safeguarding private information

LegacyUser

I'd like some opinions or thoughts from those who might be able to help with this situation?

I am currently worried about my personal and private details following a situation that has come about with a family member. They currently work in a retail shop of a mobile phone provider, of which I have used their service since before they got a job there.

After extensive verbal abuse and recently some physical abuse from this family member (which I am dealing with separately to this issue), I have chosen to cut them out of my life altogether. In a verbal threat to me they stated that they would use what they know about me and put it on the internet... I am worried that they will use privately held information about me on the mobile phone's computer systems and put that on the internet too. I am worried because they have shown no remorse and have little regard for the consequences of their behaviour thus far, so even though it would be against specific laws or company policy to access my information for their own use, I wouldn't put it past them. I am worried to that they may disrupt the service I get, cancel the package I am on, or have access to privileged information (address, bank details, phone records, numbers I text or call or information that is stored on the computer servers) and mess with that information in some way or other.

Am I worrying needlessly as to the extent of information they can access? I mean would they be able to type my details in and access phone numbers of friends of mine to use? If I change address or plan would they be able to view this information? I'm happy with the provider themselves and happy with the packages I get, but can I impose some restriction on access to my information? Or would I just be better off changing the mobile phone provider altogether to a different company to safeguard my private information, or would they still be somehow be able to view this?

tinkerbell

I think you should call up your service provider and speak to them about employees having access to your information and what levels of security there is. Unfortunately I don't know what else to suggest though ...

gaeilgebeo

First thing I would do is report the threats to the actual company.
Tell the company that you are taking a very serious view of the threats, explain your concerns. I'm sure you're a valued customer.
Tell them you will seek legal advice if it's not sorted.
They'll not be long sorting it out!

lace

+1 to everything above!

You just need to contact the service provider. Call one of their helplines or pop into the shop when this person isn't working (or even a different branch) and ask to speak to someone about what kind of access someone working there might have to your information. I'm guessing they would not be able to access the likes of bank details or friends' numbers but could possibly have access to your contact information - address, email, phone etc (though I could be wrong). This person's behaviour needs to be reported to their employer, who probably won't give them a warning straight away but will be able to keep an eye on them.

LegacyUser

Op here
thanks everyone... I think the best course is to approach the provider directly and find out a little more information. i did have a read through their privacy policy and data information, so I know if they did access my information without request to do so they would themselves be in violation of their own company policy.

I'm wary of going to any of the retail outlets, for the simple reason they have friends in other outlets and previously staff have been redeployed from one store to the other when short in the past, and can't call customer service as they have regular contact with them, so both means would get back to them one way or other. Even some online methods through the provider's website I am aware staff in retail shops either use this themselves and can track comments made online and am aware that this is regular to read feedback from retail shops of customer experiences. So I'm considering on first instant as line of enquiry to be anonymous with an explanation why to an email address concerning the privacy policy...

either that or I may pop into a retail shop in another town or city somewhere and make enquires there. I'd be wary of directly reporting their behaviour that has occurred outside of working hours to their employer... if it is to be reported then I would prefer it to come from the gardai.