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Data Protection Act


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My wife's car insurance renewal is due next week and I always phone through and renew it for her, paying by credit card.

Whilst she was out shopping this morning I rang Tesco Insurance, credit card in hand ready to quote the number, and they asked to speak to my wife. Told them she was out shopping but nothing had changed and I just wanted to pay the renewal bill.

They refused to take any details from me, insisting they had to talk to my wife and quoted the Data Protection Act. I again said I only wanted to pay the bill but they refused to discuss it any further.

She duly came home shortly afterwards, rang them herself and quoted her policy number etc and then gave me the phone to pay the bill, which I did.

What a nonsense.

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The data protection act is all about protecting the personal information that is held on you. Making sure that companies have a valid reason for keeping this info, that the info they have is accurate and up to date and that it is not kept for longer than necessary. The insurance company would need a valid business reason to access and view your wifes records. If the customer is not making the query then they don't have a valid business reason and cannot access the records. Sounds daft but it is there for your protection.

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Tesco do include a Data Protection Notice with the insurance Renewal Notice, I did read it whilst munching my Shredded Wheat this morning :)

It states, amongst other things, the following:

Dealing with other people:

At the request of many of our customers and to make managing your insurance more convenient, it is policy to deal with your spouse or partner who calls on your behalf.

I was only paying the bill, nothing else. I'm also a "named" driver under the Policyholder & Spouse terms. I also arranged this insurance with Tesco 2yrs ago over the internet, and paid for it on-line with my credit card. Upon renewal you have to phone them etc.

Perhaps recent events have made them wary.

Good points raised Sir Rad and Nel, better safe than sorry I guess :)

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I bought my 10 year old daughter a mobile 'phone for Christmas and had to call up Orange to activate it.

The woman insisted on speaking to my little girl first to see if it was all right for 'Daddy to speak to the lady'  :D

Shouldn't she have been asking mommy if it was ok for daddy to speak to another lady :sneaky:

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