Sainsbury's taking ID details

Castiel · 6 Jan 2011 at 21:53

Janesy B said:
How?

I'm not sure, that's why I asked the question.

But, as an employee she should have a responsibility to protect customer details that she comes into contact with, and if she is writing down said details without express permission of the customer then surely the data protection legislation has something to say about that.

I can't be asked to google it and just wondered if anyone knew....

Werewolf · 6 Jan 2011 at 21:53

daver said:
Have had them write my postcode down for some reason in the past, that seemed a bit wierd

That's quite a normal customer catchment area thing, iirc companies do it to help work out where customers are coming in from.
It assists in working out the best place to potentially put a new store, so for a period of time they'll ask random customers at various stores in the area for a postcode.

Re the op, it sounds like she should have explained fully what she was doing rather than asking for ID as if it was a normal age check - whenever I've been asked for such data for store surveys they've always explained what they want and why.

MikeHiow · 6 Jan 2011 at 21:55

Werewolf said:
Re the op, it sounds like she should have explained fully what she was doing rather than asking for ID as if it was a normal age check - whenever I've been asked for such data for store surveys they've always explained what they want and why.

Yes, if she could have explained exactly what she was doing, I would have been ok - it was the lack of asking coupled with her not having a clue what it was for, that riled me.

Scania · 6 Jan 2011 at 21:56

Seems standard fare for Sainsburys.

I goto many of their distribution centres, they often ask for name, address etc.

I tell them where to get off, they get my first name , vehicle registration number & trailer number.

It makes me wonder who the Hell they think they are?

aproctor · 6 Jan 2011 at 21:59

The one good thing about Sainsbury's, they keep the scum out of Waitrose.

MeatLoaf · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:06

I work in a petrol station and we have a restricted sales log. Im not sure but i think its a legal requirement to keep one.

Each time we ID a customer for an age restricted product ( cigs, fuel, paracetamol etc ) we have to record it, weather id was provided or not. If id was not provided we just write the time date and what the product was along woth a brief description of the person. If ID was provided its the same thing but we say what id was provided and the name and DOB on the ID

Its nothing sinister, its there to act as proff that we are activly seeking ID from customers that do not look 25 ( or 16 for fuel ). If the store were to be done for failing a test purchase by the trading standards or police then we have evidence to prove we ask for it when requiired. It aslo used to show which staff members ask for id and which dont ask so often or maybe not at all.

Maccy · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:11

I was in the Co-op the other day buying some beer, and when I handed over my ID she entered my license number into the system. When I questioned it, she said it's merely to check that it was not fake.

Zowghi · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:11

aproctor said:
The one good thing about Sainsbury's, they keep the scum out of Waitrose.

Such a middle class comment!

MikeHiow · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:12

Is it a Sainbury's petrol station you work in?

Jacob (: · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:12

Work at a small off licence and whenever I ID someone im meant to write down Date/Time/Description/Product/What ID was shown/Relevant unique ID on the card/passport/Age/How they reacted

Rather a bit of faff tbh.

We were told to do this on some course we had to do about selling age related products. Its meant to help prove that we are actively making an effort to not sell products to anyone under-age.

badcompany · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:12

asda done it to me when I was buying some dvdrw's ages a go, I just gave a BS name and address. Was weird though.

Tute · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:13

MeatLoaf said:
I work in a petrol station and we have a restricted sales log. Im not sure but i think its a legal requirement to keep one.

Each time we ID a customer for an age restricted product ( cigs, fuel, paracetamol etc ) we have to record it, weather id was provided or not. If id was not provided we just write the time date and what the product was along woth a brief description of the person. If ID was provided its the same thing but we say what id was provided and the name and DOB on the ID

Its nothing sinister, its there to act as proff that we are activly seeking ID from customers that do not look 25 ( or 16 for fuel ). If the store were to be done for failing a test purchase by the trading standards or police then we have evidence to prove we ask for it when requiired. It aslo used to show which staff members ask for id and which dont ask so often or maybe not at all.

Was going to post this. We had one at Tesco but nobody ever bothered with it. In the end the plod asked to see it and ended up fining the store for not keeping it up to date.

I know it seems strange but I believe it is a legal requirement if you've been asked to keep one.

Vulcan · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:13

MeatLoaf said:
If the store were to be done for failing a test purchase by the trading standards or police then we have evidence to prove we ask for it when requiired.

It's not evidence though as you could just make it up. So much flawed logic at Sainsbury's.

Dave M · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:13

They don't want to do it, it's your local trading standards and your elected officials turning the screw on licensees.

Thing is the pressure on supermarkets to keep their drinks license is huge, yet the people who actually do sell alcohol to kids (the small newsagents) don't really care, they'll just get one of their brothers or wives to be the licensee - if they ever get caught.

Good idea but targeted badly - imo.

Goldy · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:13

Yep Sainsbury's do that to me when buying alcohol. Goes into something called a 'challenges log' from what i could tell. Anyone's guess where it goes from there.

MikeHiow · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:14

Tute said:
Was going to post this. We had one at Tesco but nobody ever bothered with it. In the end the plod asked to see it and ended up fining the store for not keeping it up to date.

I know it seems strange but I believe it is a legal requirement if you've been asked to keep one.

That is fair enough - but it should be a legal requirement that they inform the customer that they are taking information about them and be able to explain what it is for when questioned.

Morba · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:14

That's a poor excuse meatloaf, I'd not let them record anything.

Dave M · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:14

Longbow said:
It's not evidence though as you could just make it up. So much flawed logic at Sainsbury's.

But if it's not made up Sainsbury's massive legal team could look up records for all those names, confirm the dob and perhaps even get witness statements.

The drinks license is worth it.

MeatLoaf · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:17

Morba said:
That's a poor excuse meatloaf, I'd not let them record anything.

Its an esso i work in, so we dont sell alcohol.

And you couldnt really stop me from recording it as youd have to hand the ID over for it to be checked.

If a customer did complain then id simply explain that it was my job and if needed id advise them to contact the manager

But i do ID if im even the tiniest bit unsure. Id much rather be sure than face a fine of up to £5000

mattyfez · 6 Jan 2011 at 22:18

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Seems standard fare for Sainsburys.

I goto many of their distribution centres, they often ask for name, address etc.

I tell them where to get off, they get my first name , vehicle registration number & trailer number.

It makes me wonder who the Hell they think they are?

(cynic mode enabled) Why pay for marketing data, when you can simply bribe (insert company name) for much less, and farm much more data. (clinic mode disabled).