OSIS database information wrong, no one will help!!

MrShed · 16th June 2008, 19:48

Hi all, hope you can help.

I recently looked on Business Type - The Phone Book from BT (owned by BT) to find my fathers number. Searched by surname, and lo and behold, theres my name listed next to a phone number(which ive never had) and my current address.

Needless to say, not overly happy that a) the information is wrong and b) my address is in the public domain. Looked into it, seems it is supplied by OSIS database, which is owned by BT.

Spoke to my mobile provider, who confirmed that it WAS their number, they wouldnt confirm whether it is now, but could confirm it was never attached to my name.

Spoke to BT, who have never heard of either the site or OSIS, and advised I contact OFCOM!!

Anyone any ideas on where I go next/??

buzby · 17th June 2008, 15:19

The number is the key. You need to discover which telco 'owns' it, and with this information use it to get the incorrect entry removed. There are times this is harder to do than you would think, as clearly looking at a phone number, you cannot tell whether it is native or ported from another carrier.

Only the owner can amend/remove items from OSIS, but if the entry has been corrupted (as it appears here) then once the owner network updates the record, the database takes 7-10 days to filter though to the DQ and online services.

MrShed · 17th June 2008, 17:16

How do I get to discover who owns it? I have been told that they cant tell me due to data protection!!!

buzby · 17th June 2008, 17:26

Well, the sneaky way is to call BT faults. Say the line appears to be faulty, but you're not sure if the line is their's or not. They usually tell you if it isn't, and give you the number to call too! Data protection? Makes you wonder, doesn't it!

MrShed · 17th June 2008, 17:30

Unfortunately not that simple - its a mobile number!!

buzby · 17th June 2008, 18:08

Are you sure - is it not a 070 number? These are Presonal Numbers and the firms input into OSIS directly. What's the first 5 digits?

MrShed · 17th June 2008, 19:12

07930 buzby

buzby · 17th June 2008, 22:18

That's quite an old number range, it was allocated to One2One (now T-Mobile). They'll be responsible for the OSIS entry and maintenance of it.

MrShed · 17th June 2008, 22:31

I've been informed not, as the number MAY not still be theirs.

It's gone a bit further now, and is being investigated by the charimans office of BT - never heard of this department before, anyone got any experience of them?

buzby · 17th June 2008, 23:24

Yes. They take escalated complaints. That said their involvement will be only insofar as the OSIS data element, not the number ownership. Actually, all numbers belong to OFCOM, who rent them to the networks. T-Mobile will still be the beneficial user of the number. Of course, it MAY still be ported to another carrier, but it is only ever on loan. If it's use ceased, it reverts back to T-Mobile.

gni03349 · 18th June 2008, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzby

.... Actually, all numbers belong to OFCOM, who rent them to the networks. T-Mobile will still be the beneficial user of the number. Of course, it MAY still be ported to another carrier, but it is only ever on loan. If it's use ceased, it reverts back to T-Mobile.

Useful to know. Thanks for that bit of info Buzby.

(Sorry MrShed... you can have your thread back now

)

MrShed · 18th June 2008, 00:13

No gni thats fine - it is a useful tidbit!

I dont care about the ownership of the number to be honest - just want the info removing!

MrShed · 18th June 2008, 20:07

That dept have today said they cant help, needs to go to OFCOM or whoever put the number on there, which of course they cant tell me.

Surely this is a simple case of Data Protection, and BT(as they own the database) must remove it upon request??? Irrespective of who put it on there?

buzby · 18th June 2008, 20:39

The way it has been set up, the entity that enters the number is the only one allowed to remove it, hence BT's lack of involvement. I'd still pursue T-Mobile as they are the culprits losest to the smoking gun. Failing this, a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office, stating that you have attempted to have this erroneous entry removed, but nobody's interested in doing so. This is why it is important to get T-Mobile to refuse your request in writing.

MrShed · 19th June 2008, 13:45

Sorry buzby not ignoring you, just following a different path at the moment:

The way I see it, BT are the Data Controllers in this case. Therefore, they have a legal obligation to remove erroneous and/or personal information on request. I've emailed the chairmans office to state this obligation, and refusal to do so will be a contravention of the Data Protection Act, and should they not be willing to do so, I have asked for confirmation in writing so I can report them to the Information Commissioner and OFCOM.

buzby · 19th June 2008, 14:52

You can certainly play footsie with the Information Commissioners Office and start a letter-writing campaign, however if the aim is to resolve the issue quickly, it is always best to go to the source - which in this case is T-Mobile. Complaints to the Information Commissioners Office take in excess of 6 week to process, add to this there is no sanction you can bring that recompenses you for your time and effort. I learned the hard way years ago - now, I take the shortest route and get MUCH more satisfaction!

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