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Scientologists And Data Protection

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MWG14 | 15:58 Mon 04th Feb 2019 | Law
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Years ago in 1986, we took our then sixteen year old daughter and her friend to Brighton for the day. Whilst we had a coffee in the town centre, the girls had a mooch around the shops nearby.

They were approached by two young women with clipboards who asked if they would complete a survey. Seeing no harm in it, the girls agreed. To cut a long story short, they were bullied into buying the Dianetics book. Neither could afford the book outright so they had to pool their money to buy just the one copy. My daughter gave her name and address for the receipt. Neither girl actually wanted the book as both were regular members of the congregation at our local parish church.

Over the years our daughter received many unwanted mailings from the East Grinstead headquarters of the Scientologists. Nothing that we could do would stop the flow of mail. It became quite intimidating. We moved house and eventually our daughter married so changed her name. The flow of mail eventually stopped.

Now, out of the blue, the owner of our old house has forwarded a letter addressed to our daughter in her former name from the Scientologists.

Surely after 33yrs, these people are breaking the data protection law in keeping her name and address on their files?



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I`m not sure but I don`t think they are because they are mailing her. A breach would be if they disclosed her name and address to a third party.
People do seem to have odd ideas about Data Protection.

Put simply, an organisation can do pretty much anything it wants with your data, as long as

1. It is not used for illegal (criminal) purposes)

2. They declare in advance what they are going to do and get your approval - these days it needs to be explicit approval, back in the days of yore an implicit approval was assumed unless you opted out.

I suspect an organisation as techno-savvy as The Scientologists would have been ticking all the right boxes for you - even back in 1986.

It will, however, be an offence if they do not now desist when asked.
Question Author
We gave her the letter when she called in to see us. She was so disgusted that she destroyed it. Perhaps we/she should have kept it was proof.
"Surely after 33yrs, these people are breaking the data protection law in keeping her name and address on their files?"

But they don't have her current name or address.
I'd drop a note to your old address asking them not to forward anything, and forget all about it.
4candles that's not fair, it's just dumping the problem on the people living in the old house and it's nothing to do with them.
MWG if your daughter receives another letter, cross out the old address and write across "No longer at this address, please remove from mailing list thank you" or something like that.
Question Author
I wish we had done that with this latest letter. She was so disgusted and cross that she tore it up before she had a chance to think about it properly.
I shouldn't think it would be a problem for the householder, ladybirder; they'll probably be happy to chuck things in the bin rather than go to the trouble of forwarding them.
MWG you or she could write to the people at the old address and ask them if they would be kind enough to do it, as much for them as for your daughter as they won't want to keep receiving post not meant for them.
Good luck.
"4candles that's not fair, it's just dumping the problem on the people living in the old house and it's nothing to do with them."

ladybirder I've been at my current property for over six years, but still get occasional 'spam' mail for the previous occupants. It's not proved to be problem to recycle it. ;)
most of these answers are inaccurate - read the banner at the top of the thread that says there is no law that Abers have to try to get things right

People do seem to have odd ideas about Data Protection. [they certainly do] Put simply, an organisation can do pretty much anything it wants.....

erm no it cant really - the new thing is the GDPR - Zuckerberg thought your data was his, and the Zuck is wrong

First I think you need to consider with you daughter about what you wish to do - one letter to an old name in a few years seems acceptable - BUT if you wish to take action
then go here
https://www.scientology.org/privacy-notice.html
scroll to the very bottom
Right to Object and follow their instructions

if your daughter doesnt wish to use her own name then she could do it from one of your email addresses - using of course her old name

in answer to your question
no they are not breaking the law as they ( will say ) they have a legitimate purpose in keeping the data ....

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Thank you all for your comments & suggestions.

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