More Data Lost by HMRC
Today is another dreadful day for the folks who collect our taxes over at HMRC. Two more batches of personal data have gone missing.
The first happened over in the US on Monday where our UK data from driving tests including names, addresses and phone numbers on a computer hard drive had gone missing - this occured back in May and it has been revealed that ministers knew of the loss but was only reported to US Police in IOWA on Monday. Stephen Ladyman was transport minister in May when the details disappeared but was later sacked when Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair.
Their response: “we’re sorry”
It was the same response last month when some 25 million people’s details who have child benefit disappeared between two government agencies. At the time it was a huge story but the government just plays it down, says sorry and hope we’ll forget about the fiasco. Meanwhile there are only too many crooks who want our details to undertake identity theft and go on a spending spree.
So when we think nothing more can happen another 6,500 customer records belonging to pensions company Countrywide Assured have vanished between their offices and HMRC in Cardiff. The details include name, address, date of birth, national insurance numbers and pension contributions. Anything a thief requires to steal from you.
And guess what the government’s response is this time: “we’re sorry”
Countrywide after conducting its own investigation say that the data was transferred by courier and signed for at HMRC’s offices - so we know it got there but they now can’t find the confidential data.
Countrywide say that people affected should get themselves their credit report (free for 30 days) but then you pay a fee. But its unlikely this ticking time bomb will rear its ugly head so soon - the data is valid for many years to come also, and having a look at your credit report is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted - the damage will have already been done.
Best if you live outside the UK these days - but as least senior officials are sorry about their incompetance - makes one feel so much better, doesn’t it ?
