Forcing dodgy agents to remove your CV from thier database

[Langkawi]

Hi All,

I'm reading quite a few threads about dodgy pimps and a recurring theme appears to be people replying to 'perfect roles' or getting agents contacting them about 'perfect roles' and then hearing nothing back.

Obviously there are a lot of applicants per vacancy kicking around but I think even the least cynical out there would agree a lot of it is dodgy agency games and tricks.

I've had a couple instances of this recently and it's got me thinking that my CV is now on the books of agencies that I otherwise wouldn't have bothered with.

My question therefore concerns what methods of redress (if any) are available to us humble contractors once ensnared by such dubious agent tactics.

Given that the CV was our own work do we have any provisions under intellectual property, copyright, data protection act or whatever that allow us to phone said unsatisfactory pimp and tell them to lose your CV immediately?

If so is the short term feelgood factor and benefit of limiting the number of agencies retaining your CV outweighed by the risk that you've just potentially burned your bridges with an agency that may have came up with a great role further down the track.

Anyone got any thoughts or input on this, or are we forever at the mercy of an agent once you succumb to the lure of a role (fake as it may be) and submit your CV?

Cheers,
Alan

[ratewhore]

You have rights under the data protection act. You can write to the agency, address it to the data controller, asking for all of your information to be removed from their systems. They have 28 days to do this and they should acknowledge they will do it.

Whether they do or not is another matter. If you keep records of when a company said they would remove it, and they get back in touch with you after that 28 days, you can report them to the Information Commishes office. They will then go round and take their sweets off them...

[RichardCranium]

As a benched contractor I would like to suggest I think it would be a good idea for you to get your CV removed from every recruitment agency that provides you with anything less that superb service.

I make the same recommendation to anyone else looking for a gig: phone the agent and tell them they are not good enough to have your CV on their books.





Bwa, ha, ha, ha, haa. Then none of the agencies will have any CVs at all except mine. I doubt that'll work, but it's gotta be worth a try.