Giving Out Personal Info at Check-in

In my opinion I don't see why a Caravan Park needs your MDL number. You have to pay up front so why do they need it. If they have your rego number you are totally traceable by the Police anyway. I have never been asked for my MDL ever when booking in and I would be very reluctant to give it too, I would be interested to know if they can legally ask for it.

Sue,
I wouldn't tell her, I would just advise her she doesn’t have a valid reason, or the right to know that information, she has your rego number and Police know who you are from that anyway, if she argued I would leave

Maîneÿ . . .

This is something we are always conscious of when travelling. We NEVER give out our home address to anyone, just tell them a fake that doesn't exist. They have our rego and we usually pay by credit card, should the need arise the cops will track us down eventually. In a N/A GQ diesel, we ain't going anywhere fast anyway!

And your point about the storage is very valid, most have no concept of data security, particularly when it isn't even their own.

If the circumstances of that park were such that they found a need to obtain the details on a driver's licence I would worry about my "comfort" in the park and seriously consider going elsewhere even if inconvenient.

And yes, I would be concerned about the security of my personal identity.

Good post Ian and Sue
Firstly when asked for the drivers licence I state that it is classified information and not for your computer.
Secondly when asked for addresses I will give them false information ie. and state the address of the police station where I live.
If there is going to be a situation where legal intervention / information is required a rego number is all the police will need (a surname would be helpful).
I do not know how secure the caravan park computer is but it surely has all the information about who is at home and who is not.
Regards
Stan

Living in a Caravan Park and being part time Caretaker you do get to see and experience many different types of people, The owner bought an Arlec power adaptor, one of those orange ones with 4 outlets on it, we had a lot of vans and campers in so he loaned it to one of the caravanners for their overnight stay , they were part of a 3 caravan group, all nice flashy vans and tow vehicles, next morning they departed with the power adaptor , the owner had only bought it 2 days prior in Darwin for around $130, we had rego numbers but but also should have had Lic numbers too, so it's not always the hippie type that'll nick off with things that don't belong to them, we also lose tap fittings, hoses, etc, I said to the owner the only way is to chain good gear up and padlock it, well he just got another one of those power outlets and said he'll screw it to the wall, I said.....they'll unscrew it,

.

Giving your address is risk enough - it wasn't uncommon to "coincidentally" be house robbed whilst away....

Licenses should NOT be required assuming the Law is that the registered owner is responsible for the vehicle (as in Victoria).
Of course, if it has been stolen (but that's dumb isn't it?)
Or if legal proceedings require ID of the driver rather than Reg'd owner (as with camera fines overseas LOL!).

There are "site conditions" that are illegal. Some are like posting "no cash refunds" - illegal!

Sue the ONLY person who may ask you for your MDL is a policeman or traffic inspector.
I have been asked by numerous people and refuse bluntly to give it. My name and address yes, my bank account number - no way and the same with my MDL.
By the by, I am a J.P. and sat on the bench for 16 years and I was not able to ask that question even though I could suspend the license.

Yes unfortunately there are somne dishonest and deceitful people who specialze in 'ripping off' caravan parks and any business that they think they can make a dollar or two from.
As for providing such personal details as drivers licence etc I would not do so. I would be asking the attendant to provide me with details of how they, as an oranisation, comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act. For example, how do they store the information, who has access to it, how will it be used, how long will it be retained by them, how will the information be disposed of, by whom, what steps do they take to ensure that it is appropiately destroyed, who maintains a register of such activities and management of the information etc, etc.
My biggest concern is the probablity (not fear) that my personal details will be misappropiated. The crime of Identity Theft is something that we must all be on our guard agaist. A simple thing like providing a copy of your D/L to a caravan park or any other business could ultimately mean much expense, inconvenience and embarrassment if it were to be stolen and mis-used.
If the C/P attendant had such concerns as to your character, intentions, honesty etc then they should make that clear to you so that you can turn and walk out.
As for recording info on their PC, absolutely NO guarantee whatsoever that it can be or will be safe.
For anyone still uncertain about privacy and other related information, have a look at the accompanying VIDEO LINK hopefully everyone will be more responsible with their private details in the future.

Unfortunately in the post 911 world this will become more common.

" If you cannot stop something just get out of the way"

There are things called MBE's. Mail box etc. A company that provides a PO Box whose address looks like an apartment. They forward mail while you are away and in cases like the caravan park provide an address. Not even the police can get past a MBE. You cannot have your PO Box robbed while you are away. Great peace of mind. In every capital city and major town. In fact they are world wide.

hi ian & sue
twice in wa at caravan parks at kalgoorlie and augusta in april i have been asked for my mdl and this seems like it has become industry standards having spoken to a few people
when writting a cheque it was always required so maybe now cheques are nearly a thing of the past the caravan industry has seen fit to apply the same to book-in done with a credit card

i was tired and wanted to set up and sleep but did ask why and was told its for security of both office detail and for me
rego numbers dont cover them in all respects
only if the person is honest and actually owns the vehicle
i am a law abiding citizen and have a certified police clearance

while i was at check-in counter at kalg a guy came in and was trying to use a cancelled cred card he was beside me and being served by another staff when challenged and while trying to talk his way around the problem pulled out a large wod of notes and said he'd pay cash while going as red as beetroot

another staff member that had just served me slipped out the rear of office and as i walked out saw him jotting down detail of the vehicle
i left to start setting up and noticed the other bloke go around to do like wise about 30 mts from me not long after a police van came past and went straight to him after a short consultation he was handcuffed and taken away

so it was evident that they have to deal with all sorts of characters honest and shonky and although i dont know whether legally they are permitted to collect our mdl's i also feel as if i'm being tared and feathered with the same brush and think it has been brewing for some time through people giving false names and addresses and/or driving vehicles that they dont own etc
cheers
we all have to live with rules that are created for the majority

When my new Credit Cards arrive I scratch the 3 digit security number off the card. Write them down in a secure location in a disguised form.

