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Name and address please !

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Spent twenty minutes arguing with two members of Comet staff this evening. I bought a LCD monitor for my PC and upon paying for it was asked the usual question "can I have your postcode please" Answering with my usual reply of "no" I was met with total disgust and statements such as "your warranty will be no good unless I have your address" and "The till won't allow me to sell it to you unless I have an address" Maybe it's time to draw up a list of shops which do this and begin a boycott ? (In the end I just did my usual and started to walk out at which point the sales guy sold it to me)
Education is compulsory, school is not.
Education Otherwise
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  • Quasar
    Quasar Posts: 121,720 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Spent twenty minutes arguing with two members of Comet staff this evening. I bought a LCD monitor for my PC and upon paying for it was asked the usual question "can I have your postcode please" Answering with my usual reply of "no" I was met with total disgust and statements such as "your warranty will be no good unless I have your address" and "The till won't allow me to sell it to you unless I have an address" Maybe it's time to draw up a list of shops which do this and begin a boycott ? (In the end I just did my usual and started to walk out at which point the sales guy sold it to me)

    Well done to you. It's about time every customer stood up for themselves instead of sheepishly complying with requests for private information, and questioned the need for this.
    Be careful who you open up to. Today it's ears, tomorrow it's mouth.
  • patwa_2
    patwa_2 Posts: 1,542 Forumite
    Interesting, Tesco's require you to fill out a form when purchasing freeview boxes with your name and address - it's apparently for TV Licensing regulations. I was more than happy to comply, I mean it's not like they couldn't get my name and address if they really want to. I've always been happy to co-operate with the sales staff if they've asked for my details, which has admittedly only been a few times. I've never received unsolicited or unwanted marketing mail, and they have always given me a valid (apparently) reason when politely asked for one. They're happy, and I'm happy. Some have told me that my address would be used for marketing and would I like to receive it, I've answered 'no' and they've been fine with that. Those that haven't asked have never sent me any mail anyways.

    Just my opinion, but why are people so against this? It's not like one company knowing your details is going to make a difference when so many have it anyways - just look at your mail, and tell me how much of it is truly 'blanket' every-house-gets-it material?
    Know me for who I am, not for who I say I am.
  • Quasar
    Quasar Posts: 121,720 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    patwa wrote:
    Interesting, Tesco's require you to fill out a form when purchasing freeview boxes with your name and address - it's apparently for TV Licensing regulations. I was more than happy to comply, I mean it's not like they couldn't get my name and address if they really want to. I've always been happy to co-operate with the sales staff if they've asked for my details, which has admittedly only been a few times. I've never received unsolicited or unwanted marketing mail, and they have always given me a valid (apparently) reason when politely asked for one. They're happy, and I'm happy. Some have told me that my address would be used for marketing and would I like to receive it, I've answered 'no' and they've been fine with that. Those that haven't asked have never sent me any mail anyways.

    Just my opinion, but why are people so against this? It's not like one company knowing your details is going to make a difference when so many have it anyways - just look at your mail, and tell me how much of it is truly 'blanket' every-house-gets-it material?

    Good points, however in this case we have to ask why the PC monitor was in the end sold even without this information being disclosed. A PC monitor is not a TV, so there isn't even the excuse of licensing regulation, as far as I can see.

    The name and address details stay on the company system and when you go back to buy something else, they can see you are an existing customer. Also, the details of thousands of customers could be sold on in a mailing list to third parties, although I'm not saying this is always the case.
    Be careful who you open up to. Today it's ears, tomorrow it's mouth.
  • Quasar wrote:
    Good points, however in this case we have to ask why the PC monitor was in the end sold even without this information being disclosed. A PC monitor is not a TV, so there isn't even the excuse of licensing regulation, as far as I can see.

    Do I need a licence?


    You need a TV Licence to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, set-top boxes, video or DVD recorders, computers or mobile phones to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.
    http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

    I think it might be because a PC can be used to watch the gogglebox by means of a TV card.
    This country is called Great Britain. It would be called Amazing Britain if it wasn't for people like you pulling the average down
  • Yes you are right a PC can be used to receive TV however a monitor cannot. Therefore they are not obliged to provide this info to the TV licensing authority. I had a similar situation a few years back when I had to argue with a member of Curry's staff who refused to sell me a video recorder without my address because "We have to inform the TV licence people" This is total rubbish, I could record 5 million hours of TV (if I was very sad) on a video recorder but it would be useless to me unless I had a TV to watch it on !

    In any case, I don't have a TV and don't particularly want to have one ever again :p:p:p:p
    Education is compulsory, school is not.
    Education Otherwise
  • Yes you are right a PC can be used to receive TV however a monitor cannot. Therefore they are not obliged to provide this info to the TV licensing authority. I had a similar situation a few years back when I had to argue with a member of Curry's staff who refused to sell me a video recorder without my address because "We have to inform the TV licence people" This is total rubbish, I could record 5 million hours of TV (if I was very sad) on a video recorder but it would be useless to me unless I had a TV to watch it on !

    In any case, I don't have a TV and don't particularly want to have one ever again :p:p:p:p

    But the video recorder can receive a TV signal. The license is not strictly for a TV. It is for any euipment that can receive the signal.
    This country is called Great Britain. It would be called Amazing Britain if it wasn't for people like you pulling the average down
  • Quasar
    Quasar Posts: 121,720 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

    I think it might be because a PC can be used to watch the gogglebox by means of a TV card.

    Oh. Thanks Idle, I didn't know that. :o
    Be careful who you open up to. Today it's ears, tomorrow it's mouth.
  • patwa_2
    patwa_2 Posts: 1,542 Forumite
    OK, but re: the selling on mailing lists, wouldn't they have to ask your permission to do that? I thought laws had been tightened up on that score.
    Know me for who I am, not for who I say I am.
  • nelly_2
    nelly_2 Posts: 17,863 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm certain the DVLA have sold my details to a loan firm as they allways spell my name wrong in the way it was spelt wrong on my driving license.

    Surely they are doing this for a profit and I am entitled to 100% of this profit?
    currys have sold me a camera to

    name -Spider man.

    address - Down town Newyork.

    postcode - B1g gay.
  • phill79
    phill79 Posts: 494 Forumite
    http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/index.jsp

    I think it might be because a PC can be used to watch the gogglebox by means of a TV card.


    Yes, but how will giving the shop your post code confirm you have a tv licence?

    They (TV Licencing) can't even work out that you have a licence if you give the exact same address when renewing but change the name on it (ie, got married).
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