Need some advice please

Tashja

I am asking this on behalf of my mum.

A couple of weeks ago my mum had a small patio layed in her back garden by a small firm local to her.

A few days after they started they set leaflets to every house in her area showing what work they did. On this leaflet they printed my mums full name and address - not just Mrs xx of xx Road - but the full address, name and postcode. The gist of the leaflet was "come and see our work".

This has made my mum very uncomfortable as she is out all day and because the patio is around the back she has had people walking around the back of her house when she isn't there to see the work :rolleyes:

She complained to the manager who basically abused her down the phone and said there's a credit crunch were a small firm YOU are being unreasonable not us. He then followed this up with a sarcastic comment about going to church on Sunday to pray for her forgivness :eek:

My dad phoned back (suspiciously the manager was polite to him !!) and this "manager" is coming around tomorrow to have a personal meeting with them.

My parents need to know where they stand on this matter - has this company broken any laws by sending out their personal details to every house in the area without their permission ??? Surely they have beoken some DP Laws ???

Any help would be much appreciated.

T xx

Errata

They most certainly have ! The Data Protection Act for a start, something that Trading Standards will be very, very interested in.

Tashja

Thank you - I have passed the link to this thread to my dad so he can get clued up for tomorrow.

T xx

ETA - They hadn't put her name or postcode just the full address - would this make a differance or have they still breeched the DPA ???

Jo_F

It may be a good idea to have a word with the local crime prevention officer at the local police station, as I am sure that they would be very interested.

As well as trading standards.

I would also be thinking of not paying them, if your parents haven't already paid that is.

Errata

ETA - They hadn't put her name or postcode just the full address - would this make a differance or have they still breeched the DPA ???

If any data is passed on it's a breach.

oystercatcher

If they asked for payment in cash the local tax office would be interested too.

OC

hayley11

oystercatcher wrote: »

If they asked for payment in cash the local tax office would be interested too.

OC

I get what they've done wrong with regards to data protection but why would the tax office want to know if they'd accepted cash as payment

Sorry if i'm being dense but just because they accept cash doesn't mean they're dodgy in that respect does it?

But yeah get them done for putting your parents address on a leaflet, cheeky bluggers!!

bunny999

If they ask for cash is is usually so they can avoid paying tax. They might be claiming benefits as well.