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Original poster

Is it stalking if a delivery man searches your name on Facebook and messages you??

60 replies

Shoot4theMoon · 05/02/2023 10:21

There was a delivery driver form DPD and I’d have him often delivering my parcels he would always try to chat and keep me chatting we were of a similar age but like I’m not interested. I then got a random message request off some guy I didn’t recognise the name the message said hi how’s you so I replied saying who is this? Do I know you? His reply was I’ll give you a guess….. I work for DPD and I’m often at your house. I then knew! I asked how he found me did we have friends in common? No he said he just searched my name from on the parcels and found out. I haven’t messaged back and I don’t want to get him in trouble but is this stalking ? Is there some law to what he’s done ?

OP posts:
Beenmum · 05/02/2023 11:47

It is creepy and he definitely should not have done it .. maybe he thinks you’re the one and it’s worth the risk or maybe he is a creep and does it to loads of women . I’d personally be wary of reporting him as he knows where you live , I’d be minded to tell him politely that you aren’t interested and see what happens next . If he carries on then report him - I hope for your sake it doesn’t and that he’s just a bit of an idiot not a nut . Just because someone has been trained on something doesn’t mean they took it on board or even understood . For me personally if someone’s a bit wierd I wouldn’t want to be the one that lost them their job !

Sunbird24 · 05/02/2023 11:54

GDPR training is really simple. It basically just says that you can’t use people’s personal data for anything other than legitimate work purposes and you have to store it securely. I don’t believe he doesn’t understand the rules, he’s just decided they don’t apply to him when it comes to trying to meet women. He could have asked OP in person if she’d be interested in exchanging numbers but he didn’t - he took a way that she had little choice in the matter. (That would probably still have been against the rules and completely unprofessional but not a breach of GDPR)

SpinningFloppa · 05/02/2023 11:58

No it’s not stalking, not what you want to hear but some people actually do meet this way (happened to a few people I know!) my sister had a pharmacist do this to her he turned up at her door and posted his number thorough! She actually went on a date with him but it didn’t work for other reasons, so he obviously thought he would take the risk, just block him.

RedHelenB · 05/02/2023 22:36

FenghuangHoyan · 05/02/2023 10:28

It's not stalking, but it's probably a breach of privacy and it's certainly a breach of gdpr as he's using data within his workplace for a purpose it wasn't intended. He can get fired and his firm can get heavily penalised.

How's it a breach of gdpr if he knows her address from delivering parcels?

Changingplace · 05/02/2023 22:47

RedHelenB · 05/02/2023 22:36

How's it a breach of gdpr if he knows her address from delivering parcels?

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Because he’s used her personal information in a way he wasn’t entitled to.

skilpadde · 05/02/2023 22:50

RedHelenB · 05/02/2023 22:36

How's it a breach of gdpr if he knows her address from delivering parcels?

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Maybe this will help you to understand… celsolicitors.co.uk/the-rise-of-data-breach-harassment/

skilpadde · 05/02/2023 22:54

And the creepy arsehole could be fined if his employer informs the ICO.

www.springhouselaw.com/knowledge-hub/disciplinary-and-performance-issues/employee-prosecution-for-data-protection-breaches

EthicalNonMahogany · 06/02/2023 07:39

I'm finding it upsetting that so many of us are conditioned by years of patriarchal bullshit to think that men bothering us as we go about our normal lives is just "chancing his arm", even romantic. And so many people seem not to know what constitutes a GDPR breach.

considerablycuntierthanyou · 06/02/2023 07:53

EthicalNonMahogany · 06/02/2023 07:39

I'm finding it upsetting that so many of us are conditioned by years of patriarchal bullshit to think that men bothering us as we go about our normal lives is just "chancing his arm", even romantic. And so many people seem not to know what constitutes a GDPR breach.

Agreed.

tulips27 · 06/02/2023 08:18

Whatever the legality, that is honestly disturbing and creepy.

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:12

skilpadde · 05/02/2023 22:50

Maybe this will help you to understand… celsolicitors.co.uk/the-rise-of-data-breach-harassment/

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None of that applies though in this case.

FenghuangHoyan · 06/02/2023 10:19

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:12

None of that applies though in this case.

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I've not read the article, however I have studied GDPR. The delivery driver is using information from his workplace in a manner for which it was not intended. That is a breach of GDPR. The person who posted the mail did not send it having ticked a box saying "please feel free to use the name and address on this parcel to ask out the recipient if you think they are attractive". The only reason DPD have the name and address is to take the parcel from A to B and handle any issues with it. Not to act as a substitute Match.com for their employees.

