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Privacy issues

British

We received yet another email this morning from Tauck to remind us about our upcoming tour and about tipping. Then another from the Tauck tour director listing the emails of everyone on the tour! I’m not very happy, I want to choose who has access to my email!

Comments

BKMD

Agree. Tauck should insist that TDs use BCC when sending out group emails.

Goddess

The Forum can't help - contact someone at Tauck HQ. Tell your travel agent.....................

British

I know the forum can’t help. It’s not good though is it.

OurTravels34

British: I thought sharing emails wasn’t allowed anymore and should be up to the discretion of the guest. Wasn’t Tauck sued a long time ago for sharing emails from guests among other guests without permission? The story I heard was about 25 years ago (yes times have changed) thst a man (sorry men) was traveling with his girlfriend and not his wife and the wife ultimately found out. That’s what I heard literally from a tour director. You can write a letter to the higher ups and cc others. You’ll get an answer from someone.

British

Yes, I was told the same story by more than one TD. We really don’t want to call Tauck but maybe some else will, after all, my husband and I usually share the same email, so now he knows I’m going with my latest boyfriend.

CruiserBob

We had a similar situation occur during a Tauck/Ponant tour. They even included individual pictures of the guests by name!! We tried to raise concerns in the survey and my wife called Tauck after the tour concluded with our concerns. They just don't get the risk of privacy and security concerns in the digital age. Sorry to see that this is still happening.

kfnknfzk

Years ago I requested that Tauck not include us on the guest list that is distributed at the start of each tour. A note was made in our file. It was a simple request with a simple fix.

I agree it is a poor practice for Tauck to distribute names, locations and especially e-mail addresses but complaining here will not solve the issue. Goddess is right. Contact the source.

JaneP

On my tours, so far at least, they have always asked permission to include you on the email list. I find that I am not a huge fan of their WhatsApp usage on tour. I want the final itinerary - barring unforeseen changes, before the day its happening and I like it in writing so I can refer back to it without worrying about draining my phone battery or trying to read tiny little font. Maybe just a sign that I'm getting older and less tolerant...yikes.

Smiling Sam

JaneP - Maybe just a sign that I’m getting older and less tolerant…yikes.

Can you imagine trying to please thousands of customers in that same category. I wouldn’t want to work in the customer service department. 😀

Kathrine_Wnek

My first Tauck trip was this past October and the first time we have ever done a full land tour. Usually, I plan all the details or we have been on a handful of cruises.

I have friends that travel with a lower end company, they share names and states prior to the cruise. I’m fine with that, but the email shouldn’t be shared until after the cruise and only with permission. We did give permission and I know a few others did, also because the TD promised to send some pics and other stuff. Never got anything. This time, I will share my email as needed, since we never got a bunch of group pics that others had taken.

JaneP

Smiling Sam - you couldn't pay me enough to work in customer service -or, if I'm honest, to be a Tauck tour director! It would be like herding squirrels, some cranky, some entitled, some always late, some who think they are funny when they are not....I try very hard not to fall into any of those categories!

gladysorlando984

So far in the tours I've taken the TD asks if you want to share emails which is the right way to do it and it should be done at the end of the tour not at the beginning.

Goddess

JaneP - I'm with you and all your comments.

YiyaK

I would be extremely upset if Tauck shared my personal information with anyone without my permission. I would pursue the matter as far as necessary, and never tour with the company again. Privacy and security are not issues I take lightly.

British

Well, I’ve already received a ‘reply all’ from someone on the list. Only about thirty plus more to go but hey, I know there is a Susanne on the tour.

British

PRIVACY NOTICE
This is what Tauck puts on their email about transport arrangements on the day of arrival for the toir.

At Tauck, we take security and privacy very seriously and are firmly committed to protecting the personal information of our guests and employees as well as company confidential information. This e-mail message, including any attachments, may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law and is intended only for the addressed recipient and may not be forwarded without the express consent of the sender. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, kindly delete it and let us know that you received it in error.

Capstar

I have been on 4 Tauck Tours. I always ask the Tauck representative if there is any one else traveling from the same area as me. Each time I've asked. i was told they can't give me that info, due to privacy concerns. So, I use the public forum and ask. Some people answer, some don't , but it's worth trying. Since I am a solo traveler, I like to know.
Also,on each of my tours, a sheet was passed around at the end of the tour asking for names, addresses and/or phone numbers. ALL OPTIONAL!! Some people fill it out, some don't.

British

Yes, that has been my experience until when obviously the Tour Director has not been careful and exposed everyone’s email on the message he sent us, which was very nice and helpful until I saw his huge mistake.

YiyaK

There was a sheet on the table in our cabin when we checked in for the cruise we just finished that listed every passenger's name and State. Don't remember if cities were included. Also was never asked whether we wanted to be included or not. If we HAD been asked, we would have declined. This kind of stuff is just NOT ok.

AZCreeker

We have received on every tour we’ve taken with Tauck, a paper or card with all travelers names and city and state either in a packet when we checked in or at the welcome dinner. Emails are shared further into the trip if you agree to having it shared.

Goddess

Obviously, this is a teaching moment for TDs if this is the company policy: "At Tauck, we take security and privacy very seriously and are firmly committed to protecting the personal information of our guests and employees as well as company confidential information."
Unless the higher ups know this is happening and guests are not happy, nothing will change.

YiyaK

Goddess, if they've been sued about sharing personal information before, the "higher-ups" should certainly be aware that this is an issue for passengers 🤔.

Goddess

I wonder how many hope and trust forms include this displeasure.

YiyaK

At least one 😁.

I get what you're saying here, but in this day and age it's rather ridiculous that a company as experienced and well-regarded as Tauck, and with a specific policy statement about passengers' privacy provided by Tauck, these sorts of violations seem to be routine occurrences.

I also understand that these forums can't solve the problem, but they very well may give someone considering Tauck for the first time pause, if they're concerned about privacy at all.

British

The Arabian countries are some of the safest in the world

BKMD

British Is that why armed guards accompany the group everywhere, and everywhere you enter you are scanned through metal detectors and your belongings are xrayed?

Goddess

This is the email I just sent to Tauck: "Does anyone ever go into the Forum to read comments from guests? It's really eye opening and if you aren't doing it, you should. I believe some potential customers could be scared off by some of the comments and issues that Tauck could fix: ie Tour Directors sending out guest's email addresses pre-tour or in welcome packets without sharing that info being approved by the guest. This is a real hot button.
The Forum also needs to be cleaned up. New tours aren't listed anywhere."