Q: Can a car share company release information about me to another person without my consent in California?
I rented a vehicle from a car share. Returned the vehicle like I always get told. Drop it off at the location, place the keys in the glovebox and the close everything up, I take a photo of the plate number on my phone and leave. Never had an issue but now the company is saying the the owner is claiming to never receive the car and is trying to charge me an excessive fee while at this point they have called multiple people asking where I am and telling them that they are looking for me and trying to find a stolen car even after I have supplied them the photo of the lic plate and also included the time stamp and the map location of the drop off (precisely where I was told to park it). I know I did nothing wrong but they are calling friends and family and telling them information about me. Is this not a violation of my privacy?
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- California
- (916) 704-3009
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- Answered
A:
Under California law, car share companies must adhere to strict privacy regulations. They are generally prohibited from sharing your personal information without your explicit consent. This includes details about your rental history, your location, and other identifying information.
If the company is contacting your friends and family, revealing information about your rental, and implying that you are involved in a theft, they may be in violation of your privacy rights. This type of disclosure could potentially be considered a breach of California’s privacy laws, which protect against unauthorized sharing of personal information.
You have the right to file a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs or seek legal counsel to address this issue. It’s important to gather all your evidence, including the photo of the license plate, time stamps, and any communication with the car share company. Documenting everything will be crucial in supporting your case and protecting your privacy rights.
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