I saw this letter in the Straits Times Forum. We need to have some regulations to identify the acceptable and unacceptable practices. This is the job of Government and cannot be left to the market. We need a Government that recognizes its duty and care for the well being of the people.
Letter in Straits Times Forum
BY SPENDING at least $200 on the same day at Parkway Parade mall, shoppers are entitled to redeem an umbrella at the customer service counter.
Happily, I joined the long queue but was puzzled as to why it took about six minutes for each customer to redeem the gift. When my turn came, I found out the reason.
First, I had to produce my identity card and my particulars were scanned into a computer.
Next, I was asked for my cellphone number, which was keyed into the computer as well.
Why does the mall require a customer's identity card details and cellphone number for redemption of such a small gift?
If it is meant to avoid abuse, a customer's receipt is already stamped 'redeemed' once he obtains the umbrella, so asking for personal and contact details is redundant.
The Government is right to introduce the Do-Not-Call registry to protect the public against nuisance calls.
But the management of shopping malls and security guards are too liberal with their requests for personal and contact details. Their actual intentions are hard to ascertain, and this can lead to abuse.
Francis Cheng
rex comments as follows,
ReplyDeletei think this is just a business issue. The mall wants the personal details so they can bombard the recipients of the gifts with future sms advertisements or normal advertising mail sent to their address. I am wondering what it has got to do with the government?
One possibility is for the organisers to state clearly that to claim the gifts, the recipient must agree to provide their ic number and phone details. It's like downloading free software, sometimes they ask you to click IAGREE before downloading, and once you click, you will be receiving some advertisments. It's your choice.
Those who are not happy and feel that it is an intrusion of privacy, or lame, just don't claim the $200 gift. It is all business and money, no one gets hurt, and it is not government or politics issue.
rex
Scanning IC is their requirement.
ReplyDeleteIf uncomfortable can forgo the gift.
You can choose not to include the contact.
This is an issue related to the governance of Singapore, but it may not be a government issue because as usual, the government is always hands-off & leave it to the free market forces to work its miracles.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, free market forces or free-for-all forces tend to overshoot into greedy excesses & exhibit the ugly side of human nature, as runaway, unleashed Capitalism often do.
Hence, the rulers need to regulate and have laws to protect ignorant, innocent citizens against identity theft, unwanted sales calls at inconvenient times etc. How about being charged 80 cents for each roaming SMS when overseas?
Obviously the data capture is for future direct marketing purposes. Corporations also trade in name lists and chances of identity theft is ever present.
ReplyDeleteFor entering contests and draws, name, address and last 4 IC digits should suffice as no one is likely to have the same particulars under the same roof.