Name and address please !

maccistani

I can see your point about not giving out addresses/postcodes etc. on ad-hoc terms, but for some things, it is a legal requirement. In terms of buying a tv etc., the address asked for is for the TV licencing people, not for the company. In terms of asking for detals when refunding purchases, if for any reason you do not recieve the refund i.e. onto bank card, then details are needed to match, to ensure that you are the person you say you are. Also, the company (if a Ltd or PLC, neds to be able to prove where the money has gone to when the accounts are audited.

If asked to confirm the address for delivery, i have had this before, and have refused to deliver the item, if confirmation of address is requied, due to security reasons.

cheekyweegit

On the subject of silly names and addresses, here's one I found and am still waiting on the right moment to use from a posting on here ages ago. Very probably on the old Tesco discussion thread here although I edited the post code.

Mary Lykes,
The Cockwell Inn,
Tillet,
Herts.
F4T A55

Might be useful to one or two folks in the future!;) :rolleyes:

Who ever you were - I thank you! It still makes me smile:rotfl:

Ps another one for the hate TV Licensing brigade - they sent me the standard letter after I got a freeview box saying that there was no license at my address, despite me paying by direct debit. I got two letters then sent them a reply with a few choice words including "numpty", "upto date technology". I also offered to help them with a brainstorming exercise to improve their system too, you know point out the bugs in their system. No reply to that, wonder why ?

kr15snw

Going back to what the OP said. Comet take names and addresses for 3 reasons.

First being the TV liscence rule which has already been discussed. This has to be took and they will not sell the item without the name and address as the company will be fined by the Tv Lisence people.

The second is if the order is over £100. This is done just incase the customer looses his receipt and something goes wrong. We can then search for you by your name and address and still check when the item was purchased, and sort out a refund / repair. If you refuse, then they do not have to take details. But be warned if you did lose your receipt they would not be able to provide you with a refund / repair as they would not be able to find the transaction on the system (unless you were the only person who bought that item on a certain day, and you know the exact day you bought it). Some staff try and make you give details, but you dont have to its just done to help you. You cannot be forced on this.

And finally if you buy an extended guarantee, which is common sense. You must have the guarantee registered to your name and an address is needed for contact / confirming its you.

Please be warned if you give a fake address and something goes wrong with a large item, you will have problems getting it sorted as we will want to deal with the person who bought the item. If its something at your home then we will get very suspicous if you dont want us to come to the sale address and its now a completely different name on the sale.

Biggles

Bought a steam iron at Bennetts a month or two ago. On this occasion, I did give my address details when asked.

Last week, guess what: despite being registered withthe Mailing Preference Service, I received a Bennetts catalogue in the post.

The MPS say the vendor can do this as long as they give you the option, at the time, of 'opting out of unrelated mail'. They are also obliged to remove your name and address from their mailing list on request.

I have requested removal and heard nothing. They'll get one more request before I complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.

olly300

Biggles wrote: »

I have requested removal and heard nothing. They'll get one more request before I complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.

You can complain straight to the Information Commissioner anyway because you where not read out a statement at the time asking you for consent, or given a bit of paper to sign giving your consent so your information was gained in a dishonesty way.

However if you are complaining to the company first you need to search for the Data Controller of the company - http://www.esd.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/esd/search.asp

Just send the letter to the "Data Controller". In the letter you need to inform the company you will be complaining to the Information Commissioner.

The information commissioner requires proof that the company did get your letter hence you need to fax or send the letter recorded delivery.

BTW I use the DPA to stop lots of different kinds of organisations hassling me and it's very effective.

moonrakerz

kr15snw wrote: »

And finally if you buy an extended guarantee, which is common sense.

Buying an extended guarantee is far from common sense, they are a waste of money !

woohoo_postingid

moonrakerz wrote: »

Buying an extended guarantee is far from common sense, they are a waste of money !

I think the poster meant that if you buy an extended guarantee, it is common sense that you need to give your details.

Fruitcake

Examples of items where you are required by law to give your name and address when purchasing them are: -

TV receiving equipment
Guns and ammunition
Motor vehicles.

There are probably others but they are few and far between.

Examples of items where you are contractually required to provide your name and address are: -

Bank accounts
Insurance
Service Contracts - 'phone, gas, etc

For most other items, there is no requirement, legal or otherwise, to provide personal details if you don't want to.
I would not walk up to a complete stranger in the street with an expensive electrical item under my arm and give them my name and address. I do not therefore see why I should do it in a shop.
If I buy something as a present for someone else, my details are irrelevant. If I lose my receipt, proof of purchase, or guarantee, that's my lookout.

It is a personal decision. Some people are happy to give strangers their personal details, some are not. Some shops want your personal details, some that sell exactly the same items do not.

There has been a lot of debate on this thread as to why your details are wanted, but they exactly that, your details. Give them away if you want, but you are perfectly entitled to stick up for your rights if you don't want anyone to have them.

Fruitcake

You Only Listen To Me When I'm Wrong