To dob in this woman from letting agent to her boss?!

[Undertone]

Right. Have recently been in touch with property maintenance liaison woman at my letting agency re: faulty heating. I generally communicate with her via text, for convenience - we've been going back and forth about arranging times, etc.

Today, following an exchange, she texts and asks if she can email me a link on a personal matter and then call me in her lunch hour to discuss. I was fairly intrigued - and a bit 'oo er'. In the end it was to promoting a health juice drink 'network marketing' thing.

A bit of Googling and it predictably transpires that basically it's pyramid selling, this drink has virtually no discernible health benefits, etc. She then calls me and pushes the hard sell for 10 bloody minutes, interspersed with my feeble protestations that 'it's not for me, thanks' and 'actually it sounds like the health benefits are unproven'. She even hinted that it was anti-carcinogenic - even though the company has been taken to court for falsely claiming this.

I eventually got rid of her. But now, actually, I'm a bit pissed off because she's basically stolen my personal information from the letting agency's contact data in order to pursue personal gain. She could be ringing absolutely everyone on their books!

Should I tell her boss, the owner of the letting agency? I have his email address. He may want to know that one of his employees is using company data to push a pyramid scheme - it could affect my future decision to rent from them again.

Arguments against:

• It's only a sales call, it's not the end of the world.
• She knows where I live.
• When she texted me to ask if she could email me a link, she did say it was for a 'personal matter' - so I did give her permission to do this, even though I didn't know what it was about.
• Even though this drink thing is obviously a scam, it's hardly illegal or overly tawdry.
• What if she gets fired?!

Would I be being unreasonable to email her boss and say that he may want to have a word with her?

Look.. just tell them...forward it all to them and be done with it.It's taking up too much of your time now.

If she's a bit thick then you're doin them a favour highlighting this...if she's a cold hearted business woman who is abusing her position then you've highlighted that.

Win win.

Undertone, I've been lurking here and was initially of the opinion that you shouldn't say anything, since it was an error of judgement, etc.

I now think you should: this woman has no idea that what she's done is wrong, and she needs to be told. I would email your exchange to her bosses, but be gentle in your wording, and don't imply that you're going to complain to the LL or stop letting through them or similar, as that will certainly escalate matters.

Hopefully they'll give her a simple warning. But she's had a chance to back down and didn't take it. Ball's out of your court imo.

She has spectacularly missed the point (or as someone else mentions, pretending to in the hope you will drop it - sheer nerve). Anyway, your email didn't achieve its purpose for whatever reason and I think you should escalate it.

Are they members of ARLA? If the bosses aren't that bright/dynamic/whatever, either, isn't there a chance they could misunderstand this as well, or be too lazy to understand?

I am shocked at her behaviour - very selfish indeed.

I really DO NOT approve of network marketing because, apart from the economic setup (turning "friendship" into a business "relationship", etc.), there is no product or quality control of things sold in this way. If there are contra-indications for pregnant/breastfeeding women, people taking various medicines, people with high/low blood pressure, network marketers are not being supervised to ensure they make their "clients" understand this (you have already indicated she is not very bright). There is no being struck off the medical register for people who get it wrong. And if if doesn't have any serious properties, why not just drink water?!

I realise I'm in the minority here, but I am wondering what you would actually gain by reporting her.

Yes she has acted improperly, of that there is no doubt. Your email to her was spot on, and in her reply she has chosen to ignore the real issue and also failed to apologise - this does not necessarily mean that she has failed to understand what she has done and the potential consequences.

Others on this thread think this is bad advice - that?s fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion, this is an AIBU - but I personally would leave it because I would not want to:

1. Cause myself any problems in relation to my own tenancy
2. Be the catalyst for this woman losing her job - which I imagine would be a very real possibility.

The reason we disagree Shmoz, is that most of us think it is not just about OP and this woman. It is about the business being damaged and the other people this woman could hurt.

I guess you either think those things matter or you don't.

