Media Release
14 March, 2009

Leaky Home Victims Preyed Upon

An unscrupulous advertiser is using the Official Information Act to extract personal home owner information from local authorities, and on-sell it to building suppliers who then bombard the unsuspecting victims with junk mail.

The activity was uncovered by the leakyhomeforum website, which discovered that information such as applicant name, address, and the value, type and size of repairs, was acquired from building consents submitted to local councils, and placed on a website for subscribing users to view.

“It is an abominable practice” says one victim who wished to remain unnamed. “As if leaky home owners don’t have enough on their plates, they now have to contend with their personal situation being broadcast to the world”.

‘Whats On Report’ Managing Director ‘Tony’, who published the report, responded to the victim’s appeal to withdraw the information by insisting his activities were legal, and offering the victim $100 to return the junk mail for “research” purposes.

“It is a sad world when businesses think making a few bucks is more important than respecting people’s privacy, or even the law” laments the victim.

Both the Official Information Act 1991 and the Privacy Act 1993 contain clauses pertaining to the appropriate use of information, and permission to use it from its source.
Auckland City Council, one of the Local Authorities approached by ‘Whats On Report’ for information, have requested a review by the Ombudsman into the legality of ‘Whats On Report’s’ practices.

Ends

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