HOW AN OVERSIGHT LED TO YEARS OF HARASSMENT
AUG 2005
The RSPCA obtains Samuel Rae’s details when he takes out a pet insurance policy.
2007
It passes the data to a firm to assess the chance of him leaving money to charities.
OCT 2009
After his wife Elizabeth dies in 2009, Mr Rae donates to the RSPCA, her favourite charity. But he misses the tiny print at the bottom, which opts him in to his details being shared. See Figure 1. The words are so small the charity had to blow them up to more than double their size for Mr Rae’s son to read. See Figure 2. Because Mr Rae left the box unticked, the charity say he gave consent for his data to be shared.
MAY 2010
Asked if he consents to be contacted by phone, Mr Rae says ‘No’. See below.
MAY 2010
RSPCA’s first phone call to Mr Rae asking him to increase his donations. He raises it from £3 to £5 per month.
2010
During the year he gets six letters from RSPCA.
NOV 2010
RSPCA passes Mr Rae’s details to Prospecting For Gold. This company helps charities predict how much they could get from supporters’ wills.
2011
13 letters from the RSPCA.
JULY 2011
RSPCA phone call asking him to increase his direct debit.
2012
Ten letters from RSPCA.
MARCH/APRIL 2012
RSPCA pass Mr Rae's name to Acxiom Ltd, a data firm which ‘scores’ supporters as to their likelihood of leaving money in their wills.
AUG 2012
Mr Rae cancels monthly donation to the RSPCA.
OCT 2012
The RSPCA telephone Mr Rae and ask him to start donating again. He refuses.
2013
Six letters from the RSPCA.
MAY-JULY 2013
RSPCA shares Mr Rae's details with Acxiom Ltd a second time.
MAR 2014
The RSPCA telephones Mr Rae to ask if he will start donating again. He refuses.
MAY 2014
Mr Rae’s details are shared a third time with Acxiom Ltd, and again they are asked to provide a ‘profile’ of Mr Rae.
FEB 2015
Another RSPCA phone call - nearly three years after he stopped donating. By now, Mr Rae has dementia and his son has taken over his financial affairs.