Guernsey garage group fined £65,000 for illegally contacting customers

Jacksons Group was penalised after a two-year investigation found that hundreds of customers who had opted out of direct marketing were contacted without consent

Guernsey garage group fined £65,000 for illegally contacting customers
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A garage group operating in the Channel Islands has been fined £65,000 for illegally sending spam to customers who had requested to be removed from its mailing list. The fine was issued by Guernsey’s Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) after a two-year investigation into the Jacksons Group.

The investigation, along with an internal review, found that 430 customers, primarily from the company’s Motor Mall garage, had their records illegally updated from “no” to “yes” for direct marketing. This was done on the instructions of a “senior employee”.

Data commissioner Brent Homan said respecting customer consent was a “fundamental” obligation, and that the fine reflected the “serious nature” of the breach. A spokesperson for the parent company, Van Mossel Automotive Group, stated that the senior employee involved was “no longer with the business” and that the company “accepted” the judgement. The spokesperson added that the company regretted the “historic failing that occurred prior to our ownership”.

Mr Homan said he was “encouraged” by the company’s “commitment” to improving under its new management. He added: “Jacksons has already taken progressive steps and we look forward to meeting with them in the future to hear of their further progress.”

Source: BBC News

1 Comment

  1. Should not be happening I don’t take any bodies data I don’t need to as I’ve been going 45 years and the majority of my customers always come back maybe I’m too honest but that’s how I like it as I’m a local garage in a local village but honestly is best?

    Reply

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