I have just ordered a new appliance from a large online retailer.

As part of the process I was required to give an email address. Before I
could realise, Google Chrome had "helpfully" used my work details. I
abandoned the order at that point and did not submit them.

Instead I switched to my home PC and completed the order from there.

Now, an hour later, I have just received to my work email address a
marketing email from these clowns.

Since I did not click any button to accept any T&Cs, they cannot show
they have my consent - a clear breach of GDPR.

Obviously there's nothing to be done, but in a parallel world where GDPR breaches were worth worrying about, it could cost them dearly.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 27/10/2023 15:45, Jethro_uk wrote:

I have just ordered a new appliance from a large online retailer.

As part of the process I was required to give an email address. Before I could realise, Google Chrome had "helpfully" used my work details. I abandoned the order at that point and did not submit them.

It's useful to have a temporary or throwaway address for such purposes.
Just search on "temporary email".

Instead I switched to my home PC and completed the order from there.

Now, an hour later, I have just received to my work email address a
marketing email from these clowns.

Since I did not click any button to accept any T&Cs, they cannot show
they have my consent - a clear breach of GDPR.

On some websites I have seen statements to the effect that "By
continuing to use this site you have accepted our terms and conditions".
I've no idea if this has any legal basis or not.

Obviously there's nothing to be done, but in a parallel world where GDPR breaches were worth worrying about, it could cost them dearly.

Don't use Chrome? Use another retailer if possible?

--

Jeff

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sat, 28 Oct 2023 08:25:03 +0100, Jeff Layman wrote:

On 27/10/2023 15:45, Jethro_uk wrote:

I have just ordered a new appliance from a large online retailer.

As part of the process I was required to give an email address. Before
I could realise, Google Chrome had "helpfully" used my work details. I
abandoned the order at that point and did not submit them.

It's useful to have a temporary or throwaway address for such purposes.
Just search on "temporary email".

Oh, I'm not worried about it to that extent. If I need email addresses I
can generate a million in a second :)

Instead I switched to my home PC and completed the order from there.

Now, an hour later, I have just received to my work email address a
marketing email from these clowns.

Since I did not click any button to accept any T&Cs, they cannot show
they have my consent - a clear breach of GDPR.

On some websites I have seen statements to the effect that "By
continuing to use this site you have accepted our terms and conditions".
I've no idea if this has any legal basis or not.

That was rather why I posted here ;)

Obviously there's nothing to be done, but in a parallel world where
GDPR breaches were worth worrying about, it could cost them dearly.

Don't use Chrome? Use another retailer if possible?

I suspect any other browser would similarly have "helped" once it saw a
form to fill in. Really the fault is more mine for using my work profile.
Still if I hadn't, I wouldn't have noticed this.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:45:06 +0000, Jethro_uk wrote:

I have just ordered a new appliance from a large online retailer.

As part of the process I was required to give an email address. Before I could realise, Google Chrome had "helpfully" used my work details. I abandoned the order at that point and did not submit them.

Instead I switched to my home PC and completed the order from there.

Now, an hour later, I have just received to my work email address a
marketing email from these clowns.

Since I did not click any button to accept any T&Cs, they cannot show
they have my consent - a clear breach of GDPR.

Obviously there's nothing to be done, but in a parallel world where GDPR breaches were worth worrying about, it could cost them dearly.

Wee update:

within 4 hours of the new machine being delivered, I got a spam call
from, D&G trying to offer me an "exclusive" warranty on the product.

Because I can, I used a different number to that I gave the retailer. The number called was the one I gave Hotpoint when I registered the warranty.
After *very* carefully ensuring I had checked the box saying "do not
contact me".

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)