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AIBU?

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Original poster

Friend using my personal email address for her work

51 replies

DisappointedOne · 31/07/2015 01:02

Just musing really about something that's happened this week. A friend has started working part time for a couple of days a week at a local business. She's supposed to be drumming up trade so has done a Facebook page etc.

Yesterday I got an email to my private email account (only known to friends and family) from this company with a newsletter that so appear to have been signed up for. I see her regularly and she never mentioned this.

(I use personalised email addresses in communication with companies so that I can see if my details get sold on etc. I don't even like my email address appearing on the "to" list of emails sent to a group, never mind being used to drum up business!)

AIBU to want to point out to her that this is beyond reasonable behaviour?

OP posts:
AlpacaMyBags · 31/07/2015 01:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

madwomanbackintheattic · 31/07/2015 01:16

Just unsubscribe

onthering · 31/07/2015 01:19

I'm with you on this. I really wouldn't like that.

RonaldosAbs · 31/07/2015 01:47

She probably just sent it to all of her contacts. Just unsubscribe if you don't want it, I really do not see why this is so awful.

TheDowagerCuntess · 31/07/2015 02:00

This is obviously something you feel Very Strongly About, whereas I others don't/won't (who can be bothered setting up personalised email addresses?).

If it annoys you, tell her

mysteryfairy · 31/07/2015 06:32

I would mention it to her as it's a breach of the Data Protection Act. I wouldn't be aggrieved about it but more tell her as a heads up that it could have consequences.

RedCrayons · 31/07/2015 06:45

Calm down, she's sent a newsletter not a letter bomb.

Unsubscribe and delete it.

PicaK · 31/07/2015 07:06

It would annoy me. It's illegal.
If I wanted to make a fuss I'd let her know how I felt.
otherwise I'd just unsubscribe and let it go.
I'd make a mental note not to trust her integrity so much in future.

eddielizzard · 31/07/2015 07:07

i wouldn't be happy.

TravellingToad · 31/07/2015 07:08

Calm down! Unless we have the wrong end of the stick just unsubscribe. She will have just sent it to all her contacts.

Fairylea · 31/07/2015 07:13

Seems an overly harsh reaction to a friend sending you something! Just unsubscribe. I doubt she meant any harm by it - she probably just sent it to all the contacts on her list!

JeanSeberg · 31/07/2015 07:14

It's illegal

What's illegal exactly?

horsewalksintoabar · 31/07/2015 07:22

Don't freak out.
I gave my friend as a reference for a flat 10 years ago. He STILL gets emails once in a blue moon that are meant for me.
Sorry to be blunt but your life is not about to become a film plot involving breach of data, identity theft, kidnapping, and bombs. I don't know why you came onto here and didn't just text your friend to say, "Hey, I'm getting emails meant for you."

CSIJanner · 31/07/2015 07:24

Privacy & Electronic (EC Directive) Act 2003

Basically, you must not send marketing emails or texts to individuals without specific consent. There is a limited exception for your own previous customers, often called the ‘soft opt-in’ or to generic companies. But the friend hasn't done this. She's added a specific email address for an individual she knows personally.

You have three choices

  1. Unsubscribe and leave it
  2. Unsubscribe and bollock her personally.
  3. Unsubscribe and make a formal complaint. Her boss will bollock her and she could end up with a warning in file.
TheMaddHugger · 31/07/2015 07:25

wait............ what?

Is friend using the email as her own or has she spammed YOU with the company letter

CSIJanner · 31/07/2015 07:39

I read it as the friend is now working PT for a company to market their business and the friend has used OP's address as part of her e-marketing newsletter.

MelanieCheeks · 31/07/2015 07:43

Yes it's not totally clear. OP can you clarify?

Has the friend set up a new business, and as part of that she's sent out a newsletter to potential customers, and you've received this newsletter to your personal email address? Would others be able to see your email from the way this has been sent out?

scarletforya · 31/07/2015 07:51

From the thread title it sounds like the friend was logging in to your email account.

Whereas you mean she added your email address to a spam bot list. I'd be really annoyed at this though. How dare she spam you with unwanted stuff! Very rude thing to do to a friend.

Trills · 31/07/2015 08:16

That's annoying and rude.

I too thought from your title that something worse had been done.

Did she at least correctly use BCC, or can you see who else has been sent this?

Original poster
DisappointedOne · 31/07/2015 10:08

who can be bothered setting up personalised email addresses?

I don't set them up. I own a domain so can have [email protected].

OP posts:
Original poster
DisappointedOne · 31/07/2015 10:09

Is friend using the email as her own or has she spammed YOU with the company letter

She's spammed me with the company newsletter.

OP posts:
Original poster
DisappointedOne · 31/07/2015 10:09

By the way, email addresses aren't covered by the Data Protection Act. They're not considered personal information.

OP posts:
CSIJanner · 31/07/2015 12:39

But they are covered by the Privacy & Electronic Act

mmmuffins · 31/07/2015 12:45

The original post is very clear.

Really bad form on the part of your friend.

I would mention it, feigning concern that she has done something illegal and wanting to warn her to remove all email addresses she provided lest she get herself and the company into trouble.

mmmuffins · 31/07/2015 12:46

Ah, if not illegal then maybe have a little rant in her presence about unwanted spam from a company makes you vow never to buy from them?