What do your cellphone, diabetes, artificial leg and glasses have in common?

[davereid]

The answer is you.

When you signed up for that phone contract, you allowed the cellphone company to make some checks on you.

And some of the data they got provided them with background information on your eyesight, hearing, diabetes and other general health issues.

This particular check was done around 80-90,000 times last year, on customers who had given "consent" to a phone companies or credit company.


My question is..

Did you consent ?

I know the form says they can make "any inquiry of any agency", or words to that effect.

But would you have consented if you knew they would get information like that ?

Or are these consents so buried in the paperwork, that we don't even know what we are allowing them to do ?

And, if it is being done without meaningful consent do we care ? Should we try and stop it ?

[tigertim20]

On the one hand, most people would be fucked off if they knew how much information was passed around with things like this.

On the other hand, its 2011, what are you going to do about it?

I think most people go with the whole 'ignorance is bliss' mentality

[slofox]

So I'm a broken down old crock. So fucking what?

I ain't got nuffink to hide anyway - let 'em do their worst!

[davereid]

I have to admit to being gob-smacked that no one minds !
I was personally shocked to find that it was possible, nonetheless common.

Maybe privacy is an outdated concept.

[DrunkenMistake]

Maybe you should get off the plans and get on prepay haha

[davereid]

Its not just cellphones. Any credit application may be involved.

[DrunkenMistake]

Its not just cellphones. Any credit application may be involved.

I see what you are meaning now,
The information gathered isnt personal details i.e they can say 2 out of every 200 people have a bung eye, You might be unlucky enough to have a bung eye, but the information they gathered was about your eye site, But they dont use your name or contact information etc.

Well to my understanding,

[FJRider]

Maybe privacy is an outdated concept.

ONLY those with something to hide (and attempt to keep hidden) have anything to fear... and THEY will most likely ... ALREADY know ...

Read the fine print ... or DON'T ... at YOUR peril ...

[davereid]

But they don't use your name or contact information etc.

No they seek, and get a report with information on an individual. Vodaphone, Veda Advantage, GE Finance and so on are doing it.

It reports things like DrunkenMistake has diabetes, may have an alcohol problem, has an artificial limb, etc.

[Maha]

So I'm a broken down old crock. So fucking what?

I ain't got nuffink to hide anyway - let 'em do their worst!

I am with you on this, I am as clean as a whistle...(now)
Perhaps those that are not should have concerns?...dont know.
No, I dont care to be honest, its probably been going on for longer than we can remember.

[FJRider]

Its not just cellphones. Any credit application may be involved.

And you dont think anybody lending money to a person ... doesn't have the right to know all relevent details about that person ... ???

[DrunkenMistake]

No they seek, and get a report with information on an individual. Vodaphone, Veda Advantage, GE Finance and so on are doing it.

It reports things like DrunkenMistake has diabetes, may have an alcohol problem, has an artificial limb, etc.

I think a finance company for example, should know about possible things I.E
If I were to have a drinking problem = Higher risk of not paying the money back
Has been to drug rehab = High risk of reoffending, not paying it back
Has an artificial limb = May lose job, High risk of not been able to pay it back due to work.

I dont know if thats how it is, but I see it as justified.

[BMWST?]

i would like to know WHAT information they want and WHY,and WHERE they intend to get it

[mashman]

I think a finance company for example, should know about possible things I.E
If I were to have a drinking problem = Higher risk of not paying the money back
Has been to drug rehab = High risk of reoffending, not paying it back
Has an artificial limb = May lose job, High risk of not been able to pay it back due to work.

I dont know if thats how it is, but I see it as justified.

And if they're trying to make a go of things?

I suppose it was only a matter of time before this sort of shit became legal... Time for the probability folk to step up to underpin the risks involved in coughing without following through. Happy days ahead.

[DrunkenMistake]

And if they're trying to make a go of things?

I suppose it was only a matter of time before this sort of shit became legal... Time for the probability folk to step up to underpin the risks involved in coughing without following through. Happy days ahead.

If I was lending money to someone,
I would want to know the risk of not getting it paid back/paid back in full.
Agreed some information is probably a little off the track, but I think you will also find this has been happening longer than you think