We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

TV Licence article Discussion

Options
1396397399401402414

Comments

  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Home Insurance Hacker!
    edited 26 September 2022 at 12:21PM

    "The Commissioner may only investigate allegations of breaches of the rules. She may not investigate complaints about:

    • policy matters;
    • a Member's views or opinions; and
    • a Member's handling of or decision about a case, including their handling of correspondence, whether or not anyone involved is a constituent of the Member

    Unless the MP's conduct is such that it significantly damages the reputation of the House of Commons as a whole or of its Members more generally."

    https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/code-of-conduct-and-rules-of-the-house/

    So no way to make an independent complain about your MP.

    And the ICO will be a waste of time too.  I made a complaint to them recently about the DVLA failing to follow ICO guidance.  The complaint was not upheld.

  • cw18
    cw18 Posts: 8,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    FreeBear said:
    Having had one of their jumped up little oiks hammering on my door (I though he was going to break it down), I can confirm that they do indeed ask for the occupier by name. Presumably they cull this information from the electoral roll...

    They won't get mine from there (or shouldn't be able to), as I tick the box to be excluded from the open register.

    (There's one private individual I've wanted to minimise the chances of being tracked down by, and whilst he's likely to have a general area he'll find it harder to narrow it down any further with me not being on that.)
    Cheryl
  • 2010
    2010 Posts: 5,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you write to the TVL and point out that you have the right to have your information removed from their database under the data protection act as you are no longer a customer of theirs and therefore there is no reason for them to hold it.
    Others that have done this on this thread, have confirmed that it was done and have received a confirmation letter addressed to the occupier.
  • Section62
    Section62 Posts: 9,812 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    2010 said:
    If you write to the TVL and point out that you have the right to have your information removed from their database under the data protection act as you are no longer a customer of theirs and therefore there is no reason for them to hold it.
    Others that have done this on this thread, have confirmed that it was done and have received a confirmation letter addressed to the occupier.
    The problem with approaches like this is you potentially mark yourself out for further investigation.  TVL investigate addresses, not people, and you can't ask them to remove your address from their database because (without a name) it isn't personal data.

    Personally I think the best approach is a strict "no contact" one.  Let them* send their letters to "The Occupier" and have a laugh at the nonsense they contain before keeping/recycling them as preferred.  Don't answer the door if you know it is TVL, if you do open the door then shut it as soon as they identify themselves. Make no faux-declarations of no licence needed.  As Cornucopia says, after 6 months your name vanishes into the ether and they know no better.

    I've gone 5+ years with no contact other than enjoying the nonsense in their "The Occupier" letters - then sharing the fun with my mum who enjoys reading them even more (and otherwise misses out because their household pays the TV tax) ;)

    (*I don't think they should be allowed to hassle people in this way, but we have to work with what we have)
  • 2010
    2010 Posts: 5,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Section62 said:
    2010 said:
    If you write to the TVL and point out that you have the right to have your information removed from their database under the data protection act as you are no longer a customer of theirs and therefore there is no reason for them to hold it.
    Others that have done this on this thread, have confirmed that it was done and have received a confirmation letter addressed to the occupier.
    The problem with approaches like this is you potentially mark yourself out for further investigation.  TVL investigate addresses, not people, and you can't ask them to remove your address from their database because (without a name) it isn't personal data.

    Personally I think the best approach is a strict "no contact" one.  Let them* send their letters to "The Occupier" and have a laugh at the nonsense they contain before keeping/recycling them as preferred.  Don't answer the door if you know it is TVL, if you do open the door then shut it as soon as they identify themselves. Make no faux-declarations of no licence needed.  As Cornucopia says, after 6 months your name vanishes into the ether and they know no better.

    I've gone 5+ years with no contact other than enjoying the nonsense in their "The Occupier" letters - then sharing the fun with my mum who enjoys reading them even more (and otherwise misses out because their household pays the TV tax) ;)

    (*I don't think they should be allowed to hassle people in this way, but we have to work with what we have)
    I don`t know if you`ve been following this thread but the main concern is that the TVL have a name, which the OP doesn`t want them to have.
    I explained how it can be removed if you don`t want to wait six months for it to fall away.
    They obviously don`t remove your address as the confirmation letter is addressed to the occupier.
  • 2010
    2010 Posts: 5,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 26 September 2022 at 3:00PM
    cw18 said:
    FreeBear said:
    Having had one of their jumped up little oiks hammering on my door (I though he was going to break it down), I can confirm that they do indeed ask for the occupier by name. Presumably they cull this information from the electoral roll...

    They won't get mine from there (or shouldn't be able to), as I tick the box to be excluded from the open register.

