Someone has divulged my address without my explicit consent WWYD?

KMA

hi there, not sure which part of the forum to post this in - it's about people and the inappropriate sharing of private information, I guess so have put it in relationships.


I could really use some insight from others - am I over-reacting or is this a valid concern? If so, what should I do?


My partner & I are joint members of a small local charity historic gardening group, which has around 100 people on their "books" in our city. We've been members of this group for around 5 years.

In the last few months, another person who is also a member of this charity group turned up at my house, unsolicited and not for any specific charity related business, he just mentioned that he had recently moved to the area. Neither of us has given him our address details.

This person is rather 'creepy' and I feel uncomfortable being with him on my own. Apparently he has also turned up at a couple of other women's houses, uninvited. I am unsure if he got their details or whether he knew where they lived already.

I decided to challenge this person about how he knew where we lived (after checking first with my partner who was equally surprised at him 'tipping up' at our doorstep). He informed me that one of the charity committee members had given him my address from the charity member records and given it to him. He (and clearly the guy who gave him our details) did not appear to think there was anything wrong with this....

Any suggestions about how I can raise this so that my complaint is not minimised? I understand the committee member might have thought they were being friendly/helpful in providing the information to him but I feel like my privacy has been sacrificed at the expense of someone wanting new contacts/anothers negligence.

This is a very small charity there are no employed staff, all roles are held by volunteers /amateurs. Trustee, committee members related training appears to be absent.

What would you do?

Alter_ego

Your name and address is freely available on the electoral roll, how can that be private information?

marleyboy

Except it was not obtained from the Electoral roll. Likewise my bank have all my personal details, that my name may appear on an electoral list does not make it acceptable for my bank to hand my details over to anyone who asks for them.

Alter_ego

marleyboy wrote: »

Except it was not obtained from the Electoral roll. Likewise my bank have all my personal details, that my name may appear on an electoral list does not make it acceptable for my bank to hand my details over to anyone who asks for them.

My point was that a name and address is not private information as the OP claimed.

Mojisola

I help run a small charity and we never would never disclose a member's information without their written permission.

I would take this up with the committee Chairman. It's not acceptable to disclose information about members. I think even giving out someone's address is in contravention of the DPA but others will know that for sure.

It doesn't matter that this person could have found out your address some other way - the responsibility lies with the committee member who gave him the information.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like a potential breach of the data protection act to me.. Yes, addresses are often freely available via the electoral roll (but you can opt out) but these details were from the charity records.

If those records were governed by the data protection act 1998, then you should have a data controller. You might want a chat with them and tell them you aren't happy, and the release of your address caused you distress.

marleyboy

My point was that a name and address is not private information as the OP claimed.

But that's NOT the OPs point, who is asking whether or not a small company can pass on such private information amongst their staff. The answer is NO.

This is a Mile away from asking whether or not such information is readily available to Joe Public.

Georgiegirl256

Yes anyone can find out someone's address through the electoral roll (unless they've opted out), but that isn't really the point.

I'd be worried that if they could give out my address so easily, then it might be my phone number next.

I wouldn't be happy either OP. It's very unprofessional and I would make a complaint too.

Alikay

Not sure about the legalities of an informal group of people (rather than a business or other organisation) sharing personal details, but it's well out of order to do it without permission IMO. I'd be furious about it, and am surprised that there are still people around who think it's OK to give out your address without asking. Most people who've been in employment during the last 20 or so years have been made aware of the DPA via the workplace: I've been given countless information sheets and training on the subject through work and volunteer involvement over the years.

stir_crazy

I'd make a formal complaint to the chairman. I'd also bring it up with the other people who (I'm assuming) have had their addresses given out to this guy as they might want to complain as well.

Mojisola

Alikay wrote: »

Not sure about the legalities of an informal group of people (rather than a business or other organisation) sharing personal details, but it's well out of order to do it without permission IMO.

A charity isn't an informal group of people.