WTC Error?

SallyUK

My friend rang me in a total panic today as she's received this letter from the WTC people:

Tax Credits

I am sorry to inform you that as a result of a problem we have had with one of our printers, a tax credit award notice that we sent you recently included incorrect information and should therefore be disregarded and destroyed. We are very sorry for this mistake. A revised award notice is enclosed.

Unfortunately, this printer problem has also meant that certain details relating to your tax credits claim have been sent to another claimant. We would like to assure you that we have not disclosed your address, date of birth, National insurance number or bank details.

HMRC takes data confidentiality very seriously and has robust measures in place to protect information provided by claimants. As soon as we became aware of it, we corrected the problem with the printer and have taken steps to ensure that there can be no recurrence.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the mistake. If you have any concerns, please contact us on the number shown above.

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Now she says that each time a letter is sent to her, it always contains her NI number, bank details etc, so just what will have been sent to the other claimant, she wonders?

Sal
x

Elle00

I'm afraid this was on the national news last night. It's happened to thousands of people up and down the country. Your friend needs to contact the advice line and also her local bank. Personally, if it was me, I'd obtain a crime reference number also. Really sorry for everyone going through this right now, I've had similar and appreciate just how upsetting this is.

SallyUK

Hi Elle

Thanks for replying.

What does she need the crime reference number for please and what advice line does she need to contact - The advice line for WTC you mean?

Sal
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real1314

I can;t see that any crime has been committed, however she could/should ask the Tax Credit people exactly what info of hers has been disclosed to the third party.
She could complain to the Information Commissioner about a breach of the data protection act.

welshcakes

I sympathise with everyone who has been subject to this error. I have to say what is incredulous (yet again with TCs) is that they are blaming it on the printer, as if the printer is a naughty maverick piece of artificial intelligence that was busy reading Hello magazine instead of making sure it correctly mail merged itself.

Well, I hope it gets a written warning!

Elle00

Hopefully she won't NEED a crime reference number but it's a good idea to report that her bank details and NI number were sent to the wrong place and haven't been returned to her in case of fraud occurring. This is the advice I was given when the council sent my passport and birth cert etc to the wrong address. As the letter was addressed to me, it was classed as theft of post because someone out there obviously nicked it didn't they? It certainly wasn't returned to sender.

Oh and she needs to search the net for the advice line number or ring the main TC number for advice on the situation. Have a google.

SallyUK

Elle83 wrote: »

I'm afraid this was on the national news last night. It's happened to thousands of people up and down the country. Your friend needs to contact the advice line and also her local bank. Personally, if it was me, I'd obtain a crime reference number also. Really sorry for everyone going through this right now, I've had similar and appreciate just how upsetting this is.

Elle

Do you know if there is any links to this news report on the Net anywhere that I could let her read?

Thanks

Sal
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sarahmoon_2

I got the same letter yesterday. It said that no personal details were given out but I can't see how. They enclosed a new award with NI number, bank details etc... I'm a bit panicy about it.

welshcakes

Ha ha, I got one today but all it said was

"We have checked your tax credit payments and found that we recently made a mistake with one of them. We are very sorry for this.
We have now put right our mistake and will send you an award notice with details of your revised payments. This notice will refer to your changed circumstances although you may not have reported a change to us.
Whatdo you need to do?
Nothing until your revised award notice is sent to you, blah blah blah"

Hmmm, since my only changed circumstances is that I'm more skint this week than last week, it'll make interesting reading. Ironically, I jest sent back my TC form registered post, ooh if I have to spend another 70p on recorded delivery I shall be most put out.

Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it (and my preconceived opinion that the TC office is pooh) but it's such a dodgey sounding letter

Elle00

Sorry I don't know if there are any links but as it was BBC in the East I saw it on, go to the BBC news website and search from there. HTH.