Letter of condolence - Data protection issue?

Findyourbacon

A relative of mine recently passed away - they were a big fan of a Premiership football club, as am I.   A month ago, I received a letter of condolence from the club signed by the manager - which was really lovely.  However, I'm a bit concerned as to how the club found out and what information has been shared with them.  When I enquired with the club, all they could tell me was that a neighbour had informed them, but they couldn't share any more details with me due to Data Protection.  I'm not a DP expert, but I'm wondering how someone can contact a football club and share personal and sensitive information, but I can't find out who contacted them.  Did any verification of the death take place, and what's to stop someone doing this for more malicious purposes?  This doesn't sit right with me, but I can't work out why.  Can anyone help from a DP point of view?  Thanks so much.

emmajones1976

As far as I can see nothing has been breached. its no different to me suggesting my neighbour for an MBE, they dont have to tell him who he was nominated by.

Just sounds like a neighbour of yours has tried to do a good turn to try and cheer you up, I wouldnt look at it any further than that

born_again

In legal terms, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act no longer applies to identifiable data that relate to a person once they have died.

You are right that anyone could ring up & say X has died, was a big fan & the club may send out a letter. Maybe they do, do some checks to see if the actual person is dead. Who knows.
I can see why they won't say who informed them, but you could ask if they do any checks.

emmajones1976

If the deceased was a season ticket holder they would likely know he had died anyway. Add to that memorial info freely available online.

TELLIT01

A neighbour has tried to do something nice and the OP seems to be trying to find fault.  Hopefully they will make their displeasure know to all their neighbours so they can avoid the same mistake in future.

Aylesbury_Duck

Findyourbacon said:

A relative of mine recently passed away - they were a big fan of a Premiership football club, as am I.   A month ago, I received a letter of condolence from the club signed by the manager - which was really lovely.  However, I'm a bit concerned as to how the club found out and what information has been shared with them.  When I enquired with the club, all they could tell me was that a neighbour had informed them, but they couldn't share any more details with me due to Data Protection.  I'm not a DP expert, but I'm wondering how someone can contact a football club and share personal and sensitive information, but I can't find out who contacted them.  Did any verification of the death take place, and what's to stop someone doing this for more malicious purposes?  This doesn't sit right with me, but I can't work out why.  Can anyone help from a DP point of view?  Thanks so much.

Is the information personal and sensitive, though?  Your relative's name might be all the neighbour disclosed to the club, and they simply found your address and your name as someone with the same address, from that.  I can't see how that's sensitive, given it's information the club held with your and your late relative's consent.

Findyourbacon

TELLIT01 said:

A neighbour has tried to do something nice and the OP seems to be trying to find fault.  Hopefully they will make their displeasure know to all their neighbours so they can avoid the same mistake in future.

Don't be ridiculous - I said the letter was lovely.  I'm sure there was no bad intent.  

emmajones1976

So why let it consume your thoughts any more? 
I would move on, personally. 

Findyourbacon

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Findyourbacon said:

A relative of mine recently passed away - they were a big fan of a Premiership football club, as am I.   A month ago, I received a letter of condolence from the club signed by the manager - which was really lovely.  However, I'm a bit concerned as to how the club found out and what information has been shared with them.  When I enquired with the club, all they could tell me was that a neighbour had informed them, but they couldn't share any more details with me due to Data Protection.  I'm not a DP expert, but I'm wondering how someone can contact a football club and share personal and sensitive information, but I can't find out who contacted them.  Did any verification of the death take place, and what's to stop someone doing this for more malicious purposes?  This doesn't sit right with me, but I can't work out why.  Can anyone help from a DP point of view?  Thanks so much.

Is the information personal and sensitive, though?  Your relative's name might be all the neighbour disclosed to the club, and they simply found your address and your name as someone with the same address, from that.  I can't see how that's sensitive, given it's information the club held with your and your late relative's consent.

My personal information being my address, which was different to the deceased, and sensitive information disclosing the death of a relative.

emmajones1976

Someone death isnt "sensitive information".  And as already stated the DPA doesnt apply to the deceased even if it was identifiable information.

Ditzy_Mitzy

emmajones1976 said:

So why let it consume your thoughts any more? 
I would move on, personally. 

Precisely.  OP hasn't said whether it was a neighbour of his, or of the deceased party or whether they were both residing at the same address.  If it is the OP's neighbour then presumably all he has done is write to the club's manager with words to the effect

Dear Mr Manager,

I am sorry to inform you that X, a stalwart supporter of Romford Tuesday, has died.  I would very much appreciate you writing to X's nephew, Y, to express your and the club's condolences.

Yours sincerely,

A. Neighbour (Miss)

I really fail to see what the data protection issue is, however am rather impressed by the care shown by the football manager.