Using an old employer's customer list...
Discussion
Hypothetically if you came across a list of 1,000 customers names and contact numbers from a previous company you worked for briefly 5 years ago...
If you passed them on to a friend who was now in the same industry for him to methodically call and pitch their company to...
How much trouble could you get into?
If you passed them on to a friend who was now in the same industry for him to methodically call and pitch their company to...
How much trouble could you get into?
Anything else apart, I'd have said it was probably a bit pointless.
After five years, a good swathe of the contacts will have moved on - so all anybody using the list will do is look like somebody going by out-of-date info. Anybody who's still a customer of the list's owner will have such a long-standing relationship that they'll probably not be easily swayed to change, either.
Your friend would be best off putting the energy into his own list and prospects.
After five years, a good swathe of the contacts will have moved on - so all anybody using the list will do is look like somebody going by out-of-date info. Anybody who's still a customer of the list's owner will have such a long-standing relationship that they'll probably not be easily swayed to change, either.
Your friend would be best off putting the energy into his own list and prospects.
Realistically I don't see a problem, I personally know of two companies who started using this method, and the companies who had the information originally was aware it was done and didn't kick and scream about it. Yes it isn't really cricket but all the information is already out there for anyone to find anyway, and as stated above after five years a lot of the contacts will have changed.
I haven't been in that industry for over ten years, but if I felt the need I would say I still have the details of 90% of the companies I dealt with, is that really classed as stealing information?
I haven't been in that industry for over ten years, but if I felt the need I would say I still have the details of 90% of the companies I dealt with, is that really classed as stealing information?
The company I used to work for took on a girl from a rival company when she was made redundant. She turned up on her first day with a massive printout of her former employer's client list. She was mystified as to why we wouldn't use it. She was fired a few months later for other, unrelated matters - but her card was pretty much marked "potential troublemaker" that first day.
The look on my boss's face.
The look on my boss's face.
AB said:
Hypothetically if you came across a list of 1,000 customers names and contact numbers from a previous company you worked for briefly 5 years ago...
If you passed them on to a friend who was now in the same industry for him to methodically call and pitch their company to...
How much trouble could you get into?
I write on the DPA, CANSPAM and the rest of the multitude of legislation around such matters.If you passed them on to a friend who was now in the same industry for him to methodically call and pitch their company to...
How much trouble could you get into?
My advice is don't. My advice is not to come onto a forum and discuss such matters. Crossing your fingers and saying 'hypothetically' three times doesn't cut much ice.
If I was your mate I would do it
But if I was you I wouldn't, I wouldn't risk the hassle of giving your mate the contacts, what do you gain out of it? Unless you want him in your pocket for a bit
Morals aside there is the risk it could backfire for you for such little gain
I worked for a past company, they started a new "branch" and line of work and took a Director from the rival. On the first day he was trying to attach a 10GB PST file to his new Outlook account. He literally just archived every email he had ever sent from the last company we worked for and took them with him when he left!
But if I was you I wouldn't, I wouldn't risk the hassle of giving your mate the contacts, what do you gain out of it? Unless you want him in your pocket for a bit
Morals aside there is the risk it could backfire for you for such little gain
I worked for a past company, they started a new "branch" and line of work and took a Director from the rival. On the first day he was trying to attach a 10GB PST file to his new Outlook account. He literally just archived every email he had ever sent from the last company we worked for and took them with him when he left!
whoami said:
And any sensible company will have well established procedures to catch them in the act.
You would think so wouldn't you.I worked for a household name company, very large, 9 months after leaving I can still access my email, this is not uncommon either, I know others from other large places that have seen similar incompetancy, companies are useless in this respect.
@twisting my melon, yes, everyone I know who has gone to competitor has always exported their address book/key mails, its incredibly common.
silverous said:
It happens a lot and I don't hear of too many people falling foul of it, that isn't to say it won't cause an issue......
It frequently does cause an issue.Depends on how rigorously the information security policy (and subsequent audits) are adhered to.
Like anything, some organisations are better than others.
AB said:
allergictocheese said:
I'd be surprised if at the least it wasn't breach of contract if the person with the list was supposed to be trusted with it. Many employment contracts have perpetual confidentiality clauses for sensitive information.
Hypothetically it didn't.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff