Yorkshire Water breaking Data Protection Act by sharing info with CRAs?

[evilcartman]

I've had a threatogram from Yorkshire Water, demanding a certain amount or they "may" start legal proceedings.

They also state "you need to know that we are now sharing account information with the Credit Reference Agencies". Note that there is no "may" there, they're presenting it as a fait accompli. Now isn't this in breach of the Data Protection Act? There is no contract signed by me consenting to them doing this and, given that they are a private monopoly and we don't even get to choose which water company is fleecing us, then I can not in any way, shape or form be said to have consented.

Grounds for a complaint to the ICO?

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Yorkshire Water breaking Data Protection Act by sharing info with CRAs?

Ive already been fighting this...... dead duck mate

My argument was that we have no choice but to use them, ie I cannot choose severn trent / yorkshire etc so the fact they can share derogatory data is also an abuse of power. The ICO said tough titties niddy, any company can do this at anytime they want with or without authority from the customer to which I said bugger off - that's nonsense, without prior permission they cannot share my data with a 3rd party CRA - the ICO beg to differ.

I accused them of wimping out cos it was Yorks Water - ie bigger than the government

I'm not finished, just had too much going on to deal with it properly....

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Yorkshire Water breaking Data Protection Act by sharing info with CRAs?

See this

-> http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/c...s-kick-in.html

-> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...e-reports.html

-> http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21533587

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Yorkshire Water breaking Data Protection Act by sharing info with CRAs?

FOI - seems yorks water get off

-> http://www.ico.org.uk/about_us/how_w...RQ0471784.ashx

likewise, it appears your permission for them to share YOUR personal data with a third party matters little if it's "fair" to do so

--> http://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisati...de/principle_1

[Riz]

Re: Yorkshire Water breaking Data Protection Act by sharing info with CRAs?

likewise, it appears your permission for them to share YOUR personal data with a third party matters little if it's "fair" to do so

I think the fairness part of that is still subject to the condition that it meets at least one of the processing conditions in schedule 2.

Processing personal data must above all else be fair, as well as satisfying the relevant conditions for processing.

Problem is that schedule 2 only includes consent as one of those conditions, so it is not needed if one of the others apply.

And the others include the "legitimate interests" condition

http://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisati...for_processing

which if you are a creditor you can drive a truck through.....