Comet refusing to sell unless you give them your details

Mojisola

kermitfrog wrote: »

And..........

That was obviously his way of not giving Comet his own address.

mandragora_2

Mr Michael Mouse
Holly Wood House
Cheesington

Techhead_2

dinglebert wrote: »

There was absolutely no need for that comment. I wasn't asking anyone to play guessing games. My point was there were requesting all the details of all the customers purchasing anything from them. If you refused they refused to sell the item. Now, pre collapse Comet didn't ask for that level of detail. If you bought a toaster you didn't need to given them anything other than payment. I don't like companies keeping lists they don't need. In particular they are collecting information without informing you how they will use it which is a breach of data protection act.

None of that is in your opening post, so I can see why you were asked for more details. Like the poster, my first assumption was that it was a licensing issue.


As for your last sentence, you said it was being collected so that you were ensured of continuing guarantee cover?

SuperHan

Nobody's forcing you to buy from Comet... Go and buy the same item without 70% off and enjoy the satisfaction of not having to make up a name and address.

They have told you exactly how it will be used (to ensure continuing guarantee), so no breach of DPA.

And what exactly was the item... A toaster? A lot of retailers will capture address information when items over a certain value is sold, for guarantee purposes. Because it's always the retailer's fault 11 months down the line when the person has lost their receipt and the retailer cannot find the cash transaction on their systems... If you don't like it - don't buy, or give a fake address!!

maninthestreet

I used to tell them my names was Oive Beenad.

davidlizard

I vaguely recall in the past being asked by a electrical retailer - cannot remember which, it was either Comet or Currys - for my postcode when buying something trivial like a toaster.

The reason they gave was that they like to collect customer demographics - i.e. how far their customers have come from, what towns etc. I am guessing that knowing information about the sort of person who shops there, how much they spend etc is extremely useful for marketing/advertising purposes.

Obviously a different set of circumstances to the OPs situation. I would have given them any old nonsense.

gayleanne

They sell the information on, we had only lived in this address for a couple of weeks, when we started getting phone calls, and letters from other companies in our name at this address, the only purchase we had made was a washing machine from C O M E T

greyteam1959

They probably make more money from your name address & postcode than they more from some of the goods!!