Wednesday 6 December 2000

Ms. Elizabeth France
Data Protection Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Dear Ms France

RE COMPLAINT ON AMAZON.CO.UK ACTIVITIES

On Tuesday 5 December I received a fax transmission of a letter from Amazon.co.uk which they claim to have mailed on 22 November but which did not reach me.

Even assuming that the letter had been sent the day it was dated, this far exceeds the time allowed to respond to my access request of 14 September. I do intend to proceed with my access request directly with them. Meanwhile I ask you to consider what action your office should take against the company for its failure. I would appreciate being advised of any action.

In the attached letter the company claims to have discussed the question of the international transfer of personal data with your office, and that your staff indicated it was "comfortable" with it. Could you please tell me, for the public record, whether in fact your office did make such an indication. If you are not able to determine this easily, please tell me whether you now believe that the measures that Amazon.co.uk claims as constituting consent for international transfers are adequate. I maintain that they are not.

Sincerely

Simon Davies