Its as simple as that. If I used the personal details of any of my customers to track them down on Facebook, I'd expect at the very least to lose my job.

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:22

I agree he's in hot water with his employer, but I don't see the data breach. If he'd have asked her out when delivering the parcel face to face that surely isn't a data breach?

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:23

Flamingle18 · 05/02/2023 10:47

I had this with someone fitting my gas meter. He texted me of his personal number asking me out and had got my number through work. I very clearly stated I was not interested and that how he got my number was a massive breach. He apologised but said if you don't ask, you don't get. I didn't think I'd ever have to see him again so didn't report him but when my meter wasn't working properly it was him that came out again. It was so awkward. He couldn't look at me and just mumbled what work he has done and left. If you are going to feel uncomfortable everyone you know you have a parcel coming then say something to DPD

That is a data breach, because he had no reason to access your number for his work.

lowclouds · 06/02/2023 10:24

Sunbird24 · 05/02/2023 10:27

It’s probably not stalking but it’s definitely inappropriate use of your personal information. You might not want to get him in trouble, but you really need to report it to DPD.

This.

If he's doing this to you he's almost definitely doing it to other people too.

You need to raise it with DPD as it's completely inappropriate.

MangoBiscuit · 06/02/2023 10:25

Of course it's a GDPR breach. Her name and address are personally identifiable information. It was kept by the driver, and used for a purpose other than the one it was allowed to be used for. It's also pretty bloody intimidating, so nasty fucking behaviour.

I know of a case personally, where a driver did very similar, and was reported immeadiately. It was considered gross misconduct and he was sacked that day.

HiccupHorrendousHaddock · 06/02/2023 10:25

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:22

I agree he's in hot water with his employer, but I don't see the data breach. If he'd have asked her out when delivering the parcel face to face that surely isn't a data breach?

He had her name and address from his employment as a delivery driver. He used that information to find her on social media and contact her for something other than doing his job. That's the data breach.

lowclouds · 06/02/2023 10:28

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:22

I agree he's in hot water with his employer, but I don't see the data breach. If he'd have asked her out when delivering the parcel face to face that surely isn't a data breach?

It's misuse of personal data, which is a data breach under GDPR.

OP has provided personal data (her full name and address) for the purporse of parcel delivery.

It's a data breach because he has used this data to look her up on a social media platform and chat her up. This is not the purpose for which the data was provided. He would not have been able to do this if he didn't have her data through DPD.

It's a data breach and needs reporting.

philautia · 06/02/2023 10:28

This is terrible behaviour, you need to report him.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 06/02/2023 10:28

This is totally inappropriate and I think you should report to DPD because he might be doing this with dozens of women to see who is vulnerable enough to not spot the creepy stalkerish nature of the behaviour. for that person's sake, please report.

it only becomes a police matter if he fails to desist if told to stop. it's then harassment and stalking.

Monty27 · 06/02/2023 10:29

Just read him the rules and block

lowclouds · 06/02/2023 10:31

RedHelenB · 05/02/2023 22:36

How's it a breach of gdpr if he knows her address from delivering parcels?

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Misuse of data.

Just because he knows it does not mean he can do whatever he likes with it.

It's the same reason why when you provide your name and address to DPD they can't sell it on to other companies who will bombard you with marketing materials without your consent.

Data can only be used for particular purposes for which it was collected, unless you have given explicit consent.

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:45

Still not so sure. The example you give involves a third party, if he'd given it to someone else who wanted a date then it definitely would be.

Redannie118 · 06/02/2023 10:55

I used to work as a safety support officer for a delivery company. Its only classed as stalking ( legally)if there is more than one incident. It most certainly is a breech of GDPR as stated above, however it all gets a bit muddy if the driver is self employed( as many delivery drivers are, I dont know about DPD). I would suggest you screenshot messages and send to DPD. I can 100 percent guarantee you wont be the only one hes done this too.

MadamWillYouTalk · 06/02/2023 10:56

RedHelenB · 06/02/2023 10:45

Still not so sure. The example you give involves a third party, if he'd given it to someone else who wanted a date then it definitely would be.

No, he used her name (and presumably address as well unless she has a fairly uncommon name) to find and contact her on social media. He only had those items of personal data because of his job, and the only reason he had to use them was to carry out his job. He did not have permission to use them for any other reason. That's the GDPR breach.

It doesn't actually matter what his reason was for contacting her - asking her out or asking the name of the nice plant he saw on her window sill because he'd like to buy one too. The illegal bit is the use of her personal data to find her online.