O2 definitely selling customer info to 3Rd parties

[viridis]

So, upgraded my sons phone, in my name but every single instance of it online is my sons name, my name connected to that number exists ONLY with O2.
Since upgrading 5 days ago, he's had 3 calls from people asking for me about an accident I had recently.
The physically ONLY way this could have happened is if one if o2's trusted partners is harvesting info and selling it to these scam artists.
Not happy as I explicitly told O2 NOT to pass on info to 3rd parties when upgrading.

[viridis]

And amazingly, my contact preferences for 3Rd parties is "Off"
So wtf??
Impossible that these scammers could associate my name to that number without seeing O2 info.

[MI5]

More proof of what we already know and is denied by o2..
I even have the email refusing to uphold my complaint because o2 do not do this!

[jonsie]

Despite all their denials, we do know that our information is anything but protected. Let's be honest, an active customer base list is worth big money. Of course O2 or maybe a singular staff member sells it on to whoever, they also then sell it on. O2 can't deny this happens. 

[Beenherebefore]

@viridis .....if it was me and still within the cancellation period, I chuck it back at them.

[madasaf1sh]

The PPI and Accident claim blame gang, all use automated calling scripts, so they will start with 07595 8xxxxxx and end with 07595 8xxxxx9 They dont know which numbers are live and which arent, its just one big excel spreadsheet... 

You can do the same for text messages.. wouldnt take me long and cost that much to run through fastsms or something and spam the whole of O2 number range 

If people are asking for you by name, have you used that number anywhere else or signed up for anything and used that number? 

[viridis]

They asked by name,
And I've never used that number ever.

[jonsie]

O2 admit to passing on details to trusted partners who probably have no scruples in selling on to spammers. Our privacy is not safe with O2 and marking our preferences in My O2 seems to me to be ignored and abused in the never-ending money pursuit. 

[MI5]

We know the corporate bs as we've all had it before mate.
Raise a complaint and I'll post the response I got. I bet you it will be exactly the same!

[Wa10]

I have absolutely no knowledge of DPA practises with O2 apart from the very stringent rules that advisors have to adhere to (which are strictly and actively enforced), however if you are genuinely concerned about how your data has been used and you're not satisfied with the response you've had to a complaint, raise it with the ICO.

https://ico.org.uk/concerns/handling/

Speaking as a customer, I wouldn't have a clue how people have got their hands on my contact details, as unfortunately I'm quite regularly plagued by such nuisance, unsolicited calls - however I know I'm often less than scrupulous about ticking/unticking as required, and have on more than one occasion shared my details publicly, so it would be next to impossible for me to track how they had been picked up by the shysters who like to pester us.