Orange breach UK Data Protection Act
Link: Orange and Littlewoods breach Data Protection Act, says ICO | OUT-LAW.COMÂ (Via The Register)
The UK Information Commisioner’s Office have today ruled that Orange breached the Data Protection Act’s security rules.
The case followed a complaint about the way Orange processed personal information - in particular they were allowing new staff to share usernames and passwords for the company’s IT systems. Following an investigation, the ICO found that Orange was not keeping it’s customers personal information secure.
In addition to a general promise to comply, Orange’s undertaking states: “The sharing of user names and passwords by Customer Service Representatives, to access computer systems, shall not be allowed under any circumstances.”
Failure to meet the conditions of the undertaking is likely to lead to further enforcement action by the ICO and could result in prosecution by the Office.
I used to get phone calls from companies claiming to be Orange themselves, or a ‘partner’, trying to get me to extend my contract, change tariff, come back to Orange after porting, etc etc. Most of the time their info was so out of date it was hilarious. However, how did they get that information in the first place?
Hi
I had just such an experience in December 2006 which resulted in an Orange Dealer adding an additional handset to my account. When I informed Orange that I did not want or intend using the additional handset they refused to remove it from my account. Their excuse being that I must have provided their dealer with my account details to allow him to add the handset to my account.
Their next invoice included the additional handset charge and notified me that it would be collected by Direct Debit. I notified them that I had stopped the direct debit but would continue to pay my agreed monthly charge for the original handset by electronic transfer. Their next invoice continued with the additional handset and Orange then barred my original handset so that I could not make any calls. I calculated the pro rata amount up to the date the handset was barred and payed the that amount plus call charges I also paid the call charges on the next invoice plus a few pence more to make certain that I ddid not owe Orange any money. Orange continued invoice me until the total amounted to £131.40. Then their next invoice recorded unexplained credits which reduced the total to £100.45.
Despite my faxing and sending recorded delivery letters Orange refused to give any written explanation. Then I received a letter form a debt collector Direct Legal & General Collections advising that if I agreed to reconnect to Orange services they would be able to reduce the £100.45. DL&GC also refused to reply to my recorded delivery letters and faxes other than by sending more letters informing me that as I had not responded to their previous letters etc. They also informed me that court action would add an additional £200.00 to the £100.45. Again DL&GC did not reply when I faxed them informing them that as I did not owe Orange any money any additional costs would be paid by Orange and I would anticipate such costs being far more than £200 as such a sum would not cover my loss of earnings far less other court costs. I also informed them that I looked forward to hearing the explanation Orange gave to the court to justify the sums they claimed I owed them.
A new Debt collector Scot Call Debt Collecting Services has now sent me a threatening document. If I do not pay within 7 days they will arange a DOOR STEP COLLERCTION by one of their FIELD AGENTS. I have sent them a fax pointing out that the dept has been disputed for some months and that Orange and their agent have failed to give any explanation.
I was an Orange customer for 10 years and always paid by direct debit with no arrears. Seems a strange way to treat a loyal customer but then Orange appears to have become a rouge trader to say the least.
Morris Butchart
Posted by Morris Butchart on June 26th, 2007 at 10:48 am.I maybe in a position to assist 07074 072 073.
Posted by martin reifer on July 12th, 2007 at 10:10 pm.