to not want to disclose my personal data to strangers?

[redwineformethanks]

Took my daughter to a soft play centre today, part of a chain. I was staying in the building to supervise her and expected to pay cash on entry and walk in. However, they insist everyone must register and they wanted our name, home address, phone numbers, date of birth etc. I'm wary of ID fraud and I'm not inclined to share personal data with organisations I don't to join. Also, I don't want to advertise to strangers standing behind me that if I'm here mid-week there's a sporting chance our house is currently empty and might be attractive to a burglar.

Had a chat with the manager who said it was to do with safety / security, and she admitted lots of other people had complained too. In the end I just gave them a fake address, which defeated the whole point anyway.

Am I being a bit precious about this or do others feel the same as me?

No, you are not being precious. I'd have done the same as you. They are out to get us all, I tell ya!

I give fake addresses, numbers and even names sometimes.

is up to you who you give your personal information to.

A soft play centre doesn't need your address or date of birth. Ridiculous!!

Is it to do with safety and security or is it marketing?

I know I've had to sign registers to use a camera at my kids sporting events but that usually only name, house number and postcode. I've never been entirely convinced by the system as I always assumed anyone who was taking photos for dodgy reasons would give false details anyway.

Did she say what they do with the info, how long it's held on record and how it is destroyed?

The world is full of twats.

I don't give my personal details out without good reason, not so much because of security but out of 'they are my details and I will only give them to who I want to thank you very much'

Too much marketing not enough common sense

Try mis-spelling your name and you can see who your data is being sold to!

Would there be a H&S issue necessitating registering? Eg in the event of a fire? they would know how many people they were looking for?

Of course in the compo culture, it would preclude you suing, if giving false details, as you weren't there

I assume its something to do with marketting. Either directly sending stuff to home addresses looking for birthday parties etc OR indirectly seeing the areas they may wish to advertise of leaflet drop in.

I've been to other places where they keep a record of the child's first name, age and time of arrival. That's fair enough if they might get busy and need to keep a check on numbers so they don't exceed their capacity. I think this is just for marketing purposes, but it should be optional.

I've never had to give more than my name.

I was asked for my address and phone number when I bought a printer cartridge. When I said I wouldn't give it, I was told they wouldn't sell me the cartridge.

I left the shop and they let me. Unbelievable.

At the soft play here we have to give name, DCs name, town and the DCs ages. I don't think I'd be happy giving my address and date of birth too.

I hate this too. I went to mamas and papas the other day to buy a gift and was asked my postcode to spend £6 in cash on something. I declined to tell her and got a face from the woman in the shop. They also always ask this when I go for a bra fitting and this week I booked an aerobics class at my local leisure centre and had to pay by card over the phone - at the same time she asked me my postcode and house number - I came off the phone feeling a little robbed as to why my address was needed to book an aerobics class when they have a phone number I hope she doesn't drain my account

Reastie, they have to check your address with the bank to pay for something using your card.

phew. I just felt like she had all the info necessary to steal all my money which isn't much and I'm sure when I booked the class last week they didn't ask me for postcode/house name

Have also had this in shops -- admittedly from a furniture place where I guess they are most used to arranging deliveries, but their system was set up so it couldn't even take cash for a small purchase without it. I made it very clear I wasn't happy and was giving them a made-up address, and they let me..

Oh, and I am really glad to hear I'm not the only one who objects to this, loudly and in public

ImperialBlether where the hell was that?

I think it was PC World in the Greyhound Retail Park in Chester, Andrew.

DSG, I could have guessed. I have had a fake name and address (with a working postcode, but there is no such number in the road) for them for years. They don't want to sell you anything without adding you to their list.