Is M.B. Paranoid? I Am

[Lordjellybelly]

Recently having noticed that turning the ignition on my E320 cab was occasionally a bit stiff I decided a new barrel now would be better than a stuck key later so I went to my local M.B. in London where I`m known with the documents I had been told would be needed to prove ownership.....driving license, V5C, utility bill [to confirm address, although it is illegal not to have your current address on your license], and PASSPORT. So there I am at the parts counter showing the documents when the guy says, "OK let me just take copies of all these". I said, "Hey wait a minute, you can`t just keep a copy of my passport.....that page could cost me my identity if it got into the wrong hands. Will you give me a guarantee that these copies are all kept in a secure location and I am indemnified if they go astray or are compromised?" He was astonished and told me there was no "security" on the document copies but I could n`t get the barrel without doing as requested because that was his order from M.B. Germany. Anyway without going into the nitty gritties of a 30 minute conversation I agreed to his demand without the passport being copied and followed him to the copier machine to witness what was copied. Having had a credit card cloned in the past with all the trouble that caused all I can say is do not be bludgeoned into leaving a passport identity page copy with your local M.B. dealer. It cannot be guaranteed to be held in a data secure environment.

 

[PeterCLK]

Wonder how this squares with Data Protection Act?

 

[Rory]

What information is in your passport that so concerns you?

 

[Dosco]

What information is in your passport that so concerns you?

How about his Passport number?

 

[Rory]

How about his Passport number?

What does that tell anyone?

 

[lulu]

I'm with Lordjellybelly, he's proved to the guy behind the counter that he's the rightfull owner, and (presumably) obtained a new barrel. Why do they need to copy anything?

Lulu

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

Recently having noticed that turning the ignition on my E320 cab was occasionally a bit stiff I decided a new barrel now would be better than a stuck key later so I went to my local M.B. in London where I`m known with the documents I had been told would be needed to prove ownership.....driving license, V5C, utility bill [to confirm address, although it is illegal not to have your current address on your license], and PASSPORT. So there I am at the parts counter showing the documents when the guy says, "OK let me just take copies of all these". I said, "Hey wait a minute, you can`t just keep a copy of my passport.....that page could cost me my identity if it got into the wrong hands. Will you give me a guarantee that these copies are all kept in a secure location and I am indemnified if they go astray or are compromised?" He was astonished and told me there was no "security" on the document copies but I could n`t get the barrel without doing as requested because that was his order from M.B. Germany. Anyway without going into the nitty gritties of a 30 minute conversation I agreed to his demand without the passport being copied and followed him to the copier machine to witness what was copied. Having had a credit card cloned in the past with all the trouble that caused all I can say is do not be bludgeoned into leaving a passport identity page copy with your local M.B. dealer. It cannot be guaranteed to be held in a data secure environment.

when ordering a key v5 and photo id are required, but we as an indy only send the dealer a copy of the v5 when ordering a key, we dont copy the passport or license we just check the authenticity of it, ie the pic matches the person, address on v5 etc,

mb maybe maybe cautious but in a day and age of deception and dishonesty, im grateful for this cautiousness,

 

[tjamesbo]

I had a similarv experience few years back with my 93 220te mercdealer wanted 20 quid for a key and passport reg document etc and said it would take up to 7 days . So I went down the road to a specialist key shop who also specialise in car keys and got one cut for under a tenner with no ID required and it still works fine now 2-3years later

What are they hoping to acheive??? its like Reggie Perrins grotshop!
( anyone know what i mean ?? )

 

[tromppost]

What are they hoping to acheive??? its like Reggie Perrins grotshop!
( anyone know what i mean ?? )[/QUOTE]

No!

 

[star]

What are they hoping to acheive??? its like Reggie Perrins grotshop!
( anyone know what i mean ?? )

No![/QUOTE]


Its to stop criminals ordering keys just from your chassis number (which is on windscreen) and taking your car. still pain in the ar$e tho.

 

[7years]

It's also to stop someone from intercepting your V5c and 'impersonating' you, then ordering a key and driving your car off your driveway....

Why would any dealer want to 'clone' your passport??

Do you give out your CC number over the phone to order things???

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Ladies and Gentlemen.!

Paranoia is most certainly creeping in here. CCTV, Passport control, Banks, Credit Cards, Utility Bills, Community Charge etc etc etc.

Shortly, you will be looking into your televisions - wondering if you can be SEEN from the other end

Shhhhhhhhhh.!! - Iggle Piggle is LISTENING.

Behave yourselves.