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Original poster

phone issue

26 replies

strangesttings · 12/06/2022 11:19

I left my last job a few months ago as it was really becoming not a nice place to be. I have a really lovely new job and am trying very hard to put everything behind me.
I was out yesterday, when my mobile rang. It was my ex employer. I didn't answer it, but rang back a little while later to find out what it was all about. It was a member of staff asking a work related question, clearly not knowing I'd left. My issue is, should staff have my personal number - I had a work phone, which has obviously been given back and my private number has only ever been given to HR and close friends at work. This person was obviously new. I'm actually horrified by this! Is is a GDPR issue?
Obviously I told them to remove it from view (it would have been in a list of numbers available to all staff) but I'm not impressed!

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 12/06/2022 11:24

They should have updated their contact list but didnt, email HR to request they do this. You could msg your friends and tell them not to pass on your number to anyone.

Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 11:30

I guess my main issue is that my personal number shouldn't have been on a work phones list. I have contacted them but I'm still not happy about it

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WeAreTheHeroes · 12/06/2022 11:31

Yes, it is a GDPR issue. No way should that person have had/used your number.

Lou98 · 12/06/2022 11:31

Are you sure it wasn't one of your friends at work that passed your number over? In which case it wouldn't be anything to do with the company.

If you're sure it's not though and the company have it on view somewhere definitely contact them and ask for it to be removed

Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 11:35

No it definitely wouldn't be anyone I used to work with. It was a call from a different part of the organisation if that makes sense and there was no reason to call me at all.
I'm really angry to be honest.

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Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 11:37

If they remove it, which I am sure they will, do I still have a case to make a fuss ? I know that probably sounds a bit petty but it's another issue I had with them in a long line of reasons I left. I'm thinking I should just let it go, but it's really bugging me

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BlanketsBanned · 12/06/2022 11:41

You can report it but what do you want to achieve

BlanketsBanned · 12/06/2022 11:51

If you report it to the ICO they could investigate it and they might get a fine, you could call a solicitor and maybe get some compensation. Do you know if they have reported themselves ro the ICO.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 12/06/2022 11:53

just par for the course

Itsallok · 12/06/2022 11:55

TBH not something I would waste much time on.

Lazypuppy · 12/06/2022 11:56

I really wouldn't be giving it a second thought, i don't really care who has my number, the amount of sales calls i get from companies who have my number. I just ignore and block anf don't give it any more head space

TakeYourFinalPosition · 12/06/2022 12:00

You could report it to the ICO but I'd bet nothing will come of it. It took them eight months to investigate Barclays giving my whole new address & phone number to an abusive ex-partner; in a letter they sent to confirm they wouldn't give him the details...

The ICO said they'd clearly breached GDPR but it wasn't intentional and they expected Barclays to make sure it didn't happen again. That was it.

Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 12:04

Thanks for all your replies. I will hope they'll do the right thing and remove it, but if I get more calls, I'll maybe think abut taking it further - there i a risk that people I really wouldn't want to know my number could see it, so I will wait. Just seems very shoddy. It's not a large organisation so really it should have been done - well my personal number should never have been on display!!
Thank you all.

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BlanketsBanned · 12/06/2022 12:39

It sounds like every member of staff is on a emergency contact list and its not been updated. It happens all the time where I work unless the person leaving seletes it or the office manager remembers.

JuneJubilee · 12/06/2022 12:43

strangesttings · 12/06/2022 11:35

No it definitely wouldn't be anyone I used to work with. It was a call from a different part of the organisation if that makes sense and there was no reason to call me at all.
I'm really angry to be honest.

Why are you SO angry? It was a phone call, not a bomb

just contact them to make sure it's taken off any lists and get over yourself.

saying sorry I can't help, I don't work there anymore isn't a big deal FGS

Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 12:54

Ok, SO angry was a bit much! Its the fact that this is my personal number, not my work phone number, and it has no place being on a staff contact list - which is behind a desk where other people not working there could see it. It's in a different part of the organisation - different building, which I didn't go to very often. In our building we had work mobile contact numbers - no ones personal ones, so this seems like a pretty poor breach. Maybe I am overreacting though

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BlanketsBanned · 12/06/2022 13:02

yes you are over reacting really, you must have given them your home number and ime they are always made onto a list for emergency contacts, its poor practice but just tell them to remove it, you are probably not the only ex employee whose name is still on that list. ideally the person who contacted you would have been told that you didn't work there anymore too

Honaloulou · 12/06/2022 13:07

What bad thing do you think is going to happen?

It's clearly not beat practice, but unless you have a particular need for privacy anything other than mild bemusement seems like an overreaction.

WhatsInAMolatovMocktail · 12/06/2022 13:07

You can make a fuss but what would be the outcome? You haven't suffered any true loss. I would just send an email asking them to remove all your personal data from their systems please.

Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 13:12

Thanks for calming me down. I have overreacted haven't I? Bit of a back story about the organisation which makes me more prone to being pissed off with them so that's coloured it I guess. I've asked them to ensure it's removed and will leave it at that.
Thank you

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Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 13:14

Although what I still want to emphasise is that it's my personal not work number. No-one else had their personal number on any lists- or didn't when I was there - That's what's bugged me most

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EmmaH2022 · 12/06/2022 13:17

strangesttings · 12/06/2022 13:14

Although what I still want to emphasise is that it's my personal not work number. No-one else had their personal number on any lists- or didn't when I was there - That's what's bugged me most

I understand that. There seems to be no privacy around numbers any more in some places.

BlanketsBanned · 12/06/2022 13:23

Maybe no one else gave out their personal number, who knows. I have seen names and numbers for staff who have died .

lifecanbehardattimes · 12/06/2022 13:33

There is currently so much crap going on in the world and you're getting upset as a former colleague has your mobile number!

It's not ideal but if that's the only thing you have to worry about then you're very lucky!

Original poster
strangesttings · 12/06/2022 13:56

lifecanbehardattimes · 12/06/2022 13:33

There is currently so much crap going on in the world and you're getting upset as a former colleague has your mobile number!

It's not ideal but if that's the only thing you have to worry about then you're very lucky!

I asked a question in 'Employment Issues' about an...employment issue. I honestly don't see how this shows I have nothing else to worry about! It was a genuine question
Everyone has concerns about things and I think I placed my query in the right topic?
Again thanks to everyone for making me see bit more clearly

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