talkmagic.co.uk

Well, I am guessing that the shambles that ensued from the recent Royal Mail strikes touched most of us in one way or another... massive delays, missing parcels etc.

But this has to beat the lot for 'lost in transit' items...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7104945.stm

Sent via TNT but still referred to as 'posted'? I've had no end of problems with TNT in the past and refuse to even consider using them again. They seem all fine and friendly when they're touting for business but I found them to be aggressive and arrogant when things go wrong - which they did on far too many occasions. Quite appropriate for them to be associated with Revenue and Customs !

So how confident do we all feel now about the safety of data to be held on file for the forthcoming enforced introduction of ID cards ?

And I thought I was angry that I'd ordered a brace of USPCC stripper decks from International Magic a week ago and they'd gone missing.

I feel sorry for the poor guy who sent the disks in the first place.

[rant mode on]
Unfortunately, as familiarity breeds contempt, they seem to treat the data with total lack of respect for the fact that they are individual and personal details. Perhaps now they will actually take the trouble to have some respect for it. The head of the service has 'done the honourable thing' and resigned but I also see that as taking the easy way out by jumping ship rather than actually putting the problems right. Of course, this isn’t the first time that data etc has gone missing, discs of bank details gone awol, lap tops containing data on 4,000 people lost inexplicably and we're reassured that the date is safe from misuse even though some of it wasn't encrypted, just protected with a password which an average 8 year old could probably crack with a bit of effort. Apparently we can take comfort from knowing that any losses of cash through fraudulent use of our bank accounts will be fully reimbursed - jeeez, it shouldn't flaming well happen in the first place!!! Next time a government dept asks for personal data, just remind them of how careless they are with it and seek some written reassurance they will give it the respect it deserves.
[/rant mode off]

Lady of Mystery wrote:I feel sorry for the poor guy who sent the disks in the first place.

I would too, but having worked in corporate computing for a long time before becoming a freelance writer, I don't have a scrap of sympathy for him because it needn't have happened. You can't pop personal data in the post or send it via an untrackable service. Not taking care with personal data is illegal under the Data Protection Act. If it must be copied off site, you have to follow a secure, BS7799-compliant procedure for doing so. If it involves a courier, it has to be individually trackable all the way to the destination, for instance.

Lady of Mystery wrote:I feel sorry for the poor guy who sent the disks in the first place.

Are you for real, Lommie!!! Blimey, your pink and fluffyness is way too generous...

The guy's lack of responsibility could be catastrophic. It's much more than 'a simple oversight' realistically. I know what you mean—that you have sympathy for him given the amount of do-dooh he's in, but frankly it's total incompetence, and he shouldn't be working in that role.

seige wrote: it's total incompetence, and he shouldn't be working in that role.

He'll probably be given two years paid sick leave in the Bahamas because of all the stress it's caused him.

Having already had my identity stolen, as one of the millions of parents likely to be on the list I am going to have to waste even more time being ultra vigilant now.

I've just watched PM's Questions. The government's argument is that if ID cards had been in place, we'd have a way of thwarting anyone attempting to use the lost data. The question is, what would we do if some clown posts the ID card database next time? What do we use then? And anyway, does this mean we're going to have to use ID cards to complicate (sorry... facilitate) all the things online services were supposed to make far easier?

seige wrote:

Lady of Mystery wrote:I feel sorry for the poor guy who sent the disks in the first place.

Are you for real, Lommie!!! Blimey, your pink and fluffyness is way too generous...

The guy's lack of responsibility could be catastrophic. It's much more than 'a simple oversight' realistically. I know what you mean—that you have sympathy for him given the amount of do-dooh he's in, but frankly it's total incompetence, and he shouldn't be working in that role.

The stroies that I've read say he's a junior member of staff so was probabaly only doing what he was told to.

OKay... in that case, I am sorry Lomster...

You are right, as usual... and pink & fluffy is the way to go

According to the lunchtime news, he's resigned anyway and is receiving support due to the enormity of the situation.

On my way back to work I passed a large TNT lorry parked (badly as usual) on the Estate and some wag had written in the dirt on the back, ' Call off the search parties, the discs are in here!'

Thinking about it, The Post Office are promoting their Special Delivery Service quite heavily on TV at the moment, perhaps someone at Customs & Revenue should have insisted they use that (publicly funded and supported) service instead?

Under my regime the Chap/chapess in question would be taken out side and shot. And maybe his off spring and wife depending on how I feel on the day.

Wait for the statement to come out "Oh look we lost all your data, well you might as well send it all in again we shall put it on a nice i.d card"

Wasnt the disc only people on benefits anyway? So you know if it was a couple of Dole monkeys lose out a bit. One should see good in all situations.

your kind and charitable nature never ceases to amaze me, Mark