First time confused buyer

[Cockadoodle27]

I'm a first time buyer at the bottom of a chain, getting close to exchanging. The top of the chain is a developer. Over the last few weeks the developer has been emailing me directly, a lot, asking for updates on when we will exchange. I don't know when we will exchange, I'm waiting for the solicitor to sort that out. My solicitor has told me just to ignore the developers emails. I got a few more chaser emails this morning and I replied to ask where they got my email address from. They told me Purple B has given it to them.

I'm just wondering a couple of things. 1. Is it against GDPR for purple b to pass my email on, or not because we're all involved in the same thing? 2. Is it normal to be getting harassed for updates from all different parts of the chain - should they not be going to the solicitors/agents for that, or should I be conversing with and updating everyone a few times a day?

Any advice really appreciated, I'm not sure what's normal 🤔

It's against gdpr yes and he should be going through the solicitor. I'd be furious!

Hi Op
I would have thought purple bricks were in the wrong to give out your personal details.
It should be down to your solicitor communicating with their solicitor or estate agents etc not bothering you daily.
I would go back to purple bricks and tell them they shouldn't haven given out your email and also go to your solicitor to explain what's happening and see if they can put a stop to it for you.
We are currently selling and buying and we have no communication between our buyer or the vendor it's all done through estate agents and solicitors.

That is absolutely a big breach of GDPR and I would be livid. They categorically should not be contacting you directly.
I would be speaking to PB and reporting them.

Thanks everyone. I thought this was all a bit off, but wasn't certain. I feel a bit more comfortable ignoring them now and will take the GDPR issue forwards

It's not necessarily a GDPR breach, you will need to read the contract and their privacy notice, it may be part of their contract to pass contacts up the chain, if they have a good reason to they can justify it. But if it isn't stipulated and is clearly beyond your expectations as a data subject, complain.

In terms of the developer, I imagine they are getting nothing from the estate agents and solicitor so going to you. We just bought a new build and it's relentless, developer was incessant. There will be an expectation to exchange within 4-6 weeks, they will pull out if this doesn't happen, so if you have some useful information I probably would pass it on as frustrating as it is because it is in your interests too for the chain not to collapse. Their threats are rarely empty. Frustrating situation, it was very stressful having a developer in the chain (but it was our fault, more frustrating for others!)

I’d just ignore them , he will stop sending them then .

I'm sure Purple Bricks will have this in their T&C's that they may pass your details on. It would be highly clumsy and risky to knowingly give your details out otherwise. If it doesn't state anything in the T&C's then it is a breach of GDPR.

Just carry on ignoring them