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Original poster

To warn you about setting up a Times account?

17 replies

TheNoseyProject · 31/05/2018 20:10

In January someone fraudulently opened an account with The Times with my email address. I’ve contacted them multiple times since but that account is still open and active.

There is no way to delete your Times account yourself, you have to ring or email them (or webchat). When you do they’ll tell you the account will be closed within 28 days (no explaination for why it isn’t immediate). But the one in my name hasn’t been.

I’ve now rung them many times and each time they sound confused and say they’ll sort it. Almost 6 months later no progress has been made.

Posting this thread as many people use The Times and should know how little interest they have in protecting your data.

OP posts:
Juells · 31/05/2018 20:16

Are you having to pay for it? Or can someone post comments appearing to be you?

Do you think it's connected with the vexatious police complaint?

satsumasunrise · 31/05/2018 20:17

It sounds more like an error on the part of the person who has opened the account.

You have to pay for it each month so I supspect their email address is very similar to yours and they've made a mistake filling in their details.

Original poster
TheNoseyProject · 31/05/2018 20:21

There isn’t a subscription and I’ve changed the password so I suspect it was an error. However, I just want to deleted and have been really shocked they haven’t done that.

@juells I don’t know what police complaint you’re talking about.

OP posts:
Juells · 31/05/2018 21:50

Oops, sorry Nosey, mixed you up with someone else who had a stupid complaint made against them.

BlueJava · 31/05/2018 21:53

How have you changed the password if you didn't set it up? Doesn't quite make sense.

Original poster
TheNoseyProject · 31/05/2018 22:18

So it was set up with my email address so I started getting a bunch of notifications which I thought was odd. So I went on to the times website and but my email address into the ‘forgot password’ bit thinking that’d show whether there was anything to worry about and that sent a reset. So I went in and it had just my email address in so I changed the password and contacted the times to delete the account and yet it still stands.

OP posts:
user1473878824 · 31/05/2018 23:57

You aren’t paying for it - which you have to - it’s clearly just a mistake with ge email address and hardly them not giving a shit about your data. I’m sure the person paying good money for an account they now can’t access is calling them too and it will be sorted. This is a bit of a non issue.

MyKingdomForBrie · 01/06/2018 00:01

Can’t see how it’s ‘fraudulent’ if they’re paying for it but can’t access it!

It’s odd that it hasn’t been shut down though, can’t really understand why not. Certainly wouldn’t worry me to the extent that I felt there was any kind of fraud or risk to my data though.

Thesearepearls · 01/06/2018 00:04

I have an account with the Times, and I really enjoy it. Why not just read it until they remember you’ve tried to cancel the subscription multiple times?

karyatide · 01/06/2018 00:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PaintedHorizons · 01/06/2018 00:16

I had the same problem. Subscribed - this was a paid account - could not unsubscribe. Kept calling and they'd say they would do it within 28 days - but they didn't. In the end I cancelled the Direct Debit at the bank and then the Times sent me threatening e-mails because I hadn't paid my subscription. It was ridiculous.

GrumpyInsomniac · 01/06/2018 00:19

I'd call them again, tell them you want the account deleted, and that if for any reason this is not done, you'll report them to the ICO for breaching GDPR.

That might put the wind up them a bit.

Megabeth · 01/06/2018 00:24

You aren’t paying for it - which you have to - it’s clearly just a mistake with ge email address and hardly them not giving a shit about your data. I’m sure the person paying good money for an account they now can’t access is calling them too and it will be sorted. This is a bit of a non issue.

You don't have to pay or give them card details. I recently signed up for free but I can only read 2 articles per week.

Semster · 01/06/2018 02:18

I'd call them again, tell them you want the account deleted, and that if for any reason this is not done, you'll report them to the ICO for breaching GDPR.

I've just done similar on another website that wasn't responding to requests to delete my personal info. Curious to see what happens. They have a month to reply, I believe.

persypear · 01/06/2018 09:04

I have this with B&Q. I wonder if is happens sometimes when people avoid giving their real email and just make something up which occasionally turns out to be a real email address.

It is really annoying as I keep getting the other person's purchase receipts!

satsumasunrise · 01/06/2018 10:12

Depending on which Times account you have, you get sent vouchers to get the paper and then you can also access the website.

Like I said before I think somebody with a name very similar to yours has subscribed to the Times using your email by mistake. The Times are not going to delete the account because this other person is paying each month.

You need to ask the Times to phone or write to the other person to tell them to change the email address on the account. As things stand, this other person is paying for a service they can't fully use.

NorthernKnickers · 01/06/2018 10:21

Should be easier now OP with the GDPR rules that came into force last week. They really HAVE to delete your account and details if you ask them to.

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