Do you really think there's any kind of law against using 1471?

Seriously?

What possible legal obstacle could there be to the company storing information which would exist on their system anyway?

(And tbh, if you're dumb enough to make that kind of call without doing something to mask your number - such as, say, using 141 - I find it hard to have sympathy regardless.)

in reply to anonymous

why should anyone making a legitimate and humane complaint against a despicable practice against fellow human NEED or think necessary to use 141 and make themselves anonymous?

isn't it a reflection on juts how bad for civil rights things have become, that you have to suggest such a thing in your comment

the point is not whether they check what the number is, the point is that they are storing them, passing them on to one of the most important people in the company, and are apparently doing so without givin any sort of real reason for it. Of course a company can look at the numbers of the people who phone it and keep them for whatever legal reasons it can come up with, it is what happens to this information, based on the reasons the calls were made in the first place, that is important.

"why should anyone making a legitimate and humane complaint against a despicable practice against fellow human NEED or think necessary to use 141 and make themselves anonymous?"

If you want to retain your privacy, and have an available means of doing so, and choose not to take that means, I hardly see how you can start whining about it afterwards.

"isn't it a reflection on juts how bad for civil rights things have become, that you have to suggest such a thing in your comment"

No, it isn't. I generally assume when making a call to any large organisation that some record of the call - including both my number and the nature of the call - will be kept. I'm not sure where civil rights come into this at all, really.

* * *

"the point is not whether they check what the number is, the point is that they are storing them, passing them on to one of the most important people in the company, and are apparently doing so without givin any sort of real reason for it. Of course a company can look at the numbers of the people who phone it and keep them for whatever legal reasons it can come up with, it is what happens to this information, based on the reasons the calls were made in the first place, that is important. "

And since nothing has been said about how this information has been used, I really see this as being a lot of panic about nothing.

My main issue with the article was the following:

"In this insance, too, when asked about the legality of logging phone numbers without the permission of the people involved and for unstated reasons, the switchboard operator just hung up.

"I urge those who are interested to look into the legal issues surrounding this, especially if these details are passed onto a third party.

"There is no law against registering a complaint. And no law against lots of people complaining at the same time. Companies cannot allow all those who complaing about a particular thing be treated as a (borderline) criminal nuisance and keep their contact details for mysterious reasons."

Unless the data is passed on to a third party - which would be a problem were it to occur - I really fail to see any legal issue whatsoever raised by this.

Companies log this type of data all the time. While it being passed on to the executive is somewhat unusual (or so I assume - it could be standard practice for all I know), ultimately it is simply information they would already have available being transferred from one area of the company to the other. So what?

(Awaiting ZOMG CORPORATE PLANT STOOGE PIG CONSPIRACY!!!!!!! in 5...4...3...)

This is most likely to be quite innocent. The number you call from may be the only way they have of contacting you, and should they wish to seek further information from a particular caller after their call, or discuss the issues involved with them a phone number would be necessary to get in touch.

You can't expect any response at all if you don't provide some means of contact.

don't be silly, BMI has of course no intention to return the call or get back in contact with those who have complained.

and they don't usually log the numbers, hence no one should have to assume that this is what happens when they call.

They simply want to have an idea of how many people have complained about the use of the airline for forced deportations.

BMI have obviously realised that on the 20th of every month they are subject of a 'phone blockade'. In fact there has been direct correspondence between CEO Nigel Turner and No Borders. I.e. lots of people call lots of times, and BMI are interested in only logging one complaint per phone. And they want to keep the line free as much as possible. Anyone who managed to keep BMI on the phone for more than 30 sec had quite a success. As soon as you mention deportation to them they tell you that your call is logged and hang up.

You need to use a public phone if you don't want these calls associated with your own phone.

this is because the the phone company will log who you called in order to send you a bill for it, and the state can access that billing data

even 141/ex-directory is conditional, if you call 999 you number is displayed regardless, so it can be linked to your location - you'll be glad of this if you ever need to call for a fire crew or ambulance, you may even need to call the cops one day.