Have you opt out of the new Open Register?

[Tiggy_dorset]

I received a letter today from my council notifying me of the new government system. Everyones details from the Electoral Register have automatically been placed onto the Open Register for the purpose of selling to companies and charities. You should be given a security number to phone up and opt out if you wish. Needless to say that I have already done so, but I wonder how long my details have been open to view before I recieved my letter, as they do state that my details are already on the register.

As a small vent of anger, I sent my feedback through the Gov.co.uk website. I am not expecting a reply to be honest.

How long have our details been on the open register before we got the letter through the door notifying us of the option to opt out?
How much money have you made from my details up until the moment when I was able to opt out?
How about offering me a cut in the profits you have made from selling my personal details.

It's a sham! ​

 

[rtbcomp]

The electoral register has been in the public domain since the year dot. Firms like 192.com buy these registers in bulk and sell your details to anyone who will pay them.

You had the option for some details to be omitted for security reasons.

 

[Paul.]

As far as I can remember its always been possible to opt out of the publicly available edited electoral register, you just tick a box on the form they send you once a year, the full register has everyone's details on it, but for security reasons is only available to certain organisations such as credit agencies, government departments etc.

 

[richie00boy]

The older style form they sent each year had the option to opt out, this new form simply carries on your choice from last year. So your details will have been out there for sale for years. You must have missed it each year or maybe not read the form properly.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

How is the new system different from the old system? Simply splitting it into 2 registers to make it easier to separate the information?

 

[Robotstar5]

I've been opting out for years, I shall be very annoyed if they've changed it without my permission

 

[richie00boy]

How is the new system different from the old system? Simply splitting it into 2 registers to make it easier to separate the information?

It's not different, they have just changed the form and a word. Also instead of having to confirm details every year, they now carry on unless you tell them different.

 

[richie00boy]

I've been opting out for years, I shall be very annoyed if they've changed it without my permission

Mine was still not on the open register so I see no reason why they will change yours, the same choice as last year has been applied.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Here is the letter. As far as I am aware I have always opted out. In this instance I have been automatically registered on the Open Register.

 

[richie00boy]

Bit annoying then, must be a mistake. Hope you can get it sorted quickly.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

My guess is that it is all down to the individual Councils, as some of you state that you are still opted out.
My house sharer also had the same letter and has always opted out. So it seems that it is our council alone that have put us on the new register automatically (abused the system?)

 

[Wendelspanswick]

My guess is that it is all down to the individual Councils, as some of you state that you are still opted out.
My house sharer also had the same letter and has always opted out. So it seems that it is our council alone that have put us on the new register automatically (abused the system?)

I spoke to our local councillor this morning and according to him ALL councils are putting everyone onto the open register and requiring you to opt out again! Apparently they are recording the database in a new way.
We are with Taunton Deane council in Somerset and the whole family have received letters saying we are now on the open register whereas we used to be just on the Electoral Roll.
Good of you to flag it up Tiggy otherwise it would have gone unnoticed.
Cheers.
John