Carphone Warehouse warned on Data Protection

 

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By Nicole Kobie

Posted on 17 Jan 2008 at 09:20

The Carphone Warehouse and its broadband service TalkTalk could face prosecution if they do not improve their data protection, after the companies were accused of mishandling customers' personal data.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) claims the mobile phone firm and its broadband company breached the Data Protection Act when they opened customer accounts in the wrong name and sent incorrect information to credit reference agencies and debt collectors.

The ICO also claims that the two companies didn't responded to requests by individuals for the information held on them - a key tenet of the act.

"Carphone Warehouse and TalkTalk's use of inaccurate and incorrect personal data has caused real damage and distress to customers," says Mick Gorrill, assistant commissioner at the ICO. "We have now ordered them to take the necessary steps to ensure customers' personal information is sufficiently protected."

The firms were sent enforcement notices ordering them to improve their data protection management. Not complying with such notices is a criminal offence - and the ICO stressed it may take further action against the two firms if it isn't satisfied with their response.

"We are aware that a very small number of our customers raised concerns with the ICO some time ago," a spokesperson for the Carphone Warehouse says. "The issues were primarily caused by the significant interest in TalkTalk's introduction of free broadband, over 18 months ago."

"We take these matters very seriously indeed, and as soon as these concerns were brought to our attention we took immediate steps to resolve them and to ensure we are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act."