DVLA selling private data to PPC's and others.

[FlavioGaltieri]

If you are on facebook and are at all worried about the DVLA selling your private information to all and sundry, usually Private Parking Companies issuing bogus "fines", then you might like to support this group: http://bit.ly/cRsa3b

This is a real and growing problem. This case highlights an elderly Grandma whose Christmas was ruined by the inappropriate issuing of a "parking ticket" at a TESCO supermarket and the subsequent follow up threats of legal action which are cleverly dressed up to appear as if she and her daughter had broken the criminal law.

Any support in getting this scandal stopped would be welcome. It could be your Daughter, Mum or Grandma next!

Remember the election is just months away....they WILL listen if there's enough of us.

Thanks in advance!

[zac510]

It's not just the DVLA that irks me. It's everyone. I recently had to update my place on the electoral roll and you have to opt out of them selling on your details. Why do they have to be told?
And the law they passed to stop LAs from selling your details? They otherwise just seem to think it's normal and acceptable to sell on data to marketing companies.

I have no idea but does this contribute in anyway to cases of identity theft or just mail/phone spam.

[FlavioGaltieri]

I'm pretty sure the sale of our confidential information contributes to all sorts of crime.

The DVLA made £44 million selling our data to private car park and clamping scammers in one year alone!

You should be able to trust that the information you give Government or Councils is secure. It is a scandal that they sell it on to criminals.

The case in question on http://bit.ly/cRsa3b is one of many that infect our society today. That of a Private Parking Company in league with a major Supermarket operator scamming vulnerable people by making them think they have transgressed the Criminal Law. In fact if there is any case to be answered at all it is a civil matter.

This scandal is only made possible, like most confidence tricks, by having the victim believe in an agency they trust. In this case the DVLA who would surely not have passed their details on if this was not a serious matter under criminal law......

This is a scandal we CAN stop!!

[Lost soul]

So what ever happend to the Data Protection act

[Mr_B]

As long as everyone knows not to bother paying PPC's, I say let them carry on funding the DVLA, especially if it is £44M a year, their costs will stay the same and their income decline.

[markcoznottz]

Easy for a criminal gang to trace someone they dont like/ have issues with, set up a bogus clamping firm, use a dvla request to get thier address etc. It would be difficult to prove any wrong doing if a certain amount of clamping was happeneing, and is far easier than getting a bent copper on the books, which involves big bags of cash and risk of custodial sentences all round.

[Timsta]

I'm guessing you're the John that started the FB Group. Well, I think you're joining here just to promote your group, which I must say seems a bit unrealistic and too sensationalist. You planning on building a big group to spam or sell?

If you are for real then have a look around here and on pepipoo and you'll find that private parking "fines" is a non-issue.

[Jasandjules]

Timsta said:

If you are for real then have a look around here and on pepipoo and you'll find that private parking "fines" is a non-issue.

You are right to say it is a non-issue for many on here and/or pepipoo, HOWEVER, you have to consider that there are millions of people who don't know this and will pay that fine thinking they have to.... That is what these companies rely on, and the simple fact is they are still in business therefore people must be paying up.

[zac510]

I agree. Every one of my friends I have explained the law to had no idea that it was illegal. The public that know must be <10% easily.

I have seen stories like the one in the facebook group in big news media like the bbc news website and they always fail to mention that the fine is questionable in the first place. They're either afraid of making a judgement on the legality of something or just prefer to focus on the emotional/piss boiler aspect.

To get this basic legal position into the media would be a great start rather than focusing on the big unsympathetic 'bully' Tesco.

On topic, how many other countries' motor vehicle registrars sell the details of owners to the public?

[Timsta]

Jasandjules said:

Timsta said:

If you are for real then have a look around here and on pepipoo and you'll find that private parking "fines" is a non-issue.

You are right to say it is a non-issue for many on here and/or pepipoo, HOWEVER, you have to consider that there are millions of people who don't know this and will pay that fine thinking they have to.... That is what these companies rely on, and the simple fact is they are still in business therefore people must be paying up.

You must question why someone would join one of the few places that know it's not an issue just to post a daily mail type group other than to just promote a facebook group. Web2.0 spam.

[herewego]

zac510 said:

I agree. Every one of my friends I have explained the law to had no idea that it was illegal. The public that know must be <10% easily.

I have seen stories like the one in the facebook group in big news media like the bbc news website and they always fail to mention that the fine is questionable in the first place. They're either afraid of making a judgement on the legality of something or just prefer to focus on the emotional/piss boiler aspect.

To get this basic legal position into the media would be a great start rather than focusing on the big unsympathetic 'bully' Tesco.

On topic, how many other countries' motor vehicle registrars sell the details of owners to the public?

What's illegal?

[zac510]

Sorry illegal isn't the right word and I intentionally didn't use that in my second paragraph.

[AlexS]

I thought it was interesting last weekend. The BBC were devoting a huge chunk of time to the concern that these parking restrictions make no additional allowance for disabled people, as is required by law. At no point in the segment did anyone mention the fact that the fines themselves are highly questionable.

[ShadownINja]

FlavioGaltieri said:

It could be your Daughter, Mum or Grandma next!

I'd bet money it won't be. No daughter, mum doesn't drive, grandmas dead. Next!

Edited by ShadownINja on Tuesday 9th February 14:13

[F i F]

Jasandjules said:

Timsta said:

If you are for real then have a look around here and on pepipoo and you'll find that private parking "fines" is a non-issue.

You are right to say it is a non-issue for many on here and/or pepipoo, HOWEVER, you have to consider that there are millions of people who don't know this and will pay that fine thinking they have to.... That is what these companies rely on, and the simple fact is they are still in business therefore people must be paying up.

I'd agree with J&J on this. I'm not a memeber of farcebook so can't help the specific request but support the attempt to get the knowledge out to a wider proportion of the public, especially if the scammers end up being reported because I feel their activities are borderline illegal when they start harrassment and sending documents which purport to be Fixed Penalty Notices.

Some time ago we had a case where a DIY Store parking contractor was taking the mickey in a big way. One of their victims consulted a solicitor who advised him to pay up. If journeyman solicitors don't know (don't want to know) the legal position then the majority of the public will just continue to be bullied into submission.

Owners of land do need some protection from people who abuse their property and park illegally, but this PPC system isn't the way to solve that.