Hi all

 

Got a rather odd question perhaps...... I wondered if anyone else is experiencing this and is it ok?

 

I purchased my Superb a few years ago and I am still very happy with it. Today I received another Text message and a letter through the post from Yeoman's. This dealership bought out Helston garages including Truscott's where I bought my Skoda. They want to buy my car from me and help me to buy a new or newer car from them. I phoned them on the number that they supplied and spoke to someone about this. My first question was about them owning and using my personal data without my knowledge. It was explained to me that 'they' bought the company as a going concern - the debts, the data, everything. I told him that I never gave my permission for my data to be sold to them. He said that I must have signed something when I bought my car..... I don't think I did and have looked though all the paperwork that came with the purchase and I have not signed to expressly allow my personal data to be sold. 

 

At the moment, this looks like a huge data breach and believe it is in contravention of the data protection act....... Can anyone please advise?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Benjum

Yes, let it go and concentrate on things you can influence like turning back the tide 😁

That is helpful?

8 hours ago, Benjum said:

At the moment, this looks like a huge data breach and believe it is in contravention of the data protection act....... Can anyone please advise?

It's not. Yeoman's bought the assets of Helstons (or Truscots or Bodmin Motors or whoever), one of which is a client list. A breach of the DPA would only occur when/if they supplied that list to Thripps Motors of Exeter,

11 hours ago, Benjum said:

That is helpful?

 

You asked for advice, not helpful advice, if that is the most serious concern in your life you should thank whatever deity you believe in.

4 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

It's not. Yeoman's bought the assets of Helstons (or Truscots or Bodmin Motors or whoever), one of which is a client list. A breach of the DPA would only occur when/if they supplied that list to Thripps Motors of Exeter,

 

I agree.

 

The client list is the only asset in many business sales.

Thanks for your insight. So it is fine for Yeoman's to pass my data to marketing companies so that I can be written to and texted. Better if Yeoman's had written to me and introduced themselves and asked first. I am glad that Coca Cola didn't buy out Truscotts as their marketing budget is huge..... I would be texted and written to forever more.

8 minutes ago, Benjum said:

So it is fine for Yeoman's to pass my data to marketing companies so that I can be written to and texted. 

No you're taking a step too far - Yeomans can write to you because they purchased all of Truscotts assets - including their customer list.

 

Yeomans need to ask your permission to pass on your details to any other company/organisation 

 

Having said that it's not uncommon for companies to operate an automatic opt-in system where they assume you have given your permission unless and until you opt-out, so I would contact Yeomans asking to be contacted ONLY for details regarding the servicing of your car (if that's what you want) and for your details NOT to be passed to any third party.

 

My personal experience is that even if assurances are received (in writing or email) that this has been done you might still be contacted in future - I've reported several companies (especially recruitment agencies and car dealerships) to the Information Commissioner for breaching my express instructions regarding communications from them and third parties.

@Benjum as @PetrolDave says in his para 1, Yeoman's may contact you directly (or through a 3rd party with a one-time right to use your data) regarding your vehicle. They do not have the right to pass your data to Audiot's of Bodmin (place name used advisedly) in order for Audiot's to try and sell you an Audi Turbo Nutter.

Thank you PD. I have never had dealings with Yeoman's as they are an Audi dealership some miles away. I had no idea they had bought out Truscott's because they hadn't told me. After the terrible experiences I had during my first year of Skoda ownership, I swore never to set foot on that site ever again. I did say this to Yeoman's yesterday as well as asking for my data to be removed from their computer systems. To which he replied "This isn't Helston garages anymore". I asked f it was the same sales staff and mechanic and he said yes....... There is no chance of me ever going back. I do not think that Yeoman's could pass my data to whoever they want without an OK from me.

2 minutes ago, Benjum said:

I had no idea they had bought out Truscott's because they hadn't told me.

...and they didn't have to.

 

They can pass your your data to a third party, provided they register that party with the Data Protection Registrar as being a party that they may pass Personal Data within the meaning of the Act to. So you need to contact the DP Registrar and ask for a copy of Yeoman's registration.

Thank You P4T 

I had the unenviable task of setting up GDPR for our club some years ago. Trying to make sense of the guidlines was a bloody nighmare but once you get over their lingo, t's relatively straightforward.

 

Your details would have been on the database of the original supplier. You could of course have asked for those details to be deleted, but that would almost certainly been refused. Obviously the garage or manufacturer would need your details to contact you in the event of say a recall or something similar. It's almost 100% certain there would have been words to that effect on the original contract you signed, typically under the 'data protection' section.

 

Those new owners would have taken over all of the original business, so nothing has changed in that respect.

 

By law you are entitled at anytime to see what personal data a company hold about you. But is that really the problem you have?  Your problem sounds like you don't want them to contact you.

 

Simples - just tell them you want your name removed from all future communication. That's something they have to do - it's law. The letter you received should have details on what to do to stop future marketing.

 

One of the conditions of membership to our club is not only agreeing to your personal data being held whilst you're a member of our club, but that data will be held up to a period of 12mths after you've left the club. If anybody objects to that then their membership application is refused.   

Edited 1 February, 20241 yr by kodiaqsportline

That is clear, understandable and I thank you kindly for the info.

 

You are correct, I do not want anything to do with them whatsoever, I have nothing personal against Yeoman's per se, it is more the staff and their attitudes as most were kept on. However, I am not happy with being harassed (4 times now) via third parties to sell my car to Yeoman's, and Yeoman's instigated this without consent. I feel that is an unacceptable way for a dealership that means nothing to me, to conduct their business. I ripped them a third one earlier via email but have not received their reply yet. I am interested in what they have yo say about it.

 

Thank you again buddy, much appreciated.