Letter of condolence - Data protection issue?

Ergates

Findyourbacon said:

Manxman_in_exile said:

Findyourbacon said:

IvanOpinion said:

No good deed goes unpunished.
Maybe whoever set this up asked for a signed letter to be sent to you at such-and-such address.
There really is nothing to worry about and I would hate to think that someone who is questioning the letter means that others, who would be grateful for such a nice gesture, may no longer receive it due to the club now being concerned that there may be an issue.

I have never said I was ungrateful - in fact I said the letter was lovely.  However, I don't know who to express my gratitude to, as their details are protected by data protection.  

As Ditzy_Mitzy has said, that puts a completely different slant on this thread.  You said in your opening post:  "... However, I'm a bit concerned as to how the club found out and what information has been shared with them... "

That doesn't exactly sound as if you wanted to know who had "shared your information" just so you could thank them!

I suppose I meant, I was concerned about the process that allows someone to contact an organisation with information that the organisation acts upon without confirming or verifying.  I'm not concerned with who shared my information - it would be nice to be able to thank them, but that wasn't the reason I asked the question.  I hope that clears it up.

GDPR doesn't apply to "purely personal or household activity".  Examples of this include "Personal correspondence"

So, someone writing an email to a football club about one of their members isn't covered as that would be considered personal correspondence.  If the organisation took that data and stored it, either electronically or in an organised filing system, then it would covered by GDPR - but simply writing you a letter based on the information they received wouldn't be as that, again, would be covered by personal correspondence.

LaHostessAvecLaMostess

Findyourbacon said:

Manxman_in_exile said:

Findyourbacon said:

IvanOpinion said:

No good deed goes unpunished.
Maybe whoever set this up asked for a signed letter to be sent to you at such-and-such address.
There really is nothing to worry about and I would hate to think that someone who is questioning the letter means that others, who would be grateful for such a nice gesture, may no longer receive it due to the club now being concerned that there may be an issue.

I have never said I was ungrateful - in fact I said the letter was lovely.  However, I don't know who to express my gratitude to, as their details are protected by data protection.  

As Ditzy_Mitzy has said, that puts a completely different slant on this thread.  You said in your opening post:  "... However, I'm a bit concerned as to how the club found out and what information has been shared with them... "

That doesn't exactly sound as if you wanted to know who had "shared your information" just so you could thank them!

I suppose I meant, I was concerned about the process that allows someone to contact an organisation with information that the organisation acts upon without confirming or verifying.  I'm not concerned with who shared my information - it would be nice to be able to thank them, but that wasn't the reason I asked the question.  I hope that clears it up.

Surely that depends on the context.

The worst-case scenario here is they send a letter saying "sorry X died" to the wrong address, or X isn't dead which doesn't seem particualrly concerning.

If someone phoned up a demolition company and asked them to knock down Y house and they just turned up and did it without verifying that the owner wanted their house knocking down I'd be rather more concerned.

Findyourbacon

Thrugelmir said:

Findyourbacon said:

The same football club won't let me change my name on my season ticket back to my maiden name without seeing my marriage certificate and my decree nisi, so I just thought they would need to be quite strict when sending out something as personal and sensitive as a letter of condolence.

In other words you've a personal gripe with the club and this letter has reignited it. Sad world we live in. Enough challenges with Covid for many people. Without taking away common humanity as well.  

I don't know how you got that impression!!  I was just saying they seem quite strict about some things, but not others.  

DB1904

Findyourbacon said:

Thrugelmir said:

Findyourbacon said:

The same football club won't let me change my name on my season ticket back to my maiden name without seeing my marriage certificate and my decree nisi, so I just thought they would need to be quite strict when sending out something as personal and sensitive as a letter of condolence.

In other words you've a personal gripe with the club and this letter has reignited it. Sad world we live in. Enough challenges with Covid for many people. Without taking away common humanity as well.  

I don't know how you got that impression!!  I was just saying they seem quite strict about some things, but not others.  

Have you read any of the replies? They wrote to you about a dead relative DPA doesn't apply, they won't give you the name of the person who informed them of the death because of the DPA. it's that simple. 

Findyourbacon

Yes, I'm reading all the replies and taking everything on board.  Thank you

sheramber

Someone could have found your season ticket and tried to change it to their name. The club need to be sure the right person is applying for a name change. 

An entirely different situation to sending out a letter of condolence. That letter os not going to give anyone access to the club premises.

IvanOpinion

Findyourbacon said:

IvanOpinion said:

No good deed goes unpunished.
Maybe whoever set this up asked for a signed letter to be sent to you at such-and-such address.
There really is nothing to worry about and I would hate to think that someone who is questioning the letter means that others, who would be grateful for such a nice gesture, may no longer receive it due to the club now being concerned that there may be an issue.

I have never said I was ungrateful - in fact I said the letter was lovely.  However, I don't know who to express my gratitude to, as their details are protected by data protection.  

Ah, that is a little different.  If that is all you want then maybe you can put a letter into the club magazine or something else public within the club???

Undervalued

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.

The fact that somebody has died is not "personal and sensitive information" but a matter of public record. In due course anybody who consults the register of deaths will see your relative's name listed. Also, once probate is granted, their will also becomes a public document and anybody can order a copy online for a small fee (£1.50 I think)! Your reputation also dies with you and the dead cannot be libelled!

I do however share your concern that the football club should verify such information carefully and only act on it if they are certain it is correct. Assuming they did so then it is a very kind gesture.

Sadly, many years ago, my professional association's magazine messed up badly and published a short biography of the keynote speaker at the forthcoming conference as an obituary!

user1977

Findyourbacon said:

IvanOpinion said:

No good deed goes unpunished.
Maybe whoever set this up asked for a signed letter to be sent to you at such-and-such address.
There really is nothing to worry about and I would hate to think that someone who is questioning the letter means that others, who would be grateful for such a nice gesture, may no longer receive it due to the club now being concerned that there may be an issue.

I have never said I was ungrateful - in fact I said the letter was lovely.  However, I don't know who to express my gratitude to, as their details are protected by data protection.  

Isn't the simple solution just to ask the club to pass on your message?