DataMembershipFree phone app
Guide

What Is a Data Broker? How UK Data Brokers Work

A data broker supplies contact data to businesses for marketing. Some collect it themselves; many buy it from others and resell it. The difference matters for freshness, price and compliance.

First-hand vs resold data

First-hand data is collected by the supplier on its own websites or panels, so it knows exactly when and how each person opted in. Resold data has passed through several hands — it is often older, has been sold many times and the consent trail can be patchy.

What a good broker gives you

  • The opt-in date, time and source URL on every record.
  • The consent channels the person chose.
  • TPS/CTPS screening before delivery.
  • Clear pricing and a licence that says what you can do with the data.

Where DataMembership fits

We are the source: our data is collected first-hand on our own UK consumer sites and sold online, so there is no middleman margin and every record carries its consent record. See buy direct from the data owner.

Questions

Are data brokers legal in the UK?

Yes, when they collect and share data lawfully and transparently under UK GDPR and PECR. Always ask for proof of consent.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the full rules see the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk). Last updated October 2026.