To think this is a breach of GDPR?

[Newschapter]

I last attended a certain weightloss group five years ago.

However over this time I have received the odd text message about certain offers or 'reminders' about things. I have never replied to them nor attended group.

I am aware it might not annoy some people but this evening I got a massive text message from a consultant (not one whose group I have ever attended!!) reminding me that this slimming club is there for me, cheaper than usual and weighing in from home, how they'd love to welcome and hug me and that their bars can now be ordered "straight to your door"

It has (perhaps irrationally) angered me.

For a start, they still have my data five years on? It has been shared to another consultant/team developer and this is who messaged me.

I do have issues with this brand mind you, I left and joined a gym and have never felt better without the guilt of eating or banning certain foods.

But I want to reply asking them to remove my data and telling them they've breached gdpr - but am I right? Happy to accept I am wrong.

(I am aware there are worse things happening in the world but this triggered me this evening)

You can only keep info for reasonable time limits depending on its use.
If you left 5 years ago without any contact when the new laws came into force they should have reviewed what they held and its use and likely deleted it.
It is up to the business to decide what is fair and reasonable for their needs.

You need to ask for their data retention policy.

Sparklfairy

If anyone doesn't have a clue, it's... If OP signed up for this and never opted out, rather than wishing for a magic fairy (ie the Government) to sue the senders of the email - the magic fairy is rather snowed under with COVID19 at present - why not just opt out from the texts? Why not take responsibility for our own lives rather than hope someone else will do it?

@notmrpootles did I miss a post saying she wants the government to sue? Best she could hope for is to brush up on her knowledge of potential fines, send them a stroppy message informing them of said potential fine, and insist she is removed or she will report.

GDPR was an absolute headache when it came in but I've seen a few instances lately (IRL) where businesses are blatantly flouting the rules, including some quite big companies.