    (There's one private individual I've wanted to minimise the chances of being tracked down by, and whilst he's likely to have a general area he'll find it harder to narrow it down any further with me not being on that.)
    It`s the easiest thing in the world to find out the name of the person living at an address.
    Nine times out of ten you need only ask the neighbour, under for instance, the pretence of delivering a small package.
    I`m sure Capita will have even more devious ways to find out.
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Home Insurance Hacker!
    edited 26 September 2022 at 3:34PM
    2010 said:
    It`s the easiest thing in the world to find out the name of the person living at an address.
    Nine times out of ten you need only ask the neighbour, under for instance, the pretence of delivering a small package.
    I`m sure Capita will have even more devious ways to find out.
    That is obviously not a lawful way to gather data which you intend to store.

    I also don't see it working in many cases.  Perhaps my neighbours are more intelligent than yours though.

    And despite the low regard in which I hold Capita (having known the company in a professional capacity for more than 30 years since they were spun off from CIPFA), I don't think they would sanction something that like that.
  • 2010
    2010 Posts: 5,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Nick_C said:
    2010 said:
    It`s the easiest thing in the world to find out the name of the person living at an address.
    Nine times out of ten you need only ask the neighbour, under for instance, the pretence of delivering a small package.
    I`m sure Capita will have even more devious ways to find out.
    That is obviously not a lawful way to gather data which you intend to store.

    I also don't see it working in many cases.  Perhaps my neighbours are more intelligent than yours though.

    And despite the low regard in which I hold Capita (having known the company in a professional capacity for more than 30 years since they were spun off from CIPFA), I don't think they would sanction something that like that.
    No one said they would.
    I was merely pointing out that it`s quite easy to obtain a name to an address, whether legally or underhandedly.
  • Section62
    Section62 Posts: 9,812 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    2010 said:
    Section62 said:
    2010 said:
    If you write to the TVL and point out that you have the right to have your information removed from their database under the data protection act as you are no longer a customer of theirs and therefore there is no reason for them to hold it.
    Others that have done this on this thread, have confirmed that it was done and have received a confirmation letter addressed to the occupier.
    The problem with approaches like this is you potentially mark yourself out for further investigation.  TVL investigate addresses, not people, and you can't ask them to remove your address from their database because (without a name) it isn't personal data.

    Personally I think the best approach is a strict "no contact" one.  Let them* send their letters to "The Occupier" and have a laugh at the nonsense they contain before keeping/recycling them as preferred.  Don't answer the door if you know it is TVL, if you do open the door then shut it as soon as they identify themselves. Make no faux-declarations of no licence needed.  As Cornucopia says, after 6 months your name vanishes into the ether and they know no better.

    I've gone 5+ years with no contact other than enjoying the nonsense in their "The Occupier" letters - then sharing the fun with my mum who enjoys reading them even more (and otherwise misses out because their household pays the TV tax) ;)

    (*I don't think they should be allowed to hassle people in this way, but we have to work with what we have)
    I don`t know if you`ve been following this thread but the main concern is that the TVL have a name, which the OP doesn`t want them to have.
    I explained how it can be removed if you don`t want to wait six months for it to fall away.
    They obviously don`t remove your address as the confirmation letter is addressed to the occupier.
    Yes, I have been following the thread, as indicated by my previous comments.

    Which means I understand Mutton_Geoff is unhappy about TVL now having his name.

    My point in the reply to you was that the potential consequences of your suggested action may be worse than the status quo.  Having involuntary obtained a NLN declaration, the chances are that Mutton_Geoff will hear no more until the two years (approx) have expired.  Far longer than the 6 months it usually takes for 'named individual' to be replaced by 'The Occupier'.  The consequences of TVL having Mutton_Geoff's name for that timeframe are no greater than the annoyance factor of knowing they know.

    A potential consequence of using GDPR to force TVL to forget the name of the person living at Mutton_Geoff Towers is that TVL decide Mutton_Geoff Towers is an address of particular interest to 'investigate' to see if the NLN declaration was truthful.

    There is anecdotal evidence that people who stand up to TVL become more interesting to TVL than those who quietly go about their own business.  So this is a case where aiming to win the war is probably better than trying to win a battle.
  • Mutton_Geoff
    Mutton_Geoff Posts: 4,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 26 September 2022 at 5:23PM
    Section62 said:

    A potential consequence of using GDPR to force TVL to forget the name of the person living at Mutton_Geoff Towers is that TVL decide Mutton_Geoff Towers is an address of particular interest to 'investigate' to see if the NLN declaration was truthful.

    There is anecdotal evidence that people who stand up to TVL become more interesting to TVL than those who quietly go about their own business.  So this is a case where aiming to win the war is probably better than trying to win a battle.
    I've seen that on various forums too, and especially if someone invokes a WOIRA (Withdrawal of the Implied
    Right of Access) that this draws unwanted attention from Capita. They even have a memo on how to handle this request but this doesn't say what will happen but I could assume it gets sent to a "warrants further investigation". ChiliJonCarne suggests not to request this now, but just ignore all contact and don't provide them with any details (which is what I was doing until I decided the harassment was worth putting to my MP for advice).

    https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/92292/response/232374/attach/6/RFI20111356 Disclosure Document 3.pdf

    Signature on holiday for two weeks
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.