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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To withold this information from my employers?

50 replies

WelshMaenad · 14/02/2013 04:49

Many staff at my place of work use their personal vehicles for work purposes. I completely understand, in this case, why certain information is required of them. Due to the nature of my role, and the timing of my shifts, I do not use my car in this way - I use it to commute to work, and that's all. There is no possibility of me ever having to use my car for business purposes, it just isn't in my job description.

I have been asked to supply evidence of my car insurance, a copy of my driving licence, and a copy of my vehicle MOT certificate, purely because a blanket request has been made of all staff to do so, and I am expected to comply, regardless of the fact that they do not require this information for any sane reason.

AIBU to refuse? It feels very big-brothery, thin end of the wedge-y. I have already supplied them with a lot of personal information, necessary for the CRB check that my role requires. I just think it's a bit much having to prove that my car is MOT'd when I don't use it for work and never will. Or am I being overly precious?

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 14/02/2013 04:52

I would be annoyed about that too.

If you dont comply what will they do though?

TheDetective · 14/02/2013 05:07

Just say you don't have a car. Tell them to prove you do. Or say it isn't your car and you don't have permission from the registered owner and keeper to share that information.

Or you don't have a licence or a car!

Do you park in a works car park? If you don't I'd just say that...

Or you could ask them to provide justification for the request.

Agree, it's very Big Brother. They do not need this information. Are they going to ask you to prove it every year?! Confused

Seems a waste of admin.

TheFallenNinja · 14/02/2013 05:18

Driving license I would have no problem with but insurance and MOT would seem odd. Unless you are making mileage claims it seems a bit much information

Have you asked what they are going to do with that information. I would suspect that at the back of this is a compensation claim for vehicle damage.

However, I don't suppose it really matters in the grand scheme.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 14/02/2013 06:10

YABU.... You've never used the car for business purposes but that's not to say that, at some point in the future, you might have to run an errand or something. They want to know that if you're driving on company business you're in a roadworthy car, insured and qualified to drive so that, if there are any problems, it doesn't come back to them. I don't see the problem really.

HollyBerryBush · 14/02/2013 06:15

Are you parking on your employers premises? Perfectly reasonable request if that is the case.

sashh · 14/02/2013 06:32

Tell them they are breaking the data protection act for asking that. They are only allowed to collect relevant data.

AnneTwacky · 14/02/2013 06:33

It might seem a bit 1984.

My guess is though that they need to know this info for everyone who drives on company business as part of their motor insurance, but it sounds like they don't know who does business trips and who doesn't. (Although they should).

If you never will even run an errand for the company, then speak to your HR/ Fleet manager.

shemademedoit · 14/02/2013 06:38

Don't know what the rules are where you are, but here in France, if I were to get into an accident or trouble ON MY WAY TO or FROM WORK my employer would be responsible for my care/insurance. Could it be like that?

ChristmasJubilee · 14/02/2013 06:38

Is there another reason you don't want to show them? Do you have points on your licence or are you banned? Is your car M.O.T'd and insured? If there are no other problems then IMHO YABU and precious. I can't see any reason they would really need it but what real difference would it make to you.

Iggly · 14/02/2013 06:39

Actually they surely only need it if you make a claim for expenses? So why tell them you'll give the information if you make a claim.

MrsKeithRichards · 14/02/2013 06:44

We're expected to supply all that and have business use on our insurance to claim mileage. I do about ten work related miles a month, I just don't bother claiming.

Yanbu

HecateWhoopass · 14/02/2013 07:14

What would happen if you wrote to them and said please confirm in writing why you require this information from me when I do not and will not use my car for work?

And what would happen if you showed them? They'd have the information and? They'd do what with it? Would it affect you?

Yes, there's need to know. And I'm fairly sure that data protection is very clear that there must be a purpose for information to be stored and I'm not sure that a blanket policy would be enough. But, otoh, how are you harmed by them having it?

