Woman’s data sent to 60 strangers because of “printer error”

More cases of data lost or mixed-up by the Inland Revenue will be revealed tonight (Wednesday 28 November) on BBC One’s Watchdog.

Dozens of viewers have contacted the show to say they have been sent other people’s details, or been told by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that their own have been mislaid.

One of the cases to be featured on the programme is Laura Hardiman from Luton. She received a letter saying her details had been sent to the wrong person in error. But when she rang to find out more, she discovered her details had in fact been sent out to 60 complete strangers.

She told Watchdog: “It’s not acceptable at all. The information included my name, my national insurance number, my address, and all of my bank details. This should not happen, and the fact it is happening with a government agency is ridiculous.”

HMRC blamed a “printer error”. But they were unable to reassure Laura about where her details may have ended up. When she asked whether they’d all been returned the Inland Revenue said they were unable to tell her citing Data Protection rules.

Other cases highlighted on the programme include:

* a student whose entire P38 with National Insurance number, signature, date of birth, address and PAYE details was sent to someone completely different;

* and another CD containing recorded details of a customer’s complaint sent to the wrong address.

Watchdog was the first to question HMRC’s handling of data, the day before the Government announced the loss of two discs containing the child benefit database.

Presenter Nicky Campbell said: “From what viewers are telling us, the Government has had problems keeping details safe for years. Not every security breach makes headlines. But if they’d learned from some of the mistakes they’d already made – maybe their biggest blunder might never have happened.”

Also on tonight’s programme: Read more & comment »