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NIE customer account details lost NIE customer account details lost
(1 day later)
Personal information on 12,799 NIE Energy electricity customers cannot be located, the company has revealed.Personal information on 12,799 NIE Energy electricity customers cannot be located, the company has revealed