APCOA GDPR

bobbyss · 16-12-2023 07:42PM #1

A query!

I called APCOA (headquartered in UK) recently to find out how many cars were clamped at one of their car parks but they said they could not give that info due to GDPR.

I don't want anyone's personal details just the number of cars clamped this year.at that car park. The car park is a train station run by APCOA. Can they refuse such a request?

What is the rationale behind all of that?

banie01 · 16-12-2023 07:48PM

Why do you think APCOA would share what they may consider commercially sensitive information with you?

I would agree that I don't think your request would be qualified as GDPR privilege, but it's also not publicly available info.

16-12-2023 07:48PM

You have no legal right to that information. GDPR is a misnomer.

You could put in an FOI request to Irish Rail but they might just send you to APCOA who are not subject to FOI.

Mrs OBumble · 16-12-2023 09:38PM

It's easier to say "GDPR" than "nah, not telling, because" - but the latter is the truth of it.

You've no more right to that information than you have to know how many cans of baked beans the Tesco over the road sells each week.

bobbyss · 16-12-2023 11:23PM

It is a pity you can not get that information. It would answer so many questions!

Jim2007 · 16-12-2023 11:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058327191/apcoa-gdpr

Neither GDPR nor FOI for that matter have anything to do with your request. And furthermore you have no right to demand proprietary information of any business or individual.

peter4918 · 17-12-2023 12:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121504595#Comment_121504595

Like what?

bobbyss · 17-12-2023 01:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121504713#Comment_121504713

If I could get information:

How many cars have been clamped at that carpark every month this year.

How much money has been collected this year every month from there.

How often do the clampers visit there on a daily/weekly basis.

Buddy Bubs · 17-12-2023 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121505673#Comment_121505673

For what purpose? What will you do with the info? No business will give a stranger that info, you could be a competitor looking to move in on their business if it's worth it.

I know we all hate clampers but I still agree with them keeping this info away from you

bobbyss · 17-12-2023 01:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121505698#Comment_121505698

If I had that information I might very well move in on their business. You never know. I don't hate clampers at all. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see a car clamped that is impeding traffic and blocking you in. Other than it being towed away that is.

18-12-2023 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121505742#Comment_121505742

That in itself would seem a good reason for a company not to share the information.

markpb · 20-12-2023 09:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121505742#Comment_121505742

That information is generally shared with all the bidders taking part in a public tender for parking enforcement, it’s not really commercially sensitive.

L1011 · 20-12-2023 09:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121505742#Comment_121505742

And that's precisely why they are never, ever going to tell you.

You may be able to get some info for council and other FOI-able bodies (Irish Rail etc) carparks, many of which APCOA handle - but the info has to be requested from the body owning the carpark, all tens or maybe hundreds of potential bodies (each council, hospital etc). And for private carparks you will never know.

Also, APCOA are headquartered in Germany and not the UK, and this despite the "OA" in their name meaning "Of America".

20-12-2023 09:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121519703#Comment_121519703

FOI doesn't apply to commercial state bodies like Irish Rail.

For those non-commercial state bodies which are liable to FOI, it doesn't apply to records held by their contractors - only to records held by the state body itself. And there is an exemption for commercially sensitive records.

GDPR relates to personal data only, which is not what the OP is talking about.

L1011 · 20-12-2023 09:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121519908#Comment_121519908

FOI does apply to Irish Rail. They have an extensive list of FOI responses on their website

Commercial semi states not in receipt of public money are exempt but theres not many of those these days. DAA and Bord na Mona maybe

Having a state monopoly also makes you subject to FOI even if a commercial semi state not in receipt of public money

23-12-2023 02:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121519991#Comment_121519991

Thanks, good to know. I had checked out Dublin Bus before, and found that FOI doesn't apply to DB. I've no idea why it applies to one and not the other.

Alkers · 23-12-2023 02:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121519908#Comment_121519908

FOI does indeed apply to Irish Rail.

If the OP worded his request correctly, I'd expect it would be answered by Irish Rail.

Augme · 23-12-2023 02:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121529268#Comment_121529268

I woukld assume as Dublin Bus compete with private businesses they are basically treated as the same? Where as Irish Rail don't have any competition.

JVince · 23-12-2023 02:22PM

Has the op nothing better to do than being a busybody?

I suspect they used "gdpr" instead of a two word answer with the initials FO

csirl · 23-12-2023 02:26PM

The informatiion should be available via FOI from Irish Rail. FOI covers records relating to public service work held by contractors working for the public body.

The information cant be commercially sensitive as Irish Rail runs the service, albeit via a contractor.

23-12-2023 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121529326#Comment_121529326

Maybe that's the thinking, that they don't have any competition - but in reality, they're competing with private bus operators and indeed with Bus Eireann.

APCOA GDPR

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