Personal information toolkit
What is personal information?
Personal information is information about you. It can be your name, address, or telephone number. It can also be the type of job you do, the things you buy when you are shopping and the place you went to school.
Why is managing my personal information important?
Today, like it or not, our personal information is held by many public and private organisations. These may include:
- government departments
- banks and building societies gas, electric, phone and internet service providers.
- supermarkets and high-street retailers
- employers
- hospitals and doctors
- mail-order and internet companies
- the police
- schools
- airlines and travel agents
- local councils.
What is my personal information used for?
Every day, you will give out your personal information in some way or other. It could be when you are shopping and you claim loyalty points, or in your workplace, or when you carry out a transaction with your bank.
But have you ever really thought about who you are giving your personal information to and what they will use it for?
Although most of the personal information stored about you will provide benefits like better medical care and financial reassurance, it also brings dangers. If your personal information is wrong, out of date or not held securely, it can cause problems. You could be unfairly refused a job, benefits or credit, or a place at college. In extreme cases, you could be a victim of identity theft or arrested for a crime you did not commit.
So what are my rights?
The Data Protection Act allows you to see information held about you and get it corrected if it is wrong. Organisations that hold your personal information must use it fairly, keep it secure, make sure the information is accurate and keep it up to date.
The Act also gives you the right to stop your personal information being used for unwanted marketing. The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations give you the right to stop electronic direct-marketing messages, including phone calls, faxes, emails and texts.
If you think an organisation may have breached the Data Protection Act in the way it holds and handles your personal information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
For advice on how to complain, visit www.ico.gov.uk or telephone our helpline on 08456 306060.