Another persons details.

[shell]

How do I solve the problem of getting someone elses emails? I keep getting emails for someone with the same name as me, this is usually from big companies. Today I had BT telling me my account has been suspended, with all the account details included.

A few weeks ago I got the first non business email, I replied and informed the person I wasn't who she was looking for, only for her to reply that she had typed in the address wrong. My first name is Michelle and that forms part of my email address, apparently hers is exactly the same but with only one L in Michelle.

So surely these big companies should be checking the details properly. For some reason she also has an account with Virgin, every month they send me a bill. I've contacted them, only to have them inform me that these are the details they have so they will continue to send the bill every month.

She even had her meat order cancelled over christmas as I got an email asking when she would like it delivered. I had to inform them they had the wrong person and they then told me they had cancelled the order.

But my biggest worry is the fact that I am getting all her business account details.

[teaboy2]

Re: Another persons details.

You can block them but that may block your own emails from same company if you too have accounts. I suppose you could report the matter to the ICO as it is a serious data breach.

[ostell]

Re: Another persons details.

Send a message to michele (with one L) telling her about the problem, and indicate the companies in question. If you've correctly identified the person forward the emails and ask her to change her contact details with her correspondents.

For Virgin and BT (and anybody else in fact) you can forward it back to them (rather than reply) and point out to them that they are making a very serious blunder and could get into very serious trouble with the Data Protection Regulations. Then ICO if it doesn't slow down

[enquirer]

Re: Another persons details.

teaboy and ostell are right.

If, once you have told them of their error, they continue to send confidential information, that is an offence.

[shell]

Re: Another persons details.

Thanks folks. I contacted the other Michele and she informs me that the last BT email is not hers. I might just have to contact BT again. I've given up with Virgin as they say this is the email they have been given so this is the email they are sending it to.

[ostell]

Re: Another persons details.

For virgin send it back to them and threaten with the ICO. It is not a valid excuse to say they will continue because it is the only one they have. They must have a snail mail address that they can use.