Proof of address and data protection

eeguy

I'm filling out an application for a parking permit from DCC and they're looking for proof of address.

Can they actually call Electric Ireland or Bord Gais or whoever and ask that I live in the address on the bill?
Seems like a data protection breach if companies can give away my personal information to anyone who calls?

Or am I overreacting?
Or do they even check it?

jimgoose

No, the fact that the organisation in question issued the document to you at that address is quite sufficient. No-one calls up about it.

Riskymove

eeguy wrote: »

Seems like a data protection breach if companies can give away my personal information to anyone who calls?

?

You are providing the bill with your address on it to DCC

You are the one giving out the information

eeguy

Riskymove wrote: »

?

You are providing the bill with your address on it to DCC

You are the one giving out the information

I was thinking in the wider context of things.

Like say I was applying for a student grant. I could be living next door to the college, get some bills from my auntie who lives down the country and photoshop my name onto it to get the cash.

Seem strange they wouldn't have a system to check that stuff.

EDIT: Given the time of year, this question actually seems very suspicious :rolleyes:

Smondie

You are supplying the information


I love these data protection threads, wait until people find out about the phone book.

arctictree

I got a letter to my house from my credit union asking for proof of address. Should I just send them my credit union account statement?

Fleawuss

Smondie wrote: »

You are supplying the information


I love these data protection threads, wait until people find out about the phone book.

And some people find out about the option to be excluded from the phone book.

BrokenArrows

arctictree wrote: »

I got a letter to my house from my credit union asking for proof of address. Should I just send them my credit union account statement?

Just send them back the letter that they sent to you at that address!!! Hahaha.

martinedwards

I used to work in UK Passports.

one of the docs we could use was a letter from government (including local)

some folks just don't have any proof of address... still living with parents, no utility bills, bank accounts etc, so we'd tell them to write to the local council office to ask how to apply for planning permission for a swimming pool.

they'd get a polite letter back saying Dear Mr Smith you can't have a swimming pool on the 8 floor of a council block of flats.

but it was an acceptable proof of address!

biko

eeguy wrote: »

I'm filling out an application for a parking permit from DCC and they're looking for proof of address.

Can they actually call Electric Ireland or Bord Gais or whoever and ask that I live in the address on the bill?
Seems like a data protection breach if companies can give away my personal information to anyone who calls?

Or am I overreacting?
Or do they even check it?

Are you thinking of forging the address and wanting to know how likely it is that you get caught?

eeguy

Nope, I was thinking of all the hacks and data scandals. Wondering how stringent companies are about data.

riclad

Once You are 17, open a bank account, put in 10 euro,
open a mobile phone account,
they,ll send you a bill with your adress on it .
AT some point you,ll be asked for proof of adress ,
or just apply for a passport.
i,m asked for a driving license , i dont have one .
i don,t have a car.
i never applied for a passport .
just as well i opened 2 bank accounts 2 years ago.
When you are 18 you may have never recieved a gas or esb bill in your
name .
i don,t think i could open anew bank account under the present system,
i have 1 photo id, and my birth cert .
i think semi state and civil service are good about data protection.
Private companys ,phone companys etc seem to be pretty bad re not
getting hacked .

Capt'n Midnight

Smondie wrote: »

You are supplying the information


I love these data protection threads, wait until people find out about the phone book.

Or the electoral register or Thom's Directory.

riclad

Most people i know don,t have landlines ,Is there not a form you can fill in to avoid being listed in the phone book .
i don,t think tenants are listed in the electoral registry, you,d have to own
a house or register yourself on it to get on the registry .
I,ts years since i,ve seen anyone using a phone book to find someone,s no .
Every company has a website, young people have all the friends no,s in a
smartphone ,contacts app.
Only the person who ordered the phone installation is listed in the phone book.