Garage disconnecting dash-cams

[Seedy_r0m]

A few years ago I fitted a ThinkWare U3000 front/rear dashcam to my car (great device if anyone's interested).
Until now it's been a "fit it & forget it" bit of kit, however on a recent trip to National Tyres (now Halfords), I later discovered that both cameras had been disconnected prior to the tyre fitting, and not reconnected before collection.

I called the branch to enquire their reasons for this, and was told by a spotty oik* (after he spoke to a senior member of staff), that it was a "GDPR thing, or sumfin' like that".

I appreciate the need to protect the mechanics privacy, and their right to use fruity language on occasion, however the cam's should be reconnected after the work has been completed and the car parked up for customer collection.

Fortunately I'm not a Reginald Molehusband, and I'm in fact. the worlds safest driver (IMHO).

Halfords/National Tyres/et al...I understand the need for privacy, but don't be pricks!
Reconnect what you disconnected!


* It may not have been a spotty oik, but if fitted the narrative.

 

[nara]

Sounds as if they don’t want anyone monitoring their dodgy practices, but they should at least have reconnected them.

 

[**OVERRIDE**]

The sensible procedure would be:

Disconnect/disable the cameras while staff are working on the vehicle, if that's their privacy policy.

Carry out the work.
Once the work is finished and the vehicle is ready for collection, restore the equipment to the state it was in when the car arrived.
If they don't reconnect it, they should at least tell you that they've disconnected it and why.

There is also a distinction between recording while mechanics are working on the vehicle and the dashcam operating after the work has finished. Once the car is parked up and ready for you to collect, the privacy concern about recording staff is considerably different.

I'd be inclined to challenge the "GDPR thing, or sumfin'" explanation and ask them what specific GDPR requirement or company policy requires the cameras to remain disconnected after the work is complete.

And given that a dashcam is a safety/security device, leaving it disconnected without telling you isn't particularly satisfactory.

 

[Seedy_r0m]

Absolutely!!!

Disconnect, do the work, hand the vehicle back to the customer in the same state they it was handed over (taking into consideration any work carried out).

It would be good customer comm's to perhaps inform the customer why it was disconnected during the appointment. I'm sure most reasonable people would accept this.

 

[piggy13]

My Volvo main dealer does the same when mines in for service

 

[turner brown]

Ask them for a copy of any CCTV footage that covers the time you were in, as under GDPR laws, this is a reasonable request
If they're going to disconnect your equipment, then you want the footage that includes your visit
I understand why it's done, but if you don't fix it afterwards, then I want your CCTV footage

 

[sandra]

I have mine ina Hyundai dealer twice this year and both times my dashcam has been unplugged.

 

[CyborJaX]

This action as been going on for years my last two dealerships have done the same ,disconnecting while in workshop.