Agent selling house/address details to companies.

murphydog999

We’ve probably all had this, mailshots through the door from removal companies once you go online? I’ve just asked one of the removal companies where they got my details, he wrote ‘from a mailing list we subscribe to who would have got the details from your agent’ (and he named the agent!). I’ve asked him for a contact at the mailing company to confirm what he says. Surely this is a breach of GDPR regs? There is no harm to me, but the agent has denied it, it’s not on really.

user1977

Depends what terms you agreed with your agent? Are you sure you didn't agree to it? (though if you did, I'm not sure why the agent would then deny it!)

Not exactly rocket science to figure out the addresses from Rightmove etc anyway.

eddddy

Whoever shared your details should have got your consent. 

Best practice is to have a statement like "We would also like to share your information with other selected companies so that they may contact you about their products and services" with a tick box to agree. Either online, or on a paper form.

But I suspect some companies don't follow best practice.



Edit to add...

But did the mailshot include your name, or just your address?

For example, Rightmove would have details of your full address, the estate agent (and lots of other info) - and they sell huge amounts of data to a wide variety of businesses, for a wide variety of purposes.

murphydog999

They didn’t ask me, there was no tickbox and apart from sharing details with legal or financial institutions there is nothing in the Ts & Cs. The removal companies state they use a company called Twenty Ci, so thats where I’m heading next. 

Would Rightmove have the full address? The number of the house is not on any pictures.

user1977

murphydog999 said:

Would Rightmove have the full address? The number of the house is not on any pictures.

It's still usually pretty easy to figure it out via Streetview etc (admittedly not as easy as just downloading a list of addresses).

grumbler

murphydog999 said:

...

Would Rightmove have the full address? The number of the house is not on any pictures.

Google Street View

murphydog999

Well when the companies have both said they use a mailing company and the details came from the agent there’s no argument. If they have sold my info without my permission, and denied it, it’s not on.

eddddy

murphydog999 said:

They didn’t ask me, there was no tickbox and apart from sharing details with legal or financial institutions there is nothing in the Ts & Cs. The removal companies state they use a company called Twenty Ci, so thats where I’m heading next. 

Would Rightmove have the full address? The number of the house is not on any pictures.

Yes - the estate agent enters the full address, even though it is not displayed in the advert.

That's how they can show you the property sale history (and other stuff).

murphydog999

So Rightmove could be selling data……..

grumbler

murphydog999 said:

So Rightmove could be selling data……..

The data, except the name, is usually available for free, there is no need to buy it.

eddddy

murphydog999 said:

So Rightmove could be selling data……..

Yep - as I say, Rightmove sell loads of data  to loads of organisations:





Links: 
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-data/rightmoves-property-data/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-data/