Post Office Phones - data protection act

Parsnip1

I'm executor for my late father, and have been having problems with Post Office homephone transferring his phone to the new tenant now living in my Dad's flat. Its been going on for six months, in a nutshell I have spent ages on the phone with them, it should have been transferred six months ago (fortunately I put it in writing), but it never goes through properly.
A few days ago I received another bill. I have spoken to the new tenant, who tells me that he has spoken to them and it has now (finally) been put in his name, but from past experience neither of us trusts them.
I phoned them, to make sure that they have backdated the transfer to the date of my father's death, as originally agreed, but when I spoke to them the call centre worker said she was unable to tell me anything about the account under the data protection act.
I could understand that she can't tell me anything about the transfer, but she said that as there was a possible transfer, involving a third party, she couldn't even tell me if it had transferred or not! So, they have sent me a bill that they are unable to talk about, even if the account is still in my father's name, because I have said that it was meant to be transferred, so therefore involves someone else! So I have no idea if the transfer has gone through, and if it has on what date, and whether my bill has been cancelled.
I want to write to them, but I wanted to get my facts straight first, surely this is an over enthusuastic interpretation of the Act?

Cheers and thanks
Kate

benbranson

AFAIK the DPA ceases to apply once the 'data subject' is deceased. So as long as you can prove that fact, death certificate should be sufficent(!) then they can give you any information regarding you father.

They wouldn't be able to give you any information on the customer that is taking over the line though. That is correct interpretation of the DPA.

HTH

Parsnip1

Thank you, it was the latter issue.

I didn't want to know anything about the transferred account, simply whether the transfer had gone through (bearing in mind two previous attempts hadn't) but she couldn't even tell me that.

Seems crazy that she couldn't, but if that is correct....

Thanks
Kate

t0rt0ise

Sounds like it has been transferred then otherwise they'd be able to talk about the account.