Otherwise when I give the card to the waiter to pay the bill, he can record these digits and then use my Credit Card to buy lots of things over the phone or Internet, because he now has the Security digits !!!

Maybe I am stupid but I don't have a problem with the licence no. Just got back from Brisbane after buying a car up there. Stop in motels all the way back and never had to pay up front. All wanted photo ID and licence no. which I don't have a problem with. If they had just taken the rego no and I had disapeared into the night the previous owner would have got the visit from the police.
When I gave them the rego no. they didn't go out to check the car. The way I see it the photo ID and licence no. is the only way they know who you nreally are.
If you are worried about what they could do with the no then maybeyou are staying in the wrong places maybe.

If someone wants to steal my identity they are welcome to it as long as they take on all my bills as well.

Think we all need to lighten up and stop being paranoid,that we you may just get to enjoy your holiday.

David

A lot of posts seem to take this subject as a bit of a joke.
Get involved as a victim of identity theft & you won't think it is a joke after that.
I know people who have been victims of identity theft & it is definitely no easy ride.
From something so simple as acquiring your D/L & address a person has enough to ultimately get a D/L, bank accounts & passport in your name. Even sell your house from under you. Remember even title deeds are electronic now.
If you haven't heard this before then you haven't been listening.

I know that Penrith RSL here in NSW ask for your licence, they put it through a scanner and they keep it on file, Im a member now anyway. If I'm ever signing into a club out of my area I never put my street name or number down who knows who is standing behind me thinking " we'll we know him and his wife arnt home lets pay the house a visit ??" I have been asked for my DL at parks before never really thought about where my details could end up, good post, I also love Mikes idea of deleting the 3 digit code on the back of the card, good one Mike. Regards Steve

Found this an interesting post as it prompted me to take a look at what the implications are.

And I post, in part, what I have read. Mind you the dilemma is that late at night, with little alternative accommodation, you are almost beholden to the caravan park in this instance.

In principal, I'd have no problem someone viewing my licence, similar to an airport check-in check. But I would want more information if they intend to collect and store the licence information.

Cheers, The Landy


The following is from Government Privacy Website.

Which businesses are covered by the Privacy Act?

Most private sector organisations are covered by the Privacy Act, unless they are a small business.

Generally, small businesses (businesses with an annual turnover of $3 million or less) are not covered by the Privacy Act, but there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, all health service providers are covered by the Privacy Act, regardless of their annual turnover.

For more information on coverage of, and exemptions to, the Privacy Act, see our Complaints section.

What do businesses that are covered by the Privacy Act have to do?

Businesses covered by the Privacy Act have to comply with the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act. Generally, this means they have to make sure you understand:

• the purpose for which they are collecting your personal information
• how they are going to use it
• who they are going to give it to
• how you can access and correct the information they hold about you.

They must also make sure that they collect your personal information in a fair and lawful way, and that the personal information they hold on you is accurate, up-to-date and secure.

If you don’t want to give your licence details, don’t give it to them!

They are offering a service on the basis of you providing sufficient details for you to be identified.

Just as there is no legal requirement for them to ask for these details, there is no legal obligation for them to accept your booking.

Move on to the next park!

My workplace has my Tax File Number, 3 bank account details, my address, my phone numbers, my licence details, a copy of my birth certificate, my superannuation details and details of my next of kin. The only thing they miss is my mother’s maiden name. The IT system has a record of my passwords over 5 years.

Hacking into workplace records would allow greater success of identity theft than just passing over my licence details.

How many employees here have all their details kept in an unlocked cabinet in the back of the office?

About 20 years ago, my sister was away for 4 weeks. During their trip their house was burgled. The house was emptied (even the washing machine!). To add to the indignity their trailer had been stolen to take the items away.

The police asked them who knew they were away and they started listing: Family, friends, work and people met through work, the kids’ school, school friends and their parents, sporting clubs, the neighbours who were keeping an eye on the house, the local newsagent (and by default the paper boy), the local post office and postie, the travel agent, the airline, the taxi that took them to the airport.

Some years later through a totally unrelated chain of events, I discovered the brother in law of their next door neighbour but one had a significant prison history for property theft. No proof that it was him; I didn’t tell my sister

The chances of a park in another state recording your address and relaying it to criminal associates in your state of origin is less than your neighbour telling a mate that the lucky expletive deleted next door is “on the wallaby” for a few months.

How do you all deal with the driving licence stuff when you
wish to test drive a vehicle you are considering purchasing?
They seem to have a tendency to wish to photocopy it? Do
you all refuse to buy?