Gdpr and collection agency conduct

Vereniki

Hi. I have a payday loan (among others) with piggy bank which I am trying to arrange a debt management scheme. I have already told them I am in financial difficulty and trying to sort out.

Today they called my work and my manager answered the phone. They asked for me and told her it was piggybank. Does that not breach GDPR? What can I do about it? I am awaiting an appointment with CAB to find the best solution for myself as I plan on paying back monthly, just not as much as I already have been which sinks me into debt.

By the way I live in Scotland.

[Deleted User]

Probably not, as they didn't reveal any details about you, only about themselves.

You can of course argue that it implies you're a customer, but it's not a stated fact.

Best thing is to give them a mobile number.

Willing2Learn

If it were me, I would write to them, withdrawing consent for them to communicate with you by landline, mobile, text, email. I would categorically state that the only form of communication consented to would be written (by post). That way you have a paper trail, and you won't be flustered or panicked when the phone goes.

System

Vereniki wrote: »

Today they called my work and my manager answered the phone. They asked for me and told her it was piggybank. Does that not breach GDPR? What can I do about it?

No it doesn't breach GDPR and you can't do anything about someone who calls someone and says who they are.

jimbo26

Not sure why everyone thinks GDPR is the answer to all their problems. This forum seems littered with references to it. It has replaced the data protection act, and updated it. It isn't some magic piece of legislation, and all it does is govern the use of personal data. Piggybank have not disclosed any personal data to your manager.

MEM62

jimbo26 wrote: »

Not sure why everyone thinks GDPR is the answer to all their problems.

Because they have not made even the most basic effort to understand what it is and how it works; instead just clinging onto the idea that it is 'magic bullet'.

kwame41

Did you have to give your work number when you applied for the loan?


If asked for one in future tell them you work in a safety critical environment and cant be contacted.

Shakin_Steve

kwame41 wrote: »

Did you have to give your work number when you applied for the loan?


If asked for one in future tell them you work in a safety critical environment and cant be contacted.

The problem with that is that people lending you money usually like to know that you are in work, and not giving them the contact details could stop them lending.

[Deleted User]

Even more reason for the OP to have refused...!

Vereniki

Thank you all for your responses.

The reason I mentioned GDPR is because in my working environment I'm not even allowed to leave voicemail saying who the caller is, not because I am looking for a magic solution. If you actually read my post you'd see I've already advised them I'm getting into a debt management plan and I was paying them on time for a very long time.

They have known and they've bullied me ever since.

They used threatening tactics and were very rude to me at work, putting me in a very difficult position. In Scotland that could be construed as harassment.

So thank you to those who have been helpful and those who endlessly judge, I hope you never find yourself in my position.