Q: Is it legal for a company to apply explicit rules on a matter, with no official documents, just by announcing the event?
I was registered on a company's database (DB). At some point, the company got merged into another one, which asked us (the customers) whether we want to transfer our registry to the new DB. They gave a deadline to reply, and I did not reply in time. Later, when I realized what happened I tried to claim a transfer of my data to the new DB, however my request was declined. When I asked for the official rules, they sent me a document that had no rules regarding the event and specifically the deadline. They also admitted that there are no specific rules other than the information given for the merge of the DBs.
Is it legal to set a deadline arbitrarily, without official cover? And is it legal to decline my request of moving my data to the new DB?
Also, this might change from country to country, so it would be great to know what law terms to use to search online myself.
PS: I must say the first company was offering a free service, while the latter is charging for their service.
A: Since this appears to be happening in a strictly commercial setting IMO nothing you said in your lengthy question is unlawful in Florida--or in most if not all other states. Businesses that acquire customer lists from other businesses when the two businesses merge do not have to continue doing business with the customers of the acquired business.
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