AA Internet Savings Account - Privacy, Data and SPAM!!

efunc

Hi all,

I've just applied foe an 'AA Internet Extra Issue 3' Savings account, and like all accounts these days I try to limit the information they have on me and also sell on to spam brokers :mad:

Well, the AA application doesn't have an 'opt out' facility that I could see during the application process. Instead, at the end of it they give you the 'option' of clicking on a tiny link to take you to their brief 'Use Of Information' document:

https://www.esavingsaccount.co.uk/AA/Registration/PrintUseOfInformation.asp

In this they state:

We will use your information to contact you by mail, telephone, email, SMS or otherwise about other products and services that may be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive this information please visit https://www.theaa.com/savings/use_information.html for details on how to opt out of this service.

By submitting this application you agree that we can use your information in the ways described.


I then grabbed this second url and visited the page, only to find there is no 'opt out' facility there either!! You just have to like it or lump it!

https://www.theaa.com/savings/use_information.html

Right at the bottom they offer this paragraph, in which they offer to steal a further £10 off you so you can observe the ways in which they sell your data:

"Your right to your information, how to contact us
If you have any questions about how we use your data, or would like a copy of the information we hold about you, please contact us at Compliance Team, Birmingham Midshires, PO Box 81, Pendeford Business Park, Wobaston Road, Wolverhampton WV9 5HZ. The Act allows us to charge a fee of £10."

Has anyone successfully been able to opt out?

SilentMinority

I won't be able to directly answer your question as, in the case of AA savings, I don't recall being able to specifically opt-out.

I agree with opinions4u in that you could contact them and let them know of the inconsistency.

A few years a go I tired of having to hunt down the opt-out option in every communication with HBOS where they tried to opt me back in. So sent them a letter.

I advised them to consider that letter as notification that I wanted to opt-out of all marketing communications of all kinds for ever, from all companies in their group, and this would apply to all past and future opt-out options. I would expect "in their group" to apply to AA savings.

I have no idea if this worked or if I managed not to miss any opt-out opportunities or if they really don't send much bumph anyway, but I don't receive any extra communications from them.

However, I can confirm that I have received no spam to the email address that I supplied to AA savings 2 years ago. I only received a single email advising me of the account opening.

KingL

You can opt out from marketing, but you have to send them a snail mail (freepost) letter. The details are in the pdf linked from the OP's second link.

Your choices and how to contact us

We may use your account details transactions and information provided to us by third parties in our customer contact programme. Occasionally, members of our group of companies may contact you by letter, telephone, email and text message or otherwise, to inform you about other products and services that may interest you. We try to limit our customer contact programme to acceptable levels, but if you wish to exercise your right to opt out, simply inform us by writing to

AA Savings Team
FREEPOST
PO Box 81
Wolverhampton
WV9 5BR

Mickygg

If it's any help - in the last 6 months the spam level I have received is practically none apart from breakdown cover!

nzseries1

Mickygg wrote: »

If it's any help - in the last 6 months the spam level I have received is practically none apart from breakdown cover!

If the OP is anything like me, "practically none" isn't good enough. "None" is the only acceptable option.

Mr_K

It's getting increasingly common for companies not to have an 'opt out box'. Its just too easy for the punters to click and obviously lots of us are doing it. Many did try confusing us with boxes like tick one to opt out of email, untick another to opt out of phone calls. However we've just been getting too clever by actually reading application forms.

They'll offer some other more inconvenient way in the small print, hoping you'd don't see it or can't be bothered. I always take the time to follow ridiculous opt out procedures, it really hacks them off. Once they've got your details they've got them forever for marketing and to sell on. Even if you you registered with the Mailing Preference Service, it doesn't stop companies you've had direct contact with Spaming you. I get the impression these details are sometimes more valuable to them than your actual custom.

Stompa

nzseries1 wrote: »

If the OP is anything like me, "practically none" isn't good enough. "None" is the only acceptable option.

FWIW I don't remember whether I was asked to opt out or not, but I'm not sure I recall ever receiving any spam from them. I've definitely never been contacted by telephone or SMS.

rb10

After you've opened the account online, they'll send you an application form to sign & a pre-paid envelope to return it to them in.

Just write on the bottom of the form that you wish to opt out of all forms of marketing.

alanq

I did as rb10 suggests above and have received nothing so far.

efunc

KingL wrote: »

You can opt out from marketing, but you have to send them a snail mail (freepost) letter. The details are in the pdf linked from the OP's second link.

thanks for that. I overlooked that other privacy statement document because I thought the first link was their only privacy statement document!

It also included this:

If you do not want to receive unsolicited mail from other companies, you can prevent this by registering with the Mailing Preference Service. In addition, the Telephone and Fax Preference Services enable you to object to receiving unsolicited marketing phone calls or faxes from other companies. To register, simply telephone the appropriate number:

Mailing Preference – 020 7291 3310
Telephone Preference – 020 7291 3320
Fax Preference – 020 7291 3330

Alternatively, you can register online. For more details about all the Preference Services, please visit the Direct Marketing Association website(https://www.dma.org.uk).

Has anyone tried this, and is it reputable? Will I end up with more unsolicited phone calls at dinner time if I add my number to this database??

Stompa

efunc wrote: »

Has anyone tried this, and is it reputable? Will I end up with more unsolicited phone calls at dinner time if I add my number to this database??

Yes, TPS & MPS are perfectly reputable, I've been registered with them both for many years. They should cut down your junk mail and calls, just don't expect them to reduce to zero!

http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

Pretty much the only unsolicited calls I get these days originate overseas, which AIUI are not covered unfortunately.