to think my under-5s should not be receiving mail addressed to them from someone I and they don't know...?

[WilfSell]

We got a letter addressed to our home and to the Parents of Wilferine 2 and Wilferine 3 (age 18m and 4 respectively). Inviting them to take part in sports activities run by a local franchise.

The bit that looks kosher is that it is part-funded by something called the Community and Learning Partnership (some sort of quango involving sure start etc...)

But here's the thing - and before I start, I must say that I NEVER, EVER disclose my children's names and addresses to commercial organisations, really only to those public sector ones that I know have clear confidentiality guidelines.

So how has this happened?

Option 1: I signed them up for something in a moment of deranged and sleep deprived madness. I really don't recall this or think I would have.

Option 2: Some organisation which DOES know my children's details has passed them on. My suspicion is that this has somehow come via the Health Authority, perhaps via the Health Visitors who will have a list of under-5s...

But for god's sake, this is surely a massive breach of confidentiality if they have actually passed on my kids details to a commercial organisation? Perhaps the health authority themselves have sent out these flyers - but there's no indication with the leaflet. And why the fuck they couldn't just address it to me, I have no idea.

I have been trying to ring the (mobile, natch) number on the flyer, of the franchisee to ask where they got the details. Funnily enough there is no reply.

I'm fucking steaming.

They will have come out through the Council I think.
I would be really if the health authority have sold your kids details - surely that's not the case??!

Bound to be the HV/Surgery

Part of the new keep your family fit thingy going on atm prolly

Would make me mad too

How would the local authority have had these details to be passed between sections though?

Evening Wilf, sorry you are cross.

I would strongly suspect this is via health authority and probably possibly along the lines of the authority is charged with 'doing something' about under 5 fitness and has through a series of wanky bids outsourced this task to some commercial body.

It is slightly less worrisome if it has come direct from the local authority. But some things suggest they have just given over the list wholesale to the franchisee. For example the postmark was from an address outside my local authority area. And a familiar form of my third child's name is on the envelope, not his full name as registered on all his 'official' records.

I think it is the HV, since she would know his familiar name...

Should add, also less fuming if somehow it has come from the HV practice direct. But there is NOTHING in/with the letter to indicate this.

hand-written btw...

If you visit the ICO website here it gives a lot of information about the responsibilities of data controllers (i.e organisations which are in possession of personal data).

Under the Complaints section it states : Data Protection
The Data Protection Act sets rules about the way organisations collect and use information about you (your personal information). If you have a complaint about the way an organisation has handled your personal information ? perhaps they hold information about you that?s wrong and they won?t correct it, or you?ve asked for the information they hold about you and they?ve not provided it ? we may be able to help.

..so if you think there has been a breach, there is somewhere you can go for advice.

Thanks - I did think of complaining to the Information Commissioner but think I need to find out more about how this came about first...

Maybe though if has come from local authority or hv it was sent directly from them. I have a vague recollection of hearing something like this that a friend received but did come with a flyer saying that company had passed envelopes to LA (or whoever it was) who then stickered up envelopes and sent direct. Totally wrong if your detais have been passed on. I'd be furious too.