Anyone else had a letter of 'apology' from the child benefit people?

[Hekate]

I got one this morning.

A 'personal' apology. That begins "I am writing to make a personal apology".

Not Dear Hekate, or Dear Mrs Hekate's DH.

Not terribly personal.

It goes on to confirm that my details were on the disk.

My name, my kids names and dates of birth, my address, my NI number, my bank account address, sort code and account number.

It ends with "I would like to offer my personal apologies for any worry this data loss may have caused you" (nah mate, why on earth would it worry me )

And ends with a typed 'Dave Hartnett@

No signature (a photocopied one even, I don't expect anyone to sign several million letters!) no yours sincerely/faithfully/regards.

Just 'Dave'

Dunno what I'm expecting really, just seems like it could have done with a bit of grovelling really. it comes across like, oh well, shit happens but since you're all making a fuss (y'bastards) best to come up with something to shut you up.

The origional disk also had our childbenefit number on too

As far as I am concerned, the risk with it is that there is a lot on information all together. That can be used for identity theft quite easily.

We've had one too.

Does this mean that everyone who is receipt of CB gets one "just in case" or is it the people they know whose details are on that disc?

I didnt actually realise the amount of information that was held about us until I got the letter.

got ours the other day. tbh I'm not too fussed about what has happened. The way I see it, if someone really wants to steal my identity it really isn't going to be all that difficult. It's not that I'm not careful with my information it is just that it is used so often that someone could easily work it all out given time.

slightly off topic but I'm not entirely convinced about that silly 'security code' on the back of your maestro card etc that they now all ask for (the three digit one on the signature strip). Companies seem to make out that by asking for that it means the card must be yours. How easy would it be for someone in brief possession of your card to make a quick note of the number and use it later....or am I missing the point here??? (probably )

Can I ask if the people who have got letters have surnames high up in the alphabet? I'm wondering whether I should be worried that I haven't had one - I'm sort of middle of the alphabet.

I haven't

One step sister has, one hasn't - both matching surnames (S)

Maybe it's a "by area" thing then?

Me. It's rubbish. Complete waste of time, effort and money sending it out.
We are start of alphabet.

I got mine today - pathetic.

Given time, anything can be worked out, I agree. But the opportunity of being given all information relevant in one go is really really good...
Most theft is done because the opportunity is there, not because the information may be all available in different places. Thieves want a easy and quick deal.
You are right about the security code at the back of the card. It is just one more piece of information that may make it a tiny bit more difficult for the card to be used. In the vast majority of cases your card is used in front of you , so you should see notes being taken by hand from it. The security code is used for transactions that you are not physically present...

Not received one of those letters yet but in my opinion they seem an absolute waste of time, money and effort. I mean, HMRC were so concerned about the potential violation of personal information that an office junior was allowed to copy the details of all child benefit claimants and then some onto a floppy disc without it setting off any security checks at all. And that's not even starting on the procedures for transfering the data to the NAO!!

I've worked for HMRC and my brother-in-law works in the offices concerned in Washington and we ribbed him about hiding the discs in his wardrobe. It might not seem that big a deal if your bank passwords aren't your dc's names and birthdates but there are thousands of claimants who don't want their details to be widely known for child protection issues, and it's these people I feel most sorry for. If I was in hiding from a violent partner I would be shitting myself right now knowing that there was a possibility that my name, address and other items of personal information were in the possession of someone who would use the information to financial gain or for other unscrupulous purposes.

Yes- the security code on the back of cards has puizzlwed me for a time, you're routinely giving them out over the phone to people anyway so it's hardly secure is it?

???? how did that spelling of puzzled happen PMSL....

I got the letter this morning too..

i got one too.
i was really sure it woudlnt happen to me!

Hmm so first of all they lose it then they waste OUR money apologising for it.

The security code on the back of the credit card is to stop people intercepting credit card bills in the post which have the card number on them.

Just opened mine!

At least my CB doesn't go into my bank account. I set up a PO account as I wanted it to have the business, so if there is any fraud it will be very obvious as I only have that going in & there is no other lending on it.

Phew!

A personal apology it ain't (cross emoticon)

I may be being a bit mean, but I'd expect somebody to sign the bottom of my letter, in fact, I opened it and say to DH "personal apology my ARSE, no frigging signature".

Signing millions of letters would have been some sort of punishment!

But perhaps I'm just peed off in the fact that this is the second apology letter I got (Northern Rock) and neither were very apologetic.

I esp liked the "we have no proff these are not in government hands" - well, you have no proof that they ARE and it doesnt make me feel confident!!

Also I think I would be over qualified for the government - I work in a company where public data is dealt with on a daily basis - we have criminal record checks, we have credit reference checks on us, and we would go bankrupt if this was allowed to happen to us - we have such complicated password settings, we have everything encrypted, even floppy discs and memory sticks are data protected and if the password is incorrect, you cannot open the data. Jesus wept, still cant believe the muppetness of putting on a floppy disc in the normal POST!!!

Got one this morning

Now in recycling -after shredding, can't be too carefull, identity theft and all that..

Oh hang on

Bugger

one arrived addressed to partner not me - so they aren't even apologising to me then?

haven't had anything yet and my surname is pretty near to the top of the alphabet!

A "personal" apology would really make me feel better about the whole thing...

hekete- it wasnt all that personal i got mine saturday!
was that supposed to be an apology?
bit miffed by it to be honest the fact they have all prev used account no's on is very odd!