Venn Group Consultants won't delete my personal details

[Lostprophet]

I contacted a consultant 3 weeks ago and told them to delete my details from their systems.

Yesterday I was contacted by a former employer and was advised he was called for a reference.

I contacted the Venn group today. I was told they hold the CV and personal details for 5 years in case they are asked for a reference???!

They said my profile is blocked but still visilable.

surely this is not right?

[CypherP]

Lostprophet said:

I contacted a consultant 3 weeks ago and told them to delete my details from their systems.

Yesterday I was contacted by a former employer and was advised he was called for a reference.

I contacted the Venn group today. I was told they hold the CV and personal details for 5 years in case they are asked for a reference???!

They said my profile is blocked but still visilable.

surely this is not right?

I've recently had a pretty bad experience with a particular recruiter there. Fed me some duff information after declining a role he had contacted me about. Don't trust them with any details.

My current employer was contacted by an anonymous recruiter last week asking him whether HE would be interested in a new role, and the guy even went so far as to mention that he got his contact details from MY CV from an application made in the last 3 months. My boss then had to tell me this in a one-to-one meeting.

As far as I'm aware, they aren't allowed to hold your details unless you have given permission for them to do this. If they aren't proactively searching on your behalf, they shouldn't need the information for anything other than finding future applicable roles.

Did you register with them, or just speak to them on the phone?

ETA: The recruiter isn't at liberty to hold information to provide as a reference to others. You haven't worked for them and your employers are stated as references on your CV when you apply elsewhere. Why they would need to retain information incase a reference is needed doesn't ring true in my head and I'd be sceptical as to why they want to keep this.

Edited by CypherP on Thursday 20th October 14:58

[TurricanII]

Indeed I would send them a letter stating that I rescind any permission previously granted to hold any personal data about me. Also that you believe the data is inaccurate (e.g. your references and experience have changed) and request that they delete it in accordance with the data protection act:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_prote...

I would advise that if they fail to respond or notify you within 30 days that they will comply with this request that you will file a complaint with the office of the data protection registrar and/or the Information Commissioner's Office (not sure which is most relevant, but you get the idea!). Send the letter recorded delivery.

[Lostprophet]

Thanks for your messages.

I tried to remove my details from another consultant’s database today and they said they are holding my details as they got me a job back in 2007? I don’t want them to!!! I don’t know if I can request for them to remove it?!

[DJRC]

I must be dumb. Why does any of this bother you?

There must be hundreds of copies of my CV in various states out there between different recruitment companies. Its never occured to me once to tell them to delete me or my CV.