In common with many small used car dealers / service / MOT stations we are grappling with how best to deal with GDPR and our existing customer database. Typically we contact our customers to inform them that their MOT and or service is due within a few weeks.
Am I correct in my understanding that sending our such reminders by letter, email or text is deemed as marketing and therefore covered by GDPR and as such can only be done with the opt in agreement of the customer? If we do not have such express documented agreement we should not send out such reminders. Are we therefore in danger of losing contact with our existing customers if we cannot contact those for whom we currently do not have a valid opt in?
As an alternative, could it be claimed that we have a duty of care to remind our customers that their MOT and /or service is due and if we do not include an offer to carryout to do the work in our communication then we would not be breaching the GDPR?
