Are they allowed to show electorial roll info ?

Wig

CIS wrote:

The council can sell the lists to 3rd parties, under certain defined categories.

And, as long as the info was bought pre 2002, anyone could buy it and legally use it for any purpose. Sounds like they're not breaking the law, if the info predates 2002.

And it sounds like the inadequate laws need to be tightened up, so that pre 2002 electoral roll information is deemed illegal to be passed on or sold.

hollydays

The government is in the process of trying to change the Law,but not in time for the next election.

aliasojo

Wig wrote:

Debtfreechick says in the other thread that the 2001 register did not have the tick box, would your son not have been on that register as 18 or above....maybe maybe not depending on when he turned 18 and when the electoral roll was taken.

How did you ask them for removal, did you follow their process including providing more info about yourself?

I want an address to write a recorded delivery letter to them.

B4U.co.uk
90 Broad Street
Birmingham
B15 1AU
UK

Son would have been 18 at the start 0f 2001, register is around November (I think?) so he would have been included.

As for b4usearch, I just clicked the removal link on the site and ignored the request for extra info such as phone numbers. I got an email which I had to acknowledge and then that was it. A few days later....details gone from site.

They obviously don't do the checks they say they do.

Wig

Still think I'll put mine in writing with clear instruction to ensure that doing a "neighbours" search will not turn up my details.

I suggest you look at your neighbours and then do a neighbours search you might see your details are all still on there.!

aliasojo

Just searched neighbours addresses....no sign of me or OH, so removal must have been complete.

Iain_M

The following link takes you to an article headed "Information about opted out electors is being published... "
from the website of the Association of Electoral Administrators - the body for UK Election Officers:

http://www.aea-elections.co.uk/news/article.jsp?id=418

Let us hope that the Dept for Constitutional Affairs pays heed to the concerns being expressed and does something about the matter.

Since the introduction of the opt out in 2002, Council's are now restricted as to who is entitled to purchase the Full Register. The relevant regulation states "the registration officer shall supply on request and on payment of a fee calculated in accordance with regulation 111 above copies of a relevant document to a credit reference agency which is registered under Part III of the Consumer Credit Act 1975 (by virtue of section 147 of that Act) and which is carrying on the business of providing credit reference services."

Each Council has no choice about selling to the following firms authorised under the above regulation:
Experian, Equifax, Call Credit PLC and Aristotle International Europe Limited.

https://www.b4usearch.com , 192.com and any other internet search sites are not entitled to the Full Register. I gained the impression that these sites are a real pain to the Council as they continue to give the impression that they have the current register and also show electors who have opted out since 2002.

If you don't want to be on these search websites who are using the old Register of Electors then I'm afraid it appears that we will each have to request our own removal from each website.

I would also like these websites to correct the misleading impression that they have the current register of electors - they don't.

The edited register can be purchased by anyone and used for any purpose - the more people who have opted off the edited register the less likelihood there is of companies deciding to buy the edited register.

Access to the Full Register is restricted by law, and in my area it can only be viewed under supervision at the Council Office, and only hand written notes may be made. It is a paper document and is not available online. I

The Edited register (also only a paper document) can be viewed in our libraries, with the same restriction regarding note taking, although I understand that different policies may apply in other council areas with regard to taking copies.

You can apply in writing during the year to your Council's Electoral Registration Office to opt out (ie only appear on the Full Register), and the credit agencies will be advised of your changed registration. Alternatively you can await the arrival of the annual electoral form this autumn which will have a tick box for you to opt not to be in the edited register.

black-saturn

The info isnt pre 2002. I am listed under this address and I wasn't living here before 2002.

sweven

Action being taken
See http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/06/b4u_data_protection_breach/

mrsw

Why do they need your phone number ot verify removal? Do they actually call you?

hollydays

I did not give them my phone number or my new address but wrote and gave them my return address as one i am having mail re directed from.