To think that this was unacceptable from solicitors

[princessposy]

DH doesn’t think this is a hugely big deal but I am really irritated by it.

I am selling a property. Estate agents recommended a solicitor so got a quote, paid them, sent some paperwork off then heard nothing for a few weeks. Probably should have chased it but there has been an awful lot on.

It transpires the solicitors have been sending forms and so on to an incorrect email address. It’s just my name at gmail dot com but my name is similar to a more common one. So as well as not getting the emails, they’ve been going to someone with a similar name to mine.

The solicitors didn’t seem bothered at all and just forwarded the emails to the correct email address.

AIBU to think that’s not acceptable? Or am I overreacting?

They didn’t make a mistake once and correct it immediately though, they repeatedly sent emails to the wrong person, then complained to the estate agents that I wasn’t sending them forms they needed and it was only when I urged them to check they realised their mistake and sent the forms onto me with no word of apology.

@Muffsies my (wrongly spelled!) name, address, address of the property being sold, phone no and so on. So information that really shouldn’t have been shared.

I'd be irritated too, at the mistake yes (but we all make them) but mostly at the lack of apology. People just don't apologise any more. A genuine sorry goes a long way. It doesn't have to be a hair shirt.

I was Head of Operations in a law firm for a while and we'd have taken this seriously. If your home address or other details were in the correspondence, our Data Protection Officer would have been involved.

I suspect the solicitor who just forwarded it on hoped to keep their error below the radar instead of holding up their hands. It's human error, it happens, nobody's getting sacked for that. But how you deal with it matters, not least in the eyes of your client. I'd be miffed in your shoes.

Yes they be committed a data breach and they should have apologised. Their behaviour seems unusual for a solicitor - due to the nature of their work they often send test emails before starting to use the email address for business.

The only thing you can do is complain formally to the practice - they will have a complaints process on their website. Hopefully then you'll get an apology.

The GDPR breach should have been reported to ICO within 72 hours. If it hasn't been reported you should report it

Only serious breaches have to be reported. This may not meet the threshold - I don't know if it would or not in this case.

@Followthesunshine conveyancers can still be very good. It's the conveyancing factory businesses that you want to avoid.

Did the solicitor not have your telephone number? Had you had zero communication with them?

Very unusual to pay them before they finished the job for you?

And how did you pay them if you had zero contact with them?

I haven’t had zero contact with them. I spoke to them initially and I paid via bank transfer. I also sent back some forms I received through the post about furniture and fittings and included the payment then. It wasn’t the full payment, it was £250 which of course isn’t the whole amount.

I think it would meet the criteria as I'm assuming there were address and bank details within the emails.....obviously I don't know 👍

I don’t think that is correct? Personal identifiable information cannot be shared unless there is a valid reason, and it sounds like that is what has been breached. A solicitor cannot share a list of names of a clients to boast its clients, for example, unless permission is given.

OP, I’d want a half decent apology too.

Sounds like a GDPR breach to me, if I did that with my legal work I would expect a formal complaint and censure.

From experience, solicitors never apologise as that would be admitting liability.

It probably isn’t worth chasing it in terms of stress levels. I was annoyed yesterday but I suppose at least it’s been sorted now.

not the end of the world. just try and stay on top of them from now on.

I couldn’t really stay on top of what I hadn’t received!

If it’s on Rightmove everyone will know the property you are selling tbh . I’m guessing only the sale instruction forms were sent which are generic. Surely if one is selling a property one should chase documents which haven’t been received? You don’t sound very invested in this sale feel sorry for your poor buyers buying from someone who can’t be arsed to get on with the process

If there was confidential info in there (covered by GDPR rules) you could email the solicitor and say you are thinking if contacting the ICO to report the breach. It might make them realise the seriousness of their mistake and apologise at least?

Obviously disregard if you feel there wasn't anything too identifying in there.

Leave them a shit review and report to official ombudsman for breach if gdpr. If they arec240£ an hour like my solicitors, I'd be doing this and finding an alternative

Apologise?!

They had everything as I’d filled in the initial forms. Name, address, phone no, email. All the correspondence had been through the post and until yesterday I had no idea they’d been trying to email me.

If they are making that kind of mistake make sure you read the paperwork you sign before signing - it's amazing how often names are wrong on documentation that then creates more hassle to sort out later on.