Personal Details.

DX-SFX

Sorry if this has been asked before but am I obliged to give a shop all my personal details when buying small items for cash?

MercilessKiller

Hey.

What type of shop? Retail? Online? Wholesaler?

Equally what type of items? TV related ? etc...

scullster

No you don't (except for TVs maybe, Currys used to request those details for the purpose of TV licensing).

They could if they wanted to refuse to sell you the goods though - that's always their perrogative.

M Mouse c/o Goofy Boulevard, Tinseltown, QU9CK

staffie1

DX-SFX wrote: »

Sorry if this has been asked before but am I obliged to give a shop all my personal details when buying small items for cash?

What shop and what 'personal details' are you being asked for?
Please elaborate.

yorksrabbit

DX-SFX wrote: »

Sorry if this has been asked before but am I obliged to give a shop all my personal details when buying small items for cash?

No. You're not. It's a cash transaction. Were it a credit transaction where the finance was provided by the retailer itself, that'd be a different matter.

As like as not it's a Halfords-style check-out, where you're asked for your address details so you can go on their mailing list.

If you wish to, then fine. But just make sure that, if asked, you give a mangled home phone number -- and also a mangled email address (I always use familymailer179@ yahoo.com, it's total gibberish but looks OK) if you don't want email offers, either.

Amanita_2

DX-SFX wrote: »

Sorry if this has been asked before but am I obliged to give a shop all my personal details when buying small items for cash?

No you don't - unless it is TV or TV recording equipment. I either refuse outright to give them the details or quite blatently lie - there is more than one company who have my details down as their own head office!

I also don't have a mobile phone or email address - of course I have both of these but they are for my convenience, not the stores marketing dept.

If I have to give a valid email address for an online retailer I use a bespoke one from one of my own domains that I can deactivate once the transaction is complete.

DX-SFX

Thanks, I understand the legal requirement the shops have to pass on the details to the TV licencing people when buying a TV.

No, this was Screwfix (an over the counter catalogue retailer like Argos) and all I was buying was a small tin of paint with cash. They insisted I had to give them my name and address because "that was their system". I'm no Ronnie Biggs on the run. It's just the principle that somehow I have to cough up personal information in order for me to buy just so they can then send me reams of unwanted junkmail or sell on my details to other parties. I can go down to Homebase and buy the identical tin of paint from them without the same aggravation.

bookworm1363

Ah, I had the same problem with Screwfix, and also kicked up on the "it's our policy"... Finally got an acceptable(ish) explanation, that it is for VAT purpose, as they are trade-based. However, since I am paying VAT anyway since I don't purport to be a trader, I still find it irrelevant in my case and therefore give them duff info.

bigoggy2007

just give them false details, it's easier that argueing. they are all sheep and can only follow the instuction on the computer

DX-SFX

bookworm1363 wrote: »

Ah, I had the same problem with Screwfix, and also kicked up on the "it's our policy"... Finally got an acceptable(ish) explanation, that it is for VAT purpose, as they are trade-based. However, since I am paying VAT anyway since I don't purport to be a trader, I still find it irrelevant in my case and therefore give them duff info.

That explanation by Screwfix doesn't wash. All shop receipts show VAT. If someone is VAT registered, they claim their own VAT back the usual way. I can see I'm going to have to put together a bogus name and address in future. Fighting fire with fire seems to be the solution although I strongly resent a retailer forcing me into that position.

oldagetraveller

It's probably as yorksrabbit states so they can send you their catalogue at regular intervals.