If you object, then object formally and see what their argument is when they have to put it in writing.

HecateWhoopass · 14/02/2013 07:15

That should be 'need to know' - as in information should only be gathered that they NEED to know.

TheFallenNinja · 14/02/2013 07:28

The if you have nothing to hide response will undoubtedly come back if you challenge it, I prefer to think about it as protecting my privacy, however.

This does happen all over the place and I'm sure that the business will have a watertight reason to demand it.

I think it's more of a case that it feels like intrusion, when in reality it probably isn't.

Perhaps worth considering if this is where you want to make your stand? For the sake of a quick photocopy it may well warrant an eye roll and a tut and perhaps even a FFS.

Personally, I'd save my battles for something larger.

Iggly · 14/02/2013 08:22

It only takes a few minutes to challenge. They might have put a blanket request out as easier.

LIZS · 14/02/2013 08:26

Unless you are claiming mileage or carrying company equipment/data I can see no reason why you should comply.

TaggieCampbellBlack · 14/02/2013 08:37

I have the same request at work and I too have refused.

On picking apart the policy it is only if you use your car for work business (like community visits).

So instead of just asking the community staff they are now pressurising everyone for pointless information. It is none of their business if my car is taxed and MOTd.

TiaMariaandSpringCleaning · 14/02/2013 08:50

the poster upthread who mentioned data protection has it - the company has no reason to ask unless you are claiming mileage (or similar) and they are not allowed to hold this personal information unless they have a valid reason for doing so - and even then they should only ask for it when they need it and hold it only as long as they need it for that purpose and no other - they can't ask 'because it might be useful some day'.

What's even more daft is a guarantee you that once they do collect the data they will never ask about it again - my employer asked for this info about 7 years ago - I gave it (as I do claim mileage) - I have sinced changed cars, insurance providers etc etc many times - if the data is still held somewhere it is very out of date, but they have no mechanism to update it (i asked!)

SPBInDisguise · 14/02/2013 08:55

I'm not convinced your cars mot status counts as personal info actually, and whether this stuff cones under data protection...insurance maybe I suppose. The mot is about the car.

TiaMariaandSpringCleaning · 14/02/2013 09:03

SPB - I'd agree - the MOT status probably wouldn't count as personal info, not least as it's not attributed to a person, only a car. The insurance details are personal though (unless of course they are only asking for you to sign something confirming that you have adequate insurance and MOT, rather than providing the document itself - which is what most sensible employers do instead of all the fuss of asking for copy certifiates and MOT notices etc that are out of date within 12 months!)

julieann42 · 14/02/2013 09:06

My husband works in the community as a nurse and has to supply this info as he claims mileage , unless you do I would say you are within your rights to withhold this info!

TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub · 14/02/2013 09:11

OP, our work randomly asked us for copies of all our exam certs a while ago (including GCSEs/O levels). Someone asked why they required this information and the request went away.

It's worth pushing back if you don't want to do it.

Birdsgottafly · 14/02/2013 09:13

As a SW i have to provide that information just to be a member of the GSCC, whether i am working or not.

Does your profession have a regulatory body?

Are you sure that it is not in your contract that if you are a driver you may be asked to use a car?

Tbh, i see this as regulating staff, and the company mearly exercising a social responibility, which if they employ members of regulatory bodies, they are bound in leglislation to do so.

So, in certain jobs, this is par for the course.

StanleyLambchop · 14/02/2013 09:56

My DH was asked to supply details of his mortgage and bank accounts so that his work could run checks to make sure he was 'financially competant'- eg had no debts. I refused to sign the form to allow this on the basis that they were joint accounts and as I did not work for the company I did not want my privacy violated. The company backed down and just did a standard CCJ check in the end. Some companies just take the piss!!!

EuroShagmore · 14/02/2013 11:42

I'd ask them to justify why they want this information and why their request complies with the Data Protection Act.

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