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'via Blog this'DATA  PROTECTION.


I recall a few years back asking that the addresses of our Parish Councillors should be made available, being of the opinion that some of them lived in the proximity of a local Development under consideration.  I was advised that doing so was an impossibility under ‘The Data Protection Act’. As the Information was already available on the then  District Council Web Site one wondered why the information could not be made  available to those entirely Computer Illiterate.


TALK TALK the ISP


I was recently AGAIN dissatisfied with my Internet Service Provider, Messrs Talk Talk. It having failed to collect its dues on a long standing Direct Debit, didn’t advise me of the detail of the problem, but took to demanding payment by either Debit Card or Cheque, a request that I answered with the suggestion that they used the Direct Debit already set up. ( One is inundated with third parties hoping to ‘Con’  one into crediting them, rather than that ISP). This culminated in first my broadband connection being denied me, then our telephone was cut off, each happening without any warning or prior statement of  intent so to do. Naturally I let the CEO of Talk Talk have my views on the matter. Today there was a phone call from them . A man who having demanded my name, wanted for purposes of THE DATA PROTECTION ACT to have my address, then my date of birth. When I told him the latter was none of his business ( I bearing in mind The Data Protection Act) The Chap said he wouldn’t be able to talk to me after all. So having told the chap to stop wasting my time, I likewise terminated our conversation. 


In fairness to Talk Talk their Service has been an improvement on what was first offered me at the time they took over Tiscalli. One thing I did tell TALK TALK was that I had no intention of signing up with them another time. My previous complaint was kindly referred to Mr Vince Cable MP, by my MP. 


BANKS and Data Protection. There was an interesting programme on the Television last evening a repeat episode of Fake Britain wherein an ubiquitous presenter borrowed a piece of kit from a Cambridge Boffin, and with the agreement of would be purchasers at a Bookshop was able to activate the pin code on successive debit cards with any four numbers he chose to enter. His preference was four zeros, and it worked every time. Seemingly this kit wouldn’t work at an ATM. But therewith there are other problems despite disclaimers from various Banks.


SECURITY CODES on the reverse of Visa Cards. What in the name of Heaven is secure about them ? How does it prove that the card is in the possession of anyone ? It proves nothing except the naiveté of those who think it does. Anyone who may have legitimately handled ones card, can as easily record the ‘Security Number, on its reverse, as record the card number on it’s obverse, so could afterwards use those numbers fraudulently on line  or elsewhere if  minded so to do . Personally I like to leave a paper trail when paying for anything on line, first debit one of the on line Agencies, who immediately Debit a Credit card, who in turn debit me at the end of each month. This procedure hopefully helps guard one against fraud, but who would be sure of that, the whole process seems to be a great game of Cowboys and Indians, played in a  World wherein so many no longer accept cheques.


It occurred to me to ask my Bank Manager  when I recently visited, how it was that a Bank Account that I had originated precisely sixty years ago in the City solely in my name, had more recently bifurcated into the names of both my wife and I. He had no answer to that for seemingly according to the ideals of THE DATA PROTECTION ACT, the Bank destroyed all such records every five years. That’s blinking convenient if such is so, maybe those who owe them money might try the same ploy.


There is one last point. I recall being telephoned allegedly by a Bank some years back in connection with an Executor Account I then managed. Having been advised that it was xxxxx Bank calling, one was then asked security questions, such as what was the Maiden name of the owner of the money in the account etc. When on that occasion one advised the lady phoning from the Sub Continent that she ‘might pull the other one for it had bells on’ She offered me her ex. directory telephone number so that I might ring her, but then ‘She would wouldn’t she.’ 


19 April 2012 11:20