Mailing lists

**thomaskay** · 25-05-06

Hi folks,

I want to start letting people register their email address on my site. If I don't intend on selling emails, do I still need to register with data protection?

Also, I've got this friend (not me!) who's about to open an ecommerce store. He says he's been going round the web on relevant forums and copying down email addresses. He's going to mail everyone when his site opens. To me this smells strongely of spam. He assures me he's looked into it and says what he is doing is lawful.

I was wondering if he's right. What are everyones opinions of this? For me it'd leave a bad taste in my mouth if a merchant just spammed me.

Tom

**valD** · 25-05-06

Originally Posted by thomaskay

Also, I've got this friend (not me!) who's about to open an ecommerce store. He says he's been going round the web on relevant forums and copying down email addresses. He's going to mail everyone when his site opens. To me this smells strongely of spam. He assures me he's looked into it and says what he is doing is lawful.

So is tax avoidance.
I have an addy that I only use for forums. If I got spammed on that one, I'd contact all the forum mods with the details and have the perp banned. AND report him to his ISP for spamming!
Legal or not, this is spamming and no mistake.

**shyguy0507** · 25-05-06

Originally Posted by valD

So is tax avoidance.
I have an addy that I only use for forums. If I got spammed on that one, I'd contact all the forum mods with the details and have the perp banned. AND report him to his ISP for spamming!
Legal or not, this is spamming and no mistake.

I agree - it sounds like spam to me (and would end up in my spam folder)

**marky** · 25-05-06

Re Data Protection, am unsure. It relates to holding personal information on a computer. You then 'notify' them with how you treat that data. If you are taking a name as well as email address you probably need to. It will be worth giving them a call, they were very helpfull when I have called them .. and it is only £35.00 / year so not a huge cost... could be worth getting it now so covers you in case you capture any more info in the future.

**Nosmo_King** · 25-05-06

I can't help to much with this... other than to say you need to do more homework.

I'm under the impression you can incure the wrath of the ASA, your ISP and even some merchants.

Maybe someone else will post more... but I do know the days are gone when you can just send people promotional emails. I do myself but use an opt in/opt out procedure.