Not on the electoral roll? You must register to get credit!

rickbonar

Also like me they're also breaking the law by leaking and selling off details of the unregistered electoral roll for profit.

However in magnitude of criminality what do you think is worse?

barbarawright

rickbonar wrote: »

Also like me they're also breaking the law by leaking and selling off details of the unregistered electoral roll for profit.

However in magnitude of criminality what do you think is worse?

By 'they' do you mean councils? And by 'unregistered' do you mean unedited? Because they can do what they like with that. If you mean 'edited', that's a serious accusation of which you no doubt have evidence?

rickbonar

barbarawright wrote: »

By 'they' do you mean councils? And by 'unregistered' do you mean unedited? Because they can do what they like with that. If you mean 'edited', that's a serious accusation of which you no doubt have evidence?

Barbara,

I don't mean councils firstly but other agencies that could make a copy of the unedited roll ( yes you're correct I did mean unedited not unregistered - sorry).

Other agencies include banks building societies, shops, - or some of their staff.
Things like credit card data theft is happening all the time .. surely it's not a big leap in imagination to get copies of the unedited electoral roll for re sale by dubious organisations or individuals.

Ask yourself where do all these weird phone calls from India asking for Ms Wright or Mr Bonar originate from?

The government themselves and their depts and ministers have been in the press losing or putting in the rubbish important personal details of the general public. Same with some councils and banks. DVLA.

Who would be able to prove where the source was from?

barbarawright

I'm still slightly unclear whether you mean the edited register or uedited. The edited register is available in public libraries and yes, it's often for sale though not all councils do sell it. I work in a library and we hand it out to anyone (as we are legally oblisged to) though we do keep tabs on people copying it - and it's not available in electronic form. If it's the unedited register that is being made freely available, not just for checks on individuals by legally interested parties, then it's very illegal indeed so I'm intrigued to know why you really think it's happening.

There are many other ways people can get your details. I 100% *know* my local concil doesn't have my phone number. And I've *never* been in the telephone directory. But it's still on 192.com. I guess I was a bit slack in box-ticking one day. But the bottom line is - does it really matter that much? For me - not enough to lose my right to take part in the democratic process and access normal levels of credit. You obviously feel differently.

BTW, I'm curious to know how phonecalls have any connection to the electoral roll since you don't give your number when you register. And we get PPI claim ones all the time on a work phoneline :rotfl:

irishjohn

Apart from credit reference agencies and the police, the only other people with an entitlement to get A copy of the unedited register are people representing political parties who can get the register in any format - hard copy or electronic for electoral purposes only - but I guess any person could set themselves up as an electoral party of their own invention and obtain the register - which would involve some set up costs. However - the register is provided as a street by street listing within an electoral ward and only contains the names of people registered at each residence in the street - no telephone numbers

rickbonar

barbarawright wrote: »

I'm still slightly unclear whether you mean the edited register or uedited. The edited register is available in public libraries and yes, it's often for sale though not all councils do sell it. I work in a library and we hand it out to anyone (as we are legally oblisged to) though we do keep tabs on people copying it - and it's not available in electronic form. If it's the unedited register that is being made freely available, not just for checks on individuals by legally interested parties, then it's very illegal indeed so I'm intrigued to know why you really think it's happening.

There are many other ways people can get your details. I 100% *know* my local concil doesn't have my phone number. And I've *never* been in the telephone directory. But it's still on 192.com. I guess I was a bit slack in box-ticking one day. But the bottom line is - does it really matter that much? For me - not enough to lose my right to take part in the democratic process and access normal levels of credit. You obviously feel differently.

BTW, I'm curious to know how phonecalls have any connection to the electoral roll since you don't give your number when you register. And we get PPI claim ones all the time on a work phoneline :rotfl:

To clarify .. I mean the unedited version ie, the complete list of people on the electoral roll is being leaked.

My proof is this: I know a person that put another name on the register (their maiden name) and have only lived at the address for 4 years. Have always ticked the box for no marketing and yet have pamphlets and junk mail posted to her in that name.

Now it could only have come from the electoral roll as that's the only place the name was given. Also a couple of commentators here as said as much in that once they had registered with the electoral roll the junk mail started flying in.
Interestingly on the other side ... where people have come off the roll the mail subsides.

What would be your alternative explanation for this?

The phone calls can explained by given this out to other agencies that made be using both sets of information such as banks, buildings societies, credit agencies, shops. The source of the leak cannot be easily established and there lies the problem .. although we can prove the roll is being misused you cannot prove who is the source of the leak.

The only obvious solution is: do not fill in the roll.

irishjohn

rickbonar wrote: »

To clarify .. I mean the unedited version ie, the complete list of people on the electoral roll is being leaked.

My proof is this: I know a person that put another name on the register (their maiden name) and have only lived at the address for 4 years. Have always ticked the box for no marketing and yet have pamphlets and junk mail posted to her in that name.

Now it could only have come from the electoral roll as that's the only place the name was given.


The only obvious solution is: do not fill in the roll.

Sorry - unless you can say you have personally seen the electoral registration form which was completed using her maiden name and seen that the form also included confirmation that she should not appear on the edited register then this is insufficient proof.

But here is what she should do.

Visit the local council offices where the electoral register for her address is administered and ask to see the edited and full registers for her address. She is entitled to inspect these. If her name does appear on both registers then she should ask for a copy of her original registration document to confirm that she has completed it in the correct way to ensure she does not appear on the electoral register. If she has completed her registration form correctly she has evidence to prove the council have failed to publish the register according to the law and she can take action.

One other thing to consider. In Great Britain, registration is carried out annually using household registration forms which are completed by the head of the household. Here's a possibility . At some time in the past she has completed a form for her individual registration, using her maiden name and ticking the box to opt out of the edited register and her application was processed as per her instructions. When the next registration period arrived the preprinted form with names of everyone in the household arrived including the details of this person. The form was signed by the head of the household but the opt out box was left empty. This would cancel the previous form opting out and the name would appear on the edited register sold for marketing purposes.

rickbonar

I'm not going to get into another drawn out argument but I'll say one thing ... do you honestly think they keep the forms that were sent out?

She knows without doubt the boxes were ticked.

Whether you care to ignore this then that's your choice I'm simply re-stating the facts and adding in some of my own experience.

I urge everbody to consider how junk mail gets posted out them and other snooping activities. And I assure you that if you really want to do something about it then do not fill out these forms.

irishjohn

rickbonar wrote: »

I'm not going to get into another drawn out argument but I'll say one thing ... do you honestly think they keep the forms that were sent out?

Sorry, I am not trying to generate an argument simply make a response to your suggestions using first hand knowledge and experience. My knowledge of the procedures for compiling the electoral register and the law surrounding it comes from five years employment in that field and membership of the professional association.

I respond to try to assure everyone that it is in their best interests to make sure they are on the electoral register and that there are safeguards to protect their data.

All I am trying to say to you is that there are ways to confirm whether or not this has happened. If data has been made available when it should not have been the Information Commissioner can take action.

rickbonar

John ...my first hand experience, the safeguards of data you talk of did not protect mine...OK.


Bear in mind everyone else what has been shown here.