In reply to FesteringSore:
'I personally object to retailers being able to retain(apparently indefinitely)such information.'
I personally object to the government holding data about me other than the bare minimum that is absolutely necessary to enable me to obtain the legitimate benefits of my citizenship.
Retailers, I couldn't give a toss. What are they going to do? Beat me to death with emails?
All this DP business is quite ironic in some ways, back in the 50s/60s towns used to publish the personal details of inhabitants, together with their address and telephone number. People used to object if they weren't listed or the details weren't correct. Very handy no doubt I was too. (I can't really remember this but I have a copy of a directory with my Dad listed in it.) Why have we become so paranoid now?