Customer Data Scandal For Credit Checkers Big Boys

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It has come to light that several big players in the credit checking industry have been reckless with personal data, leading Jade Greenhow to comment on the scandal.

Greenhow is Insight Data's Operations Director. She says a two-year investigation into how Experian, Equifax and TransUnion used personal data for marketing purposes by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) revealed that they were trading, enriching and enhancing people’s personal data without their knowledge.

"As a result of the ICO’s investigation, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion have made improvements to their direct marketing services business," says Greenhow but their actions are shocking in these days of universal GDPR compliance."

Equifax and TransUnion made the required improvements and withdrew several products and services. The ICO is therefore taking no further action against them.

 “This is shocking for many reasons. In a nutshell, millions of people were potentially targeted by commercial organisations, political parties or charities, and their personal data collected and profiled without their knowledge as a result of these companies’ data security behaviours.”

– Jade Greenhow 

Operations Director, Insight Data

"Here at Insight Data, we collect, store and sell prospect data for businesses in the construction and fenestration industry," continues Insight's Greenhow. "We are incredibly aware of our responsibility to manage that data in a legal and transparent way.

"At Insight Data, we work with businesses across the supply chain to provide a cost-effective and compliant solution which allows them to stay on the right side of GDPR, whilst still effectively marketing to prospective customers. That’s why we are trusted by so many businesses across the UK."

Picture: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax have been selling customer details in contravention of GDPR rules.

www.insightdata.co.uk

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
25th November 2020

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