Local Council harassing surveys?

Question

My local council is hell bent on harassing me with constant survey letters , I have spoken to them to have it stopped as i consider it to be none of their business what job i do , how many qualifications i have etc. They advised that they will stop sending them

Yesterday i received yet another survey but this time from a university working on behalf of the council .

Could i take action ? 1) the fact the council my details was given to the housing studies unit at a university and 2) for constantly ingoring my pleas that im sent any surveys?

But the way i live in the North West of England , so i will appreciate replies from people in the UK

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Jamelia,



I too live in the North West. The situation that you describe is becoming increasingly common here. There are several reasons why it is happening, but the main one is to try to establish that the Council is consulting its "customers", to show that Best Value is being provided in accordance with the Local Govt Act 1999.



To specifically answer your questions. You can do nothing about (1) at all. The reason is that the Uni is effectively an employee or contractor of the council and is being given access to data [which it will have to later destroy] for furthering the purposes for which the data was gathered - housing management.



Query (2) is different. If you have asked not to be contacted, the Council should respect your wishes on this. As they have failed to do so, I can suggest two options for you. The first is to contact a local councillor (names, etc on the Council's website) and point how exactly how money is being wasted. The second is to take the matter up with the Ombudsman as being maladministration. There is a link below for you to do this.

Answer 2

You can write to the Council and ask that they take your name off the information list that they sell onto other companies.



At some point you would have given your permission for them to pass on your information, either by signing someone and not ticking a box.



As for them not sending you further correspondence, you MUST write to them, and keep a copy of the letter you sent, ask for a replay acknowledging reciept of the letter. Once you have it confirmed in writing that they have received your request, THEN you can consoder taking further action, but be preapred to not get very far with any action you take.

Answer 3

Write to them saying you wish to be removed from the posting survey lists, and say you do not give them permission to share your personal details with any other organisation, if they do you will consider action under the data protection act.

Answer 4

Id just be grateful for the cheap rent and secure tenancy.



I wish my problems were as simple as yours, just throw them away and write a letter of complaint and ask for your details to be removed from the mailing lists.

Answer 5

Just throw them away and forget about them