Liverpool Council has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over a data breach involving 10,000 incorrect letters being sent out across the city.
It was revealed last week that the local authority sent out thousands of letters to homes across the city relating to the council tax energy rebate scheme who do not pay by direct debit, inviting them to apply for the pay back. It was only after they were issued council officials realised that the wrong names had been placed on the letters.
A spokesperson for the council confirmed to the ECHO that it had worked over the weekend to refer itself to the ICO and as a result could face a sanction in the form of an enforcement notice or even a monetary penalty. It is thought that the breach of this nature is a minor one and would not require a significant punishment.
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In a statement last week, the local authority said it would investigate the matter “in accordance with our data breach protocols” and assured residents that there is “no possibility that a person can claim the energy rebate inappropriately using the details contained in the this letter because we undertake several identity and bank account checks before we make a payment.”
An ICO spokesperson said: “Organisations must notify the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, unless it does not pose a risk to people’s rights and freedoms.
“If an organisation decides that a breach doesn’t need to be reported they should keep their own record of it, and be able to explain why it wasn’t reported if necessary. All organisations using personal data should do so safely and securely.
“If anyone has concerns about how their data has been handled, they can report these concerns to us.” New letters were issued to homes impacted by the breach on Friday and will contain advice on how to destroy the original as well as a reminder of how to apply for the rebat online.
The council said: “We will work as fast as we can to ensure that the funds are deposited in resident’s accounts as quickly as possible.” Liverpool Council has come under fire for its handling of the energy rebate since its announcement in February.
When the £150 scheme was confirmed by the authority cabinet to begin in April, it was expected that payments would be made by the start of that month and into May to the near quarter of a million homes. Yet some residents across the city have not received the financial support for their energy bills.
More than 90,000 of the around 120,000 households have received a payment. The £150 rebate is part of a £32m scheme confirmed by the Government in a bid to ease pressure on household living costs.
The local authority said residents who pay by direct debit would receive their rebate first as their bank details are already on its system.
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