Fred_Zeppelin

Compromise reached. My username will change shortly and I will be out of here.

I believe they will but like all things legal they may not. I think I have a very high chance of success but I'm not naive enough to think it's 100% I also believe that I may have to stop posting and request that my details are deleted from an external e-mail address, but I'm giving the mods a chance to respond here.

I did DPA training, albeit over ten years ago. I was Data Controller for a company I was was IT manager for. I'm not doing this as an uninformed amateur. There is no doubt that the TAMB hold personal data of mine and there is little doubt about the TAMB having to comply with the DPA.

In what way have I been found out?

From the board guidelines Anonymous registration is not permitted. Users registering must submit their real name and a valid e-mail address. Whether someone registers with a false e-mail address and name is irrelevant, by accepting the registration the mods are accepting they are genuine and so they must be treated within the guidelines of the DPA. And yes, I do accept that my interpretation may not be the same same interpretation that ICO put on it. But, as I have said I have nothing to lose by making a report, it's not me who is taking the chance.

There is no interpretation of the DPA that would mean that an e-mail address and person's real name would not be considered personal data. As for how it's being stored, it's being stored electronically. ie there will be a database linked to the forum software that will hold all members details.

In brief – what does the Data Protection Act say about keeping personal data?The Act does not set out any specific minimum or maximum periods for retaining personal data. Instead, it says that: Personal data processed for any purpose or purposes shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes. This is the fifth data protection principle. In practice, it means that you will need to: review the length of time you keep personal data; consider the purpose or purposes you hold the information for in deciding whether (and for how long) to retain it; securely delete information that is no longer needed for this purpose or these purposes; and update, archive or securely delete information if it goes out of date. The basic premise of Data Protection is that organisations can only collect data from you and use it for the purpose of it's collection. The way this applies to the TAMB is that in order to register you have to give them your e-mail and real name. This is personal data and must be deleted as soon as there is no purpose any more. ie If a member leaves the TAMB their personal data should be deleted ASAP. I've requested they delete this data as I no longer wish to be a member. So far they have refused to delete it. Obviously as soon as it's deleted my account disappears. I've offered them a compromise in the "voluntary ban" where my username will not be on the current users list but my details will remain on an archive so they can prevent any banned member from reregistering. They refuse this compromise too. Why they are being so stubborn I don't know but I can be as stubborn as them and if they don't delete my data or accept my compromise the ICO is getting an e-mail. The fact that the TAMB runs adverts to pay for itself means they are not exempt from the DPA.

OK, let's go down the legal route then. There is no domestic exemption for you because you runs adverts. I have asked you formally to delete the data you hold about me, doing so will delete my account. Failing to comply with my request will mean you are in breach of the DPA. I don't need to employ a lawyer because the Information Commissioner's Office will deal with my complaint. It will take me 5 minutes to fill in the form and e-mail it and there will be no expense for me so I have nothing to lose. There is no reason for you to hold on to my details so your refusal to delete them is simply stubbornness. Something that may be costly to the TAMB if I make a complaint, at no risk to myself, to the ICO. Your call.

Consistent is the one thing I have been. Until you delete my details I am still a member, delete them as requested and I'm gone.

Yes, you've forgotten to delete my data.

No., it wasn't admin4 I fell out with all those months ago.

Yes, it's what I mean, I am going, please delete any data you hold about me as per principle 5 of the Data Protection Act.

Well, will you give me a voluntary ban?

It has been said that someone else got a voluntary ban, can you do that?

I want my username removed. Why don't you ask admin why they won't just do what I want, there doesn't appear to be any reason not to?

Will you delete me, please. There. I asked nicely.

I was nice yesterday, saw a subject that I've posted on before (Handball) and posted my opinion, politely. Within a couple of posts the board troll appears and starts his "Declan, plastic paddy" nonsense at me. So, I press the report button, as your supposed to instead of responding in kind. I message admin4 to bring her attention to it. Within a few minutes admin4 has not only decided to do nothing about my complaint, she posts on the thread itself to let everyone know I've reported someone and to publicly rub in my face the fact that she's going to do nothing about it. That's what being nice and playing by the rules gets you on the TAMB these days.

I want my name removed from the current users list. They admit they can do it, if they do it I'll be gone.

Over to admin4, well, can I have that?

I'd settle for that.

Against the rules too, I'd ban him.

Get ####ed.

Ref today stepping out 10 yards, 2 St J players in the way, he just steps it out around them.

Aye, but it's St Johnstone.

All I'm asking is that they delete my account or at least take action that removes my username from the current users list. They have admitted they can do it so why they won't is a mystery.