General Chat

I've been filling in/signing ours for years.
(He knows his place :-D :-D)

How does anyone define the Head of the Household now a days? Who earns most or the one with the most forceful character?

Who is this 'head of the household' hope that doesn't mean a man :-D

I have lived at several addresses over the last 12 years some I have been registered at and some not.

I was surprised to see we were not listed at my previous address in Sussex.... We got the voting cards so were registered, but I don't remember ticking to opt out... If he filled the form in, he wouldn't have bothered to tick it either

Despite your analysis, there are advantages for being on a closed register.

We have a common surname. In 2002 our youngest daughter was also listed at our address.
We have since opted out. We are listed in the public phone book. Every now and again we were getting phone calls from debt collection agencies who assumed she was someone else. After I contacted 192.com to get the ER listing removed, we’ve had no further phone calls. Coincidence or have they finally worked it out?

As you may recall, she works with the mentally ill. On one occasion she came home terrified after being threatened by a patient that his family was ‘going to get her’. If they had the knowledge to search the open ER, they would have found were she lived. An idle threat, may be, but never the less it was enough to concern her.

We probably all realise that the Government and its miriad of departments have access to our whereabouts. There is no reason to make it any easier for those who wish us harm.

a. All manner of people have access to the full electoral register either directly or indirectly where a fee is paid for access. In particular all govt depts, local government, major credit agencies, banks, police have full direct access. Thus not being on the "open" register has little practical benefit.

b. It is a legal obligation to register if entitled to vote. That covers UK, EU & commonwealth citizens resident in the UK.

c. The law was changed some time ago to allow the suppression of the option to be on the "closed" register. All that a minister has to do is to sign it off under the power given by the Statutory Instrument. So far this has not been done as DWP, tax etc are not affected. However the financial industry are pushing quite hard for the closed option to be removed.

d. Copies of the ER > 2 years old are widely available in India where UK data protection laws do not apply. Nevertheless the database of at least two large UK banks, DVLA and so on are located there. India has a corruption level right off the scale.

All things considered then the "privacy" by being on the closed register is illusory.

Don't forget, if you were shown at anytime on the open ER anywhere between 2002 -2014 those records will still remain for all to see.

For example ,IF you didn't` opt out until a few years ago your name and address will still be in the public domain up to when you did. ( and, all who were at that address as well).

Nothing like a bit of paranoia to get the adrenalin flowing is there. ;-)

Chris, I had registered not to be on it but they still put me on it! Grrrrrr ..... :-S

I read mine wrongly in the first instance - then re read it again today - it says as I have registered NOT to be on the Open Register, this will continue but will have to apply if I wish to go on it!.

Gwyn
its all in the wording they are letting you think that you don't have to do any think
but daughter read it and understands these thing more than me

i think they are all saying you don't need to do any think by letting you think that you then think you are not on the open register

hope that make sense

if i was you i would phone then just to check

Viv and DameShelley

Strange that your councils have done that, whereas mine kept me off the open list.

Is it all down to their interpretation of what they are required to do ?

Gwyn

yep same here had to phone council to be taken off the open list

I have just emailed them with my details asking to be removed. I'm absolutely seething, I wasn't on the open register before so why do they automatically put me on this one? If I wanted my details sold to all and sundry I'd have asked to be put on it!!!
*climbs down from soapbox* :-|

Received mine today and I quote, 'I'm writing to let you know that you have been automatically re-registered under the new system. Your details are on the open register.'

They won't be for long!

I remember when my dad was a Bank cashier and key holder in a London branch.

His surname is not common and is the only person on the ER with those names.

He refused to have his name up on the till because as he said to his manager.... It was putting his family at risk, as in those days he could be found in the phone book

For certain people it would be a serious breach of personal security if their names and addresses were freely searchable. Think about Prison and Police Officers or those dealing in a proffessional capacity with the delusional mentally ill.

There are probably a number of other law abiding sectors of society who would feel uncomfortable!

I'm not on the open register. I don't see any reason why every Tom, Dick & Harry should know my address, phone number and inside leg measurement.

The people who need to know, know. ;-)

I don't mind being on an open register, got nothing to hide and anyway how the heck are Heir Hunters going to find me if I aint on it? :-D

At the moment being on the Electoral register is a further way of confirming your identity. If you are opening a new account or whatever it is vaguely suspicious if you are not listed. I was unaware of there being two sorts of register - and I haven't had a letter from the council, or I think the form to fill in for next year's register.

The changes are mainly to do with who will be responsible for registering.

Up to now, the head of a household has been responsible for registering everyone who lives there.

From 10 June, people in England and Wales will register as individuals instead, using a new system. Scotland will follow on 19 September.

Under the new system you will be able to register and amend your details on-line. To combat fraud, registrations under the new system will require you to provide your DOB and National Insurance Number, which will be checked to ensure it corresponds with Government Records.

Around 80% of those already on the electoral register will be automatically added after their name and address is matched against existing government records, so will not need to take further action. There is no mention of having to amend your registration further to opt out of the Open Register.

That is what the councils want you to think.

However, if you look into it, as this is a NEW system, they will have put everyone back on the Open Register. The more names on the Open Register the more money your council will receive.

I would suggest you contact your council to see if they have moved you over, which I believe is happening. As this is a 'new' system I think they have to move everyone over.

I had my letter recently, but don't read it that way.
I am not on the open register

I quote from the letter...

...Your details are not on the open register. To be added to the open register please contact us using the details at the top of this letter.

( Then follows details of the 2 types of register)

......You do not need to take any further action............. etc.


I read that to mean I am still on just the electoral register not the open one.

EDIT
Replying to DazedConfused there

Gwyn