flow energy storing date of birth - DPA?

GingerBob_3

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Ha! There should be far more credit checks. Stop this ridiculous system of allowing financially undisciplined people access to a credit meter that gets them into debt.

It would have the unintended side effect of being green - if more people had PPM's they'd use less. It's far more visible spending money at the corner shop, rather than leaving the heating on, windows open, and ignoring the bill that drops on the mat.

You got a PPM have you?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

GingerBob wrote: »

You got a PPM have you?

Crivens, no.

GingerBob_3

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Crivens, no.

But .... I thought you said .... more people should have them ... go green and all that. You not volunteering for one?

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

I gave a caveat - the financially undisciplined. Read, dear boy.

GingerBob_3

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

I gave a caveat - the financially undisciplined. Read, dear boy.

No, you said "if more people had PPM's they'd use less", so that must include you. You'd use less, so you'd be going green. This isn't a case of "do as I say, not as I do" is it?

Anyway, this is drifting off the OP's complaint, which was about utility companies trying to get hold of your date of birth.

At the very least they should be up front about this and tell people why they want it.

As for more credit checks, I don't think so. The companies use it as a way to disadvantage the less well off. IF people fall into debt then by all means put in a PPM, but to start with, when signing up, they should be given the benefit of the doubt - a good tariff, and no credit check.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

GingerBob wrote: »

No, you said "if more people had PPM's they'd use less", so that must include you. You'd use less, so you'd be going green. This isn't a case of "do as I say, not as I do" is it?

Anyway, this is drifting off the OP's complaint, which was about utility companies trying to get hold of your date of birth.

At the very least they should be up front about this and tell people why they want it.

As for more credit checks, I don't think so. The companies use it as a way to disadvantage the less well off. IF people fall into debt then by all means put in a PPM, but to start with, when signing up, they should be given the benefit of the doubt - a good tariff, and no credit check.

The finer points pass you by clearly. Whilst PPM's do, imho, encourage lower consumption, I don't need one, as I can be trusted with a credit meter, and therefore can choose a superior DD tariff.

I completely agree with you they should be up front. Say - "we will credit check you". We are giving you free reign to use our product without paying us first for it. If you spend £1-2k on a sofa/car/godknowswhatelse you'll be credit checked, why not energy?

chanz4

If people paid their bills, they wont have issues but at the end of the day as others have said its still credit. Also if you give a false date of birth, your will likely end up with a fraud marker (cifas)

GingerBob_3

chanz4 wrote: »

If people paid their bills, they wont have issues but at the end of the day as others have said its still credit. Also if you give a false date of birth, your will likely end up with a fraud marker (cifas)

Well I would hold them accountable if that happened. "we need your DoB as a security precaution when phoning [lie]". "Well any date will do then, as long as I remember it". Arguably, they are then acting fraudulently if they place a CIFAS marker against you.

I don't have BG supply gas, but I do have a boiler maintenance contract with them. Most recently when I rang them up they too casually asked "could we have your date of birth, we don't appear to have it at the moment". "Why do you want it?". "I'll just speak to the supervisor ...... ah, we need it as a security measure when you call us". "OK, it's 31/12/1903". "thank you".

Now, I don't know if BG try to report a boiler maintenance account to the CRAs - they probably do, knowing that shower, but if I find they've put that DoB against my account I'll be taking it further without a doubt. In fact, I don't see how they could, because there isn't anyone at my address with that DoB, and my name is not unique in the household.

chanz4

but by giving a false date of birth that is fraud.

GingerBob_3

chanz4 wrote: »

but by giving a false date of birth that is fraud.

Only if you do it to obtain money, or is it "pecuniary advantage", in the jargon.