they tried to draw the DD his account was closed. You can bet they wanted to talk to me then!!

[boxtops]

Misinterpretation of the Act, IMO - it happens frequently.

[bednobs]

even if you rang, how would they know it was you?

[Peter Pedant]

I was gonna say was the item the MI5 report into the Tea-Break war between Croatia and Latvia ?

It is a bit odd - obviously people can pay on behalf of others.

Perhaps they have just had their half-days training or else they had recently been burnt

[New Judge]

Unfortunately many companies (or more specifically their ill-informed staff, probably acting "under instructions") cite the DPA as a reason to refuse to conduct business in a straightforward fashion.

I've read the entire Act and believe me there is nothing contained within it which prevents the sort of interaction you describe.

These companies are just being idiotic, obstructive and pig headed and display an alarming amount of ignorance.

[Tuvok]

I sometimes get "we can't talk to you" about the BT account, but as soon as I say that its my account that the money come out of..."

[237SJ]

They are probably within their rights to not allow your wife to pay without your permission. Ever tried to enter APIS data into an airline database for your travelling partner when you go on holiday? If you do, you need to check a box to say that they have your permission. Probably the same in this case.

[New Judge]

Quite methyl.

But these are not matters covered by the Data Protection Act. If a company refuses to speak to a third party to discuss details of a transaction or whatever it may be their procedures and they may be trying (foolishly and unnecessarily in most cases) to protect their customers' privacy, but it is nothing to do with the Data Protection Act.

[barnaclebill58]

I put these points to the company and they have now said that they provided she knows my name , surname , address and amount payable , Mrs Bill can pay and apologies for the earlier confusion. Fortunately Mrs Bill does know these details.
Two phone and one email "customer service" operatives were confused!

[New Judge]

It's not surprising that staff are confused, bill. Employers if/when theytrain their customer facing staff simply drum in this mantra to them. I can understand them wanting to take care with their customers' details and accounts but to simply paint all of these protections under "Data Protection Act" is just plain daft and unhelpful. Further, to cover their backs, they allow their staff no discretion whatsoever and this adds to the stupidity.