Data

datalist12

Hi

I have been working at a company for a few days under a year.
The company informed all the staff that we are being made redundant, effectively immediately.

My position at the company enabled me to obtain the full customer list which is potentially worth a substantial amount of money.

Where do I stand with regards to selling this? What are the legal implications as my contract is now effectively null and void?

Never thought I would be in this situation so would be grateful of any advice.

Regards

kingdavid2012

I'm not working in this field.But I can tell it's not allowed by both the law and moral standard.

You're selling personal confidential info for economical purpose.

Even if the company hasn't paid you extra money at your resignation

Just imagine,someone does this to you.How do you feel?

datalist12

kingdavid2012,

Thank you for your reply.
I respect what you have said and understand that morally, it is not the correct thing to do.

I would be planning on selling the list to a competitor who offers the same services as we did. The customers would be receiving or at least be offered to receive the same service.
All of these customers are currently left in the lurch as their current supplier (us) has just essentially stop providing the service that they rely on.

Interested less on the moral aspect, more to the legal perspective.

Regards

[Deleted User]

Hi,

it might be that your employer has already agreed to sell the info to a competitor.

datalist12

frugalmacdugal,

Thanks for your reply.
I am aware that my 'employer' has sold 15% of the list to a rival company. They were only interested in the customers that they already sell one particular service to, this leaves the rest of the customers without service.

Regards

agrinnall

I smell troll, nobody except a criminal would consider doing this in the real world.

antrobus

agrinnall wrote: »

I smell troll, nobody except a criminal would consider doing this in the real world.

You'd be surprised. It's called information theft. It's not uncommon. See http://www.datalossbarometer.com/14737.htm

datalist12 wrote: »

... Where do I stand with regards to selling this? What are the legal implications as my contract is now effectively null and void?

You might possibly be commiting an offence under the Theft Act 1968. I say only possibly because whilst the TA 1968 makes it an offence to steal 'intangible property', case law, such as Oxford v Moss (1979) suggests that this does not include 'information'.

You might be subject to legal action from your former employer to recover the stolen data, and/or involved in legal action directed against the acquirer of the stolen data - actions for damages, injunctions etc.

However, practically speaking if you leave an employer and are in possession of 'valuable' data (such as a customer list), and there is some third party interested in accessing such data, I've always understood that what you do is accept an offer of employment by said third party.

getmore4less

Business opportunity

career move.

selling the list is a one trick pony and probably not worth that much.