Removing user accounts

brownfrog

Could someone tell me how a user might go about removing an old account from this site, please?

dmg24

Accounts are not removed. Is there a reason why an account needs removing?

456789

just stop using it

WEEGIE

AS 456789 said just stop using the site. Is there any reason for wanting to leave such a wonderful site?

dmg24

caoimhin wrote: »

E-mail admin with your reqeust and if they don't comply inform them that they are breaching the terms of the data protection act if they won't comply.

Please elaborate on this, with reference to the DPA and the t&c's of MSE.

brownfrog

dmg24 wrote: »

Accounts are not removed. Is there a reason why an account needs removing?

Yes, the person concerned is dead. I don't really want stray loose ends like this hanging round..

WEEGIE wrote: »

AS 456789 said just stop using the site. Is there any reason for wanting to leave such a wonderful site?

I don't think it's good enough to just say 'stop using it'. If the account exists, then someone just needs the password to take it over, and I imagine most people aren't as careful with passwords on a site like this as they might be with bank accounts or whatever.

caoimhin wrote: »

E-mail admin with your reqeust and if they don't comply inform them that they are breaching the terms of the data protection act if they won't comply.

Thanks - I will. I think you might be right at that - I remember there was a big row about people not being able to delete Facebook accounts, and they had to change that.

dmg24

I'm sorry for your loss, I know how difficult it is when left to manage affairs after a death.

If the Team will not delete the account, they may be able to block the account (PPR - posting priviledges removed). This means that no one else can post under that username, but the other posts are not removed, so threads are not disrupted.

It is not a DPA issue, hence why caoimhin has not backed up their assertion. FB displays personal, identifiable information. MSE does not.

Rebel

A forum (and I have run them for in excess of a decade) does NOT fall under the DPA simply because there is no personally identifiable information included.

However in the event of a death if the next of kin requested it most forum admins will change the user name to guest and remove any access priveleges.

Once a post is made on a public forum, copyright belongs to the forum so no user has any RIGHT to demand it be removed especially as it could affect many other members of that forum, so this is all a matter of goodwill and requesting assistance (Which will usually be granted as far as possible on most decent sites)

PS Forums DON'T keep personal information for just those reasons.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

caoimhin wrote: »

E-mail admin with your reqeust and if they don't comply inform them that they are breaching the terms of the data protection act if they won't comply.

Wow thats a new one

MSE_Martin

I'm very sorry for your loss. If the person has died we should be able to close the account down so it can't be used again. We dont delete old posts as it means threads dont make sense with the posts missing. Please contact [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL] and explain the situation and it should help.

Martin