My wife recently tried to resolve a problem on an invoice received from our electricity supplier.

After wading through the various phone options she got through to an advisor who told her that as my name only appeared on the billing address they would only speak with me to resolve this issue due to the Data Protection Act, and point blank refused to deal with her without my permission.

Why then is the DVLA allowed to divulge personal data including my address to anyone who enquires and pays the fee? Surely they themselves must be breaking some EEC rule that prevents such information from being given out. I understand that the DVLA are now seeking to increase their fees for this 'service'.

How can the DVLA be sure that divulged names and addresses are not being given to unscrupulous individuals who want to trace your car through your address and then steal it?

When there seems to be such ridiculous lenghts organisations will go to to check that you are who you say you are, this 'loophole' with the DVLA just doesn't seem to fit comfortably.