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Press Releases
Watchdog: More data lost by Inland Revenue and Carphone Warehouse misleading customers over iPhone
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- Woman's data sent to 60 strangers because of "printer error"
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More cases of data lost or mixed-up by the Inland Revenue will be revealed tonight (Wednesday 28 November) on 91Èȱ¬ One's Watchdog.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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 had all been returned the Inland Revenue said they were unable to tell her, citing Data Protection rules.
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Other cases highlighted on the programme include:
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- 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.
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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.
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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."
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Also on tonight's programme:
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- Carphone Warehouse staff misleading customers over iPhone
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Staff at Britain's biggest mobile phone retailer have been caught misleading customers about the iPhone.
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Undercover researchers from 91Èȱ¬ One's Watchdog found Carphone Warehouse staff made false claims about what would happen if a phone was stolen and had not been insured – in the hope that customers would then take out the store's own cover.
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The findings come just a year after Carphone Warehouse was fined £245,000 by the Financial Services Authority for breaking the rules on selling insurance.
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Viewers complained to Watchdog that they had been told if they lost their iPhone, they would have to buy an entirely new 18-month contract – at a minimum cost of £630. That is not true, they would have to buy a new handset but the contract itself would continue.
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In three out of five stores visited by Watchdog, researchers were told the same. And at one store, they were also told insurance offered by O2 – the only other UK mobile retailer authorised to sell the iPhone – would not cover as much, which again was untrue.
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Staff at the stores receive commission on all insurance and phones they sell.
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Notes to Editors
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Please credit: Watchdog, Wednesday 28 November, 8pm, 91Èȱ¬ One.
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GM
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