To refuse to email this clothing company my ID so they can refund me?

[Horsebox49]

I recently returned some items to a well-known French clothing company using the pre-paid postage label provided. Unfortunately the courier (Yodel) seem to have lost the parcel and getting my money back from the retailer is proving difficult. They are asking me to email them a copy of my ID so that they can "open a judiciary investigation", which they say is required by French law. AIBU to refuse to do this? Surely sending a copy of my passport/driving licence to a retail company by email goes against data protection/GDPR? Has anyone else had a similar experience or challenged a request like this? I have already sent them my proof of postage showing the items were returned over two weeks ago, which I thought would be sufficient.

No, that does not go against GDPR (which wouldn't apply to a French company anyway) as they've told you why they need it. If you want your money back, surely you'd do as they're asking.

You need someone who knows about French consumer legislation

How did you pay for the item?

Sorry, GDPR would of course apply in France (was thinking of the new UK regulations) but my point stands that their request does not go against it.

@MiddlesexGirl - I used Paypal. Hoping someone here knows about French consumer legislation as I don't know anyone who does!

@StarryStarrySocks

No, that does not go against GDPR (which wouldn't apply to a French company anyway) as they've told you why they need it. If you want your money back, surely you'd do as they're asking.

GDPR applies to all EU member states, which includes france

Have you spoken to PayPal? Maybe they can confirm your identity

Thanks @StarryStarrySocks - I'm just sure I've read it was a bad idea to send ID documents over email so am nervous about doing so! I'm also annoyed at being asked to jump through more hoops when it's their courier who lost the item and therefore (so I'm told) their responsibility.

@Theunamedcat - I haven't yet but wondered about raising a case with them to get my money back...

[quote Horsebox49]@Theunamedcat - I haven't yet but wondered about raising a case with them to get my money back...[/quote]
I’d do that!

The whole point of using an escrow service like Paypal is that they become the middle-man if it goes tits up. Give Paypal a ring.

I've just tried to open a Paypal case via their resolution centre and there doesn't appear to be an option for raising a refund issue when I select this order - argh!

I send my I'd by email often enough. Mine is saved in my Google drive anyway so Google already has it