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Is this a breach of data protection?

11 replies

petal2008 · 26/07/2012 17:23

Bit of a back story:

We live on a new build site with a managing agent which is supposed to organise insurances, grounds maintenance and the like. They are crap but I won't bore you with the details.

We have all been waiting for amended invoices for over the past 6 months as we had been billed for something we were not having and today we received a letter outlining the details but they have enclosed the invoice for one of my neighbours which presumably mean someone's got ours! Thankfully we only owe what's due (no arrears) but this invoice was for quite a lot of money.

I have rang to tell them and could tell the manager was crapping himself. I was quite calm but feel that this is totally unprofessional and probably a breach of my data protection. I do not know that someone has received my invoice but it is surely a breach of my neighbour's.

They have a bit of a history of this having sent a letter intended for one resident to everyone on site which was very embarrassing and they had to write to him and apologise.

Should I report it to someone? I have emailed the manager to confirm our conversation and casully asked what I should do with my neighbour's invoice so it will be interesting to see what he says.

It could be that none of us have got our own invoices as apparently they are sent by a 3rd party so if they use a machine they could have all got mixed up.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 26/07/2012 17:25

I'm not sure thT invoices count as sensitive personal data

DontEatTheVolesKids · 26/07/2012 17:26

What do you really want? Do you want a different manager?

petal2008 · 26/07/2012 17:33

If your neighbour had received an invoice intended for you that said you owed hundreds of pounds in arrears I would class that as "sensitive" personal data.

I don't want compensation. I just think it's totally unprofessional.

I have been told to "ignore" the invoice. It's just not very nice when it's possible someone knows my private financial information.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 26/07/2012 17:35

hmm OK you could be right. I got the ipression it wasn't particularly controversial.

LulaPalooza · 26/07/2012 17:38

Yes, it's a breach - unauthorised sharing of your neighbour's personal data. Financial information is not sensitive personal data.

nemno · 26/07/2012 17:39

I live in a block and since the last residents' meeting we know who is hugely in arrears. The residents' committee has to know to be able to tackle it I would think.

LulaPalooza · 26/07/2012 17:40

Oh, you shouldn't ignore it. You're not entitled to possess the information. Give it straight to your neighbour, explaining what has happened. It's up to your neighbour to take any action if they want to.

olympickibucket · 26/07/2012 17:40

Are you looking for a hook to prise this useless manager/management company out?

petal2008 · 26/07/2012 17:43

As no-one has come to my door saying they have my invoice it may be a one off but seems unlikely as if I have got his then it's pretty likely someone/a machine has included mine in another letter.

Do you think I should pass this invoice on to my neighbour and get him to pursue it if he wants to or "disregard it" like I have been asked?

OP posts:
petal2008 · 26/07/2012 17:45

We are looking to change our management company and are meeting with a potential new one soon.

I suppose if we decided to take this new company on and the old one objected I could bring this up then?

OP posts:
LulaPalooza · 26/07/2012 17:45

No, it's your neighbour's information, you should pass it to them

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