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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this email was patronising

65 replies

christineso · 17/12/2015 00:36

I believe my landlord has leaked my information to a third party.
I emailed a manager of the landlord to say "as my information has been leaked which is a breach of data protection, I have seeked legal advice and will be taking civil action"

she replied saying
"Thanks for your email, I look forward to receiving a letter from your solicitor"

is this not patronizing and unprofessional?

OP posts:

theycallmemellojello · 17/12/2015 06:35

What do you expect if you threaten someone with legal action? A bunch of flowers and a hug? Solicitors' letters get a lot ruder than that! Also are you sure threats and lawyers are the best way of getting things resolved? Have you tried telling the ll what the problem is and what you want doing about it?

eurochick · 17/12/2015 06:45

The email is saying "bring it in", probably in the knowledge that you are extremely unlikely to follow through with any legal action.

Narp · 17/12/2015 06:47

The email reads as sneery. No-one 'looks forward' to a letter from a solicitor unless they want to imply that you don't have a leg to stand on.

BitOutOfPractice · 17/12/2015 06:50

I think the "look forward" thing is just an email convention. Like "kind regards". Something that you say in a business email that you would never say in RL

I often use "I look forward to hearing from you" about stuff I couldn't care less about.

I think OP has got a bee in her bonnet and is therefore reading too much into a very simple email acknowldegement

OldFarticus · 17/12/2015 06:51

Choughed is correct. I think the email is perfectly fine. She probably knows that the less said, the better, or possibly believes that you do not have a credible claim.

The civil action should be interesting - have you actually suffered any loss? What do you want to achieve?

Oysterbabe · 17/12/2015 06:55

All you should be doing is reporting it to the data commissioner who will more than likely do nothing.
Also you say that it was so someone could take action against you? If you read section 35 of the data protection act there's a bit about being allowed to disclose personal details if it's to allow someone to exercise a legal right.
I think it's unlikely anything will come of it and landlord knows that.

Oysterbabe · 17/12/2015 06:57

*(2)Personal data are exempt from the non-disclosure provisions where the disclosure is necessary—

(a)for the purpose of, or in connection with, any legal proceedings (including prospective legal proceedings), or

(b)for the purpose of obtaining legal advice,

or is otherwise necessary for the purposes of establishing, exercising or defending legal rights.*

StealthPolarBear · 17/12/2015 07:04

"Look forward to hearing from you" is a bog standard formal response. It's not sneer and says nothing about how she feels about it, as intended.

Chococroc · 17/12/2015 07:25

It is a standard response to an email/letter threatening legal action/ a complaint etc. Acknowledgement but not going into any detail whatsoever.

bloodyteenagers · 17/12/2015 07:28

You are aware that anyone can go online and search up a person. And that maiden names, dates of marriage, etc can all be found?

SoupDragon · 17/12/2015 07:32

That manager should have contacted my manager and my manager can inform me.

But you emailed her

Nothing wrong with the email at all though. You are simply annoyed and that is clouding your perception of it.

StrictlyMumDancing · 17/12/2015 07:39

oyster there are rules surrounding the disclosure of personal data being given out in the case of legal proceedings. You can't just waltz in and state you intend to take proceedings against person x so you need to give me their details. There would need to be a legal compulsion, which if it happened in this case the landlords would have presumably just answered that they were compelled. Even the police aren't entitled to the information company's hold on you without a warrant takes data protection hat off

Mistigri · 17/12/2015 07:40

If your opening gambit was to threaten legal action, the reply was completely appropriate, not to mention prudent and admirably succinct.

SummerNights1986 · 17/12/2015 07:42

You were silly to fire off that email. You're not asking for the manager to investigate or for information, or to look into a complaint - you're telling them you're seeking legal action, which is jumping the gun a bit.

And yes, they're being patronising and are effectively going 'OK then dear, off you go to seek it. No fucks given here'. Which is the type of reply you can expect tbh.

Do you actually have any intention of seeking legal advice and taking 'civil action?' What do you think it will achieve? And do you have any idea of what that will cost? (A fucking fortune being the answer).

The number one mistake people make when complaining is giving no indication of what they actually want. Do you want the LL fired? A full investigation? Compensation? Written apology?

Or do you just want to complain and have a moan for a moans sake? Because if this is it and you have no 'end' point in mind, the whole thing is pointless.

TotalConfucius · 17/12/2015 07:45

The trouble with sending an email like yours is that you then need to put your money (literally) where your mouth is.
You will waste time money and effort because someone knows your maiden name - time money and effort which could be better spent on dealing with the actual complaint against you.
There wasn't much more the LL could say- anything further could prejudice her defence against your data protection claim.

Fuckitfay · 17/12/2015 07:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Narp · 17/12/2015 07:49

I would add that it's 'sought' legal action, and that (unfair as it is) if you don't use correct grammar in a formal letter, they might look down on you.

AbbyCadabra · 17/12/2015 07:53

And have you actually sought any legal advice?

SummerNights1986 · 17/12/2015 07:53

I agree with Narp too.

A letter threatening civil action that contains spelling mistakes probably won't hold much weight or be taken too seriously.

Narp · 17/12/2015 07:53

OR have I fallen into your trap, OP? You use a legalistic-type phrase but get it wrong so the patronising pedants will jump on you

MoMoTy · 17/12/2015 07:54

You came across a bit big headed with your email. Are you actually seeking a civil claim over your maiden name? Even if you are why have you contacted her when she isn't allowed to contact you?

theycallmemellojello · 17/12/2015 07:57

fay, yep! Poor OP, it sounds like you're in a stressful situation. I'd forget about the data protection stuff, it won't get you anywhere and you'll feel terrible stewing on it. Try and resolve the issue with the other tenant amicably - can you offer a compromise? Legal proceedings, even in the small claims court, are stressful, so you'll want to avoid that.

eastwest · 17/12/2015 08:01

YABU. That is exactly the email I would have written in the circumstances. It is polite, calm and professional. I expect she does look forward to receiving the letter, so that this matter can be cleared up! What did you expect, a grovelling apology?

firesidechat · 17/12/2015 08:15

Anyone who has done their family history, so just about everyone on the planet, would know how to find your maiden name in a heart beat. What did your solicitor say?

SevenOfNineTrue · 17/12/2015 08:32

The email is saying in subtext they think there is zero chance you would have paid or will pay for a solicitor to look into this matter.

Lots of people threaten legal action, very few follow through.

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