Data Protection act used against the consumer

geo555

The Data Protection Act may have its good points, but this means that you cannot buy a present for anyone where a contract may be involved.
I purchased an ITV digital prepay box for my sisters christmas present. After the year was up, she wanted to renew the subscription. DPA says you cannot renew as you didn't purchase the box. Upshot was, she said stuff it, collect the box (they never did) and she got Sky installed instead. How many other customers did they lose this way? The trouble is, there is no common sense put in place, just a "I cannot speak to you, its not your contract" no matter what the benefit to the company would be.

IvanOpinion

I would have thought that the call centre person was correct. Irrespective of who is footing the bill they can not give out information about a phone to someone blindly if it is not in their name???? I have actually seen this before when I was trying to sort out a problem with a phone for my mum ... the call centre had to first phone my mother to get permission to speak to me.

I guess we reap what we sow ... we demand protection therefore we should not complain when it is used against us

Ivan

Savvy_Sue

Wig wrote:

sorry to hear that, yes it is annoying, even more annoying when you can't get up because you will wake up OH.

I've got a radio and pillow speaker under my pillow for just this eventuality! (Although why I should care when he's woken me up when he came to bed in the early hours I do not know!)

greenwich, I'm doing well thank you!

Getting back on topic (!) I think Wig's suggestion of getting your sister to phone and ask what she has to do to authorise them to speak to you is a good one. And I have just realised that my suggestion of saying you are your sister only works if the OP is also female ...