Data Protection Act

[MTbowels]

My local authority has passed on my ex-directory phone number to a firm of private contractors. these contractors have now phoned me to make an appointment to come into my home.

Doesn't the Data Protection Act prevent the passing on of such information to third-parties? Surely, my permission should have been sought? I can't remember giving my number to the council yet this is the only way I can see that the contractors could have got my number. Besides, I'm concerned because the council have now put my phone number into the public arena and God knows where it will go next.

[Eve]

Did you ask the council to fix a problem/get the contractors in? If so, how were you intending them to contact you? Is it a mobile/landline difference?

If they had the number, how would the council know you were ex directory? How do they contact you?

[hc4361]

If you are that concerned, change your number.
I can only conclude you asked the council to sort a matter out.

[Buenchico]

The Data Protection Act doesn't specifically bar a great many actions. All it does is insist that bodies who hold data about individuals should register the fact that they hold such data, and indicate the way that they intend to use that data. If the Information Commissioner accepts that the terms of the registration are reasonable, and the body holding the data only uses it within the terms which were agreed within the registration, everything is lawful.

So the local authority will have probably included within their registration application the fact that they intend to retain people's phone numbers and that they'll pass on such information to third parties under certain circumstances. As long as they've stayed within the terms of the registration it's perfectly legal.

Most of what the Data Protection Act really does is to give you the right to know what information is held about you. It doesn't prevent people from holding such information or (as long as they remain within the terms of any registration, where one is required) passing it on to others.

Chris

[MTbowels]

No, we didn't ask the council to get the contractors in. However, there is some major refurbishing work being done on the estate. The council did send me a letter saying a chap would turn up with a copy of the letter they sent to me to prove his identity. The contractor rang my landline number and left a message asking me to ring his landline number.

The issue isn't about my number being ex-directory. I thinking in terms of it being wrong that they've passed on my number to someone else. After all, it's not as if the contractor could look me up in the phone book!

[hc4361]

I really do think you are over reacting. The council has a job to do and the contractors need to get it done.
Being able to contact you by telephone must be a huge time saver for the contractors and yourself.
What do you think the contractor might do with your phone number that is worse than he could do with your name and address?

[MTbowels]

As I said hc4361, I didn't ask the council to sort a matter out. These people rang me out of the blue.

Thanks Chris for very useful answer.

[hc4361]

It wasn't really out of the blue. You were expecting them to call at your house. Maybe the called when you were out, perhaps more than once.

[MTbowels]

OK I'll explain further. The work the contractors wish to undertake is scheduled for three years from now. The contractors are working in phases and my property is in one of the final phases ie 2014. There is no earthly reason for them to contact me at this stage.

They are based in a city around 70 miles from my estate and even now, are not present every day on the estate. I live a considerable distance away from where they are working at present. Had they called on the telephone when I was out, my answerphone would have picked the message up - they rang my daughter this afternoon just after she got in from school.

[mumsie_wumsie]

Perhaps the date for the work to be done , in your house, by the contractors, has been brought forward. Until you speak to them, you will not know. My telephone number is ex-directory, but it does get passed on iff I need to be contacted for work etc. I see nothing wrong with this. Being ex-dir, just means no tom dick or harry can get your phone number.

[JimmyCooper]

Get a grip.

Ooohhh I had a phone call and I'm ex directory.

I'm ex directory and get calls form people I don't know.

Not like someone has died is it

[joko]

ex directory just means exactly - and only - that... that your number is excluded from the phone directory!
nothing more...
it does not mean your number is a secret, or private, or guarded, or forbidden to be viewed, or that you have special control over it!