15m bank details lost!! - Page 10

lancsdave · 01-12-2007, 17:37

Looks like they have had a TIP off

Police have visited London rubbish tips in their hunt for missing computer discs containing personal details of 25 million people.

The two Child Benefit discs containing names, dates of birth, bank and address details went missing on 18 October.
They were lost when a junior official sent them by courier from Tyne and Wear to the National Audit Office in London.
It is believed police fear the discs may have accidentally been thrown out as rubbish. Police have visited several tips around London to check what waste was delivered there.

Tealeaf · 01-12-2007, 17:43

How can they be sure the apology won't be lost in the post? And is it true that the letter contains your NI number? It would appear to me that if there are millions of these going out in the mail over the course of the next few days there are myriad opportunities for dodgy postmen to nick personal details.

lancsdave · 01-12-2007, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

And is it true that the letter contains your NI number?

Yes, and your child benefit number

MargaretR · 01-12-2007, 17:54

I suspect some poor clerk found them in the bottom of his in tray and has ditched them super rapid

claytonender · 01-12-2007, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

They probably are in alphabetical batches.
I find that my friends get their winter fuel payments on Mondays during November - and I am in the last 25% - so have to wait until the last Monday.

I wondered how it worked, we got ours on the 20th November, as we are in the last 25% as well.

Gayle · 02-12-2007, 18:02

Far be it for me to sound suspicious but this sounds like a cover up to me. If I were the minister in that department I would much prefer that word got out that the discs had been lost rather than some unscupulous person had sold the information.

kathleen_firth · 02-12-2007, 18:11

i think its all a lie...........
why would social security office send really important information through royal mail first class post.
something just doesnt seem right to me

jambutty · 02-12-2007, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathleen_firth

i think its all a lie...........
why would social security office send really important information through royal mail first class post.
something just doesnt seem right to me

There is just one tiny inaccuracy in your statement.

The disks were apparently sent via internal mail and that was handled by TNT. But your major point is valid. Why entrust such sensitive and important information to a third party? Or if there was no real alternative then it should, at least, have been sent by Registered Mail. Not that that really guarantees safe passage. Just compensation if something gets lost.

But there was an alternative. Encrypt the data and send it via email.

There is more to this debacle than they are revealing and everybody from the top downwards is trying to distance themselves from any recriminations. Heads, and mean very senior heads, must roll without a golden goodbye and a hefty chop of their pension as an example to others.

But it won’t happen ‘cos they will just pass the buck around until it lands on some poor unfortunate clerk who was only doing what he was told to do or face the sack.

West Ender · 02-12-2007, 20:01

I wouldn't be surprised if the discs are sitting on the desk of some individual who is either on leave or has left the service. I wonder if they've checked my old desk in Warrington?

andrewb · 02-12-2007, 23:17

In the current situation(s) I think we can make links to john majors paralysed government of 1992 onwards*

reserve right to change my mind about John Major as I'm currently reading up about him in order to give a presentation and so far he's quite a good PM.

cashman · 02-12-2007, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyfr

In the current situation(s) I think we can make links to john majors paralysed government of 1992 onwards*

reserve right to change my mind about John Major as I'm currently reading up about him in order to give a presentation and so far he's quite a good PM.

good to see you reserving the right mate, anyone who gives Edwina Curry one deserves a second chance.

andrewb · 02-12-2007, 23:35

Failing any substance, that is what my essay will contain

Neil · 02-12-2007, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

....I'm a K.

I have heard you called a few things but never a K, maybe you could enlighten me.
Then again its been a while since I have anyone say bad things, you must have some new friends these days

Gayle · 03-12-2007, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

I have heard you called a few things but never a K, maybe you could enlighten me.
Then again its been a while since I have anyone say bad things, you must have some new friends these days

K for Knight!!!!

And yes, I am mixing in new circles these days - must be the hair.

panther · 05-12-2007, 09:48

well I hope none of you lot are on witness proctection!!

looks like the identitys of those people are on that disk too

Witness Protection Details Lost With Child Benefit Discs |Sky News|Politics