Should you, or should you not dob her in.??....she met you and got to know you and is scratching and scraping to earn a penny. On the other hand tell her Boss if you want, ...but .....

If you do tell her Boss, she will know who told him...is this wise.?
I really dont know.

Damage to the business - there's no actual evidence of this, is there? And unless I was a shareholder this wouldn't be an issue for me.

Other people being hurt - I'm not disputing that this woman could do the same to other people who may or may not be as street-wise as OP, but again there's no evidence is there?

It seems to be coming down then to whether OP should adopt this as a moral issue - and if she so chooses fair enough.

I'm not saying these things don't matter, I just wouldn't be willing to take up the mantle on this one - especially when someone could lose their job.

The damage to the business is a series issue.

If this woman is making a habit of contacting tenants some may choose to end their contracts if it gets out that she has been doing this landlord's are likely to pull their properties as it damages their reputation. (We had a landlord come on here and say so!) So loss of revenue on both sides. Plus bad publicity, plus bad word of mouth all reflected back on the letting agency. The three other people that work there could end up losing their jobs because of their colleague. Should 4 people lose their job over one person's actions or just the one that actually did something wrong?

This woman is very carefully indirectly claiming that drinking this drink prevents cancer. The scale of awful consequences for that is just vile. Imagine if it was your friend or your granny? It's just horrible.

Now yes, the OP doesn't have to take the moral side of this if she really doesn't want to. But it's still the right thing to do.

OP do you think that the owner/manger of the letting agency would take this seriously and want to take action? As you have pointed out they don't seem to be the brightest sparks in the box either.

While this women's actions are totally unprofessional shmoz may have a point that and this women may act vindictively if you report her, i.e not be as prompt in resolving issues with your property.

Do you really feel strongly enough about this matter to deal with any potential fall out, even though there most likely will not be any to take this further? If you do report her I would request that she no longer deals with your tenancy as you don't feel she conducts her self in an appropriate and professional manner.

If you fwd on the email exchange, delete the words 'breast cancer' in your/her emails, as this is none of their business, and personal to her. Also if they do sack her, she could claim that they are breaking the Disability Discrimination law, by sacking her because they found out she had cancer.

Looks like she's a crazed saleswoman who is going to carry on unless someone stops her.

Well done you for giving her a chance to relent/desist, but I don't think she is going to!

The information comissioner, if they were to be informed would come down very heavily on the letting agency, so yes, there could be serious damage to the business.

I am also a landlord myself, and would definitely make a case to the agency for them being in breach of contract if I learnt one of their agents were mining my tenants this way and abusing their personal information for their own private financial gain.

do agree about the cancer kitty, but if she is sharing this info with people she barely knows as part of a marketing pitch then I think it is safe to assume the info is out there for general knowledge

however, do think you have a point, agree that bit should be removed

Well - sorry to prolong the saga but I do agree that it's a moral issue now and I need to think about it some more. I do not gain anything by dobbing her in, but I do have the potential to do harm. Iwouldn't say that the whole thing is consuming me or taking up loads of time. Just that I'm in a position of responsibility now and I don't want to make a mistake.

You have to bear in mind that you are not causing her any harm she is. Her actions are inappropriate, and she has chosen this course of action herself. This is her own doing, for using confidential data from her primary employment for her own financial gain. She is committing a sackable offense whether you report her or not. She is in breach of uk privacy laws, and as such should be held liable. Her actions are causing her employer to be breaking the data protection act. She is therefore doing them harm. Can you allow that?

The next person she calls, may report her to the authorities, and get the letting agency in big trouble.

The woman claims that she has had breast cancer and that the product "is a great solution" because of its fruit content.

As someone who has had breast cancer and who by that time had been a vegetarian for over 25 years that would have been the point at which I forwarded the whole nasty affair to her bosses. She has brought any repercussions upon herself AFAIAC.

I, like many others on here, am also concerned about the potential for others to be fooled and given false hope by this deceptive marketing claim.

I don't think that anyone should take action that will probably result in her losing her job because she has been taken in by claims made by the company. I think some people need to stick to the facts. She has contacted a customer of the company that she works for. That contact was for a purpose that will not be covered by her employer's Data Protection registration, and it she is also abusing her access to a client's personal information.
Starting to decide that she should be reported, and probably lose her main income, because she's mentioned cancer, or is taking part in network marketing etc seems to be taking things a step too far. That's straying beyond matters relating to her conduct at work and into making moral judgements. Moral judgements that some people feel would justify her being sacked.

Op, I suggest you concentrate on the relevant facts here and then decide what you are going to do.

Lucy, no, this woman has deliberately used her privileges at her work environment to contact people for her own personal gain. She has been warned off by the OP but still doesnt get the message. I would have no hesitation in getting her fired (if it does come to that) for abusing that privilege. She has broken all kinds of laws and boundaries.
Upon joining her company she should have been made aware of confidentiality of client's information. She may be stupid (or may not, in fact!) but that is not a reason to not address this vile abuse of someone's personal information. And to prevent the same happening to other, potentially vulnerable people.

Morning [my name]. Thank you for your email and advice it is much appreciated. I wanted to let you know the two people i spoke about [that she had contacted] are two friends of mine who then found their homes through [agency name] later because they know i work for an estate agent. Please be assured i ddn't say mona vie cures cancer. As a breast cancer survivor i am aware that if we eat the right foods, lots of fruits and vegetables we ward off many diseases. Hence why mona vie is a great solution because it is made up from 19 fruits from around the world and anyone can drink it. All the best. [her name]

She thanked you for your email & advice (so she may well take it on board).

She reassured you she's only contacted the 2 friends and you.

She explained herself re the cancer link.

Maybe she could have reassured you that she wouldn't contact anyone else, or maybe she just assumed that was a given after reading your email & thanking you for your advice.

I'd leave it, as far as you know she has only contacted you & may not contact anyone else - it's really not worth her losing her job over is it?

"Lucy, no, this woman has deliberately used her privileges at her work environment to contact people for her own personal gain. She has been warned off by the OP but still doesnt get the message. I would have no hesitation in getting her fired (if it does come to that) for abusing that privilege. She has broken all kinds of laws and boundaries.
Upon joining her company she should have been made aware of confidentiality of client's information. She may be stupid (or may not, in fact!) but that is not a reason to not address this vile abuse of someone's personal information. And to prevent the same happening to other, potentially vulnerable people."
Ladydeedy you are agreeing with me. I am saying that the issue is the legal one, abuse of work information, data protection etc. I'm trying to make the point that some people are trying to justfy the woman being sacked for other reasons, which is not appropriate. I think when you are contemplating taking a step that may lose someone their employment you should be clear about exactly what considerations it is appropriate to take into account.

Lucy, it seems to me that you are muddling the issues unnecessarily. Possibly due to your own connection to network marketing, such as this? I wonder if you are projecting your own knowledge a little too much on the ops letting agent.

There is only one issue. The legal one. Which leads to the next issue, if somebody else complains to the authorities direct, they may all be out of a job in the worst case scenario.

Undertone if I was in your position I'd probably leave it now.

I agree her reply email seems inadequate but I think, reading between the lines, she knows she has potentially fucked up big time. That's why her reply is vague and appears to ignore/gloss over some issues you have raised - she is trying to make sure she doesn't incriminate herself in her reply.

I would probably email her again saying that you were concerned that she did not seem to understand the seriousness of her actions in using contact information from customers at work ( that she had broken he law on Data Protection and put herself and the company at risk of prosecution) and that you were not reassured by her response to your previous email that she would categorically not be contacting any more people from her work database in order to sell her products.

If you do not get reassurance this time, I would have no hesitation in forwarding the email to her boss.

Ps. I thought your first email was beautifully worded. Wish I cold write s coherently!