Spam merchants!

Okay so it's not a broadband question but I thought I'd bounce something of you guys.

My car insurance is coming up for renewal so I thought I'd get some prices from GoCompare. I had to give an email address so as usual I gave them a unique address. Half an hour ago I got an email from AA Insurance sent using that address. Aside from being bad etiquette is that some kind of violation of the Data Protection Act?

Doubt it. Moneysupermarket is the same.

In reply to a post by Andrue:

Aside from being bad etiquette is that some kind of violation of the Data Protection Act?

I suspect they have some very small print that you have to search for that allows them to use any data you supply in any way they see fit.

Confused.com is the same.

I assume this is why gmail/hotmail etc stay in business

From their Privacy Statement:

Our comparison technology will disclose the information you have entered into the Gocompare.com website to our partner websites for the purpose of providing us with quotations on the requested product. We will also be using your data for our own research and for tracking any purchased policies. By using our website you are giving us permission to use your data in this way.

I tried Go Compare a few months ago, and got pinged by malware. Now I stick to Money Saving Expert / USwitch (depnding on what I'm looking to get.

There should be a tick box to opt in/out when doing these things.

*Simples*

I agree with the spam merchant complaint -- like TT calling you after you take their speed test. For many folks including me it's counterproductive.

Don't forget that Gocompare and other sites don't have all the companies. In particular Direct Line opts out, and Direct Line has given me a lower quote this past three years. Downside is their automatic renewal, for your convenience. For their convenience this renewal includes a 30/40% increase even without a claim.

Get a few quotes, call DctLine up, and down comes the premium. Can't watch 'em these days.

Thanks for the replies. Just [censored] business practice then. Amazon used to do something similar but at least they have a system in place now.

Oh well. Just another address to put on the black list I guess.

Also MoneyExtra, MoneyWorld, InsuranceCentre InsuranceWide, QuoteLine and BullseysInsurance. When you got a quote at these sites, you gave them permission to pass your info. to their partner sites.

What I do is use a unique email addy at each site and use filters to delete any of them from my email server so I never see any of them

EDIT: I do use GoCompare, Confused & MoneySupermarket but have never yet got this type of spam from them

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sun 31-Oct-10 18:19:55)

In reply to a post by Malwaremike:

I agree with the spam merchant complaint -- like TT calling you after you take their speed test. For many folks including me it's counterproductive.

Don't forget that Gocompare and other sites don't have all the companies. In particular Direct Line opts out.

RBSi runs more sites than just Direct Line, most of which participate in compare sites.
For example, Prudential, Privilege...