Abuse Tickets and request for information?

pctank · Mar 20th, 2008, 19:37

I was wondering if someone can provide me some guidance on handling abuse complaints. When a complaint comes in and they ask for contact information about the originator, am I putting myself at risk by providing it without a warrant or some other type of law enforcement request?

Thanks in advance.

WESH-UK · Mar 21st, 2008, 00:35

You will only ever get abuse complaints if you leave yourself open to it in the first place.

Your question is REALLY vague though, you dont say what your doing, or what context you might get complaints about?

Looking at your other posts, it looks like you want to start a hosting company?

pctank · Mar 21st, 2008, 08:34

No its not about me but my clients info they want!
They keep on submitting questions and spamming my ticket system!!!!!!

Help

Snazzbum · Mar 21st, 2008, 12:21

I too am not understanding exactly what you mean but in general since you are in the UK you can not give any one any information about any other clients, site users, forum members, etc., etc., etc. at all for any reason other than as required by law - and if it's required by law then the law ill be the ones looking for it and they will be happy to proove that they are the law (ie police or government agency) - but it is down to you to check that they are who they say they are (ie just because some one phones up and says they are M15 doesn't mean they are

).

So if some one is hassling you to give them non public details or informtaion regarding any other person then simply politely inform them that the law prohibts you from doing so and that if they feel they have a genuine case they should take it to the police who will take the neccesary sites to contact you and gain any informaiton required officially.

pctank · Mar 21st, 2008, 12:32

THANKS thats what i wanted to know

WESH-UK · Mar 21st, 2008, 13:04

Ah ha, yep, gotta agree with snazzbum, your not allowed to give out customers information.
If its required for legal reasons, then it will be the law asking for it, with ID on them too.

Sorry PCTank, your initial question was a little blurry..

Snazzbum · Mar 21st, 2008, 22:01

Glad it helped, even if I wasnt' sure of the question

It's a problem we see a lot on a very large board on one of the sites I work on, the poor moderators work tirelessly trying to prevent the mainly female membership going at each other tooth and claw but still constantly get dragged in to disputes between members (the nature of the site is such that there can't just be a 'sort it out between you' rule) which result in threats of suing for harrasment et al and demands for the mods/admins/site owners to hand over the direct contact details, ip addresses etc of the 'offender' - too many net users have no idea they can't just demand such and expect to get it.

And yes we have had member who did go to the police and demand theymake us hand it over, funnilly enough we've yet to ever be contacted by the police

pctank · Mar 22nd, 2008, 06:56

I love this forum the answers you getting is exactly what i need
I will wright a lovely letter to this stalkers and update them on the law

Thanks

WESH-UK · Mar 22nd, 2008, 11:16

PCTank...

Save your postage, dont waste your time or effort writing to these numpties, I'm sure you have better things to do, and if they keep on at you, file a complaint for harrassment with your local police station.

pctank · Mar 22nd, 2008, 11:22

OK Thanks will do so then thanks all you people who responded to this predicament