When I went to volunteer in the Philippines I was delayed 3 days on my flight back because of the eruption of a volcano. When I got back to Malta I took on the tedious job to request compensation from an insurance company.
They sent me a cheque for next to nothing of the amount that I expected. I threw the cheque away in anger and told them off. I was so insulted that I preferred nothing rather than what they had offered.
As the renewal of my car license was due, I realised that it was insured with the same company as the travel insurance, so I sought another company and insured my car with them.
I told them the reason why I was changing to their insurance company and the young greedy lady at the new insurance desk didn’t inform me that they use the same company that I wanted to leave. I understood this when I got the paperwork. I should have gone and blasted the new insurance lady but I didn’t.
This week I received a private call and I answered (normally I do not pick up calls in private mode) She said, “We believe that you changed your previous insurance company, can you tell us the reason why?” I asked whom she represent and she told me her name again and that she is representing a Survey Company. I said I am not comfortable to speak to you.
I ask what about my Data Protection? How did this Survey Company, get a hold of my transfer from one company to another and my phone number.
I would like to use your digital newspaper to ask them to call me back and explain to me how they got my private information. Is there or isn’t there a Data Protection Act?
Anthony G. Zammit,
Gozo.
File photo
1 Comment To "Is there or isn’t there a Data Protection Act? – Anthony Zammit"
#1 Comment By Torben On June 7, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Just have a look at cookies on major Maltese companies’ websites. I mean websites that everyone has to use sooner or later, like for instance Maltapost. They probably have a statement on the use of cookies but don’t ask for your consent, which is a tad strange as you would fathom that even people working at the IDPC would use these websites.
Then have a look at how surveillance cameras are installed in public places (e.g. in front of buildings). They are supposed to cover the property only.
Then you know what’s going on. GDPR exists in Malta but it’s not really enforced. A privacy statement is as good as it gets and when you look into your insurance company’s privacy policy, it probably includes your case where they allow themselves to give you data to third parties. And even if not, they possibly could even cite “legitimate interest” and do the survey anyway.
The best thing to do is to switch to a pedal cycle. There is no right to vehicle insurance in Malta, so insurance companies are more or less given free hand and can do what they want.