this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2025
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wyndham hotels leaks personal data....and is totally okay with it (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) by muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
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I got a new phone number last year. The last person who owned this number just left all her accounts tied to this number and one by one I've been reaching out to the places tied to it telling them they have the wrong number and to stop using this one. Simple enough.

But there is one company that refuses to stop using this number. Wynhdam hotels absolutely refuses to do anything about this. They keep sending me notifications and check in confirmations for her hotel visits. Using just the texts they send me, I know her full name, email address, home address, her reservations at the hotel, which hotel she's going to and what days. Using past conversations with the other hotels she's been to (called in to tell them to stop this months ago), I know she's been kicked out for making a scene in the lobby or something. Looking online, I see she has a criminal record, and a history of child custody losses, drug abuse, and is apparently an "experienced college girl" on an escort site.

In my most recent calls with wyndham, they told me that they can't change the number out. I will need to contact this charming person and have her do it. I am absolutely not getting involved in that mess in any capacity. I'm still telling her johns and dealers this is the wrong number.

Once I explained to the call center supervisor I was escalated to this has gone on long enough and I'm willing to let an attorney deal with it, they put me on hold and supposedly took my number off the account. But the next day, I get another notification. It seems she is providing her services again and it's still making that my problem. So I call and get routed to a promotional department that said they have no idea why they got this call, but I should probably just sue.

I tried calling the number listed on the confirmation texts but it goes to a dead end line that just asks for a remote access code and then hangs up, so I can't ask the hotel she is actually at flag her down and say "hey, you need to update your number."

I emailed their privacy department yesterday but the notifications are still coming in. I can't change my phone number at the moment as I'm dealing with some delicate matters that are tied to this number so I can't risk changing the number at this time.

How can I get wyndham to take this seriously? This is a dangerous amount of information I was able to get off a recurring text they know is going to the wrong place.

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[–] ChaosCoati@midwest.social 5 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Does it usually come from the same number or numbers? If so, I’d block it/them and move on.

You tried your best to get them to at least contact her for updated information. Blocking the number(s) means you no longer see the confirmations and such. The only issue down the road would be you won’t get your own confirmations if you ever book with them and use that phone number.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 9 minutes ago

I thought about that, but that only treats the symptom. This lady has my number listed on something she uses to arguably commit crimes, which means if she ever gets busted for it, her problem could potentially become my problem. I need to not be involved in her shit anywhere, and theres not really a justification to leave my data in someone else's account.

[–] domdanial@reddthat.com 13 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

Can you cancel reservations? Start making it her problem and maybe she'll update the number.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 hours ago

Nope. I can only pull information and log in for her if I was willing but I cant cancel it I dont think.

[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 9 points 3 hours ago

Exactly. Windham isn't going to do anything until you make it inconvenient for them to ignore you. Do whatever you can think of to be a nuisance with the information they send you.

[–] sneaky@r.nf 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

To Wyndham this is her account and her information. Failure to update her information on your behalf doesn't constitute any liability on their part.

Regarding you, I would guess the best legal avenue you have would be something like telephone harassment or spam, but that sounds like a shakey case.

Hotels place a big emphasis on maintaining guest confidentiality in all regards except law enforcement. Front desk agents are trained not to disclose whether a guest is even staying at the property when requested. She would have solid grounds for a suit if she could provide evidence she attempted to change her contact information with Wyndham. Sounds like she didn't try though.

Personally, I would just get a new number again. However, if I was tied to making this work I would do this. Contact Wyndham's consumer affairs department. Tell them the lady has contacted me because I am receiving her information from you guys. She has mentioned she's considering litigation. Advise them to reach out to update her information.

Even that is a long shot because if she's a working girl she probably won't want businesses to have up to date info. Most likely she would ignore their email.

To some other commenter's points about them not caring about your issue. Kinda true, but it's not a feelings issue. , Wyndham has little liability in your complaint and it does not make sense to update an account because someone who isn't the account holder said to.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

No, they aren't protecting confidentiality at all. They know the information is going to the wrong place. And yet, they keep sending me her full name, her email address, her home address, her reservation dates, the address of the hotel she is at.....

Imagine what someone could do with all that.

[–] sneaky@r.nf 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

If she was telling them that they'd want to fix it to protect themselves from legal ramifications. But it isn't her. It's some stranger. That's all I'm saying.

If we let people make changes to account information based on stories then I could just lie and take over my ex girlfriend's capital one account or something, ya know. Your situation is unique, but just looking at it from the other side I could easily see doing what you're requesting turning into a phone call from the client asking why they're no longer receiving information about their reservations and me having to explain that somebody told us it was their number. Only to find out it was some enemy she has telling us to do that as a way to mess with her. Then I'm up a creek for removing the number without her permission.

It obviously isn't that, but there are risks involved that some companies are not willing to take. Making changes to account contact information in nearly all regards must be done by the account holder.

Not trying to say there shouldn't be an easier resolution to this. Just looking at as the guy on the other side of the phone.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I gave them the confirmation number. I can prove I am getting things that are not for me and did prove that. They refuse to budge.

[–] sneaky@r.nf 5 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

You also told them you aren't the account holder. So that's pretty much the end of the call right there for any place I have ever worked... I understand your concern and the issue. It just doesn't work this way technically.

I currently manage a hotel and even as an employee there's some account information that I am not able to update on a guest's behalf. They have to do it themselves. The hospitality industry is ripe with fraud and scam attempts. I understand your situation isn't that, but it would set a precedent for the next situation that IS a scam.

If you really have all her account info and personal data then shit just call and be her. Ask to remove or change your number.

[–] muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 minutes ago

I'm telling them to stop involving me, not involve me more. that's hardly a scam. further, their inaction can lead to fraud, so its really is in everyone's best interest if they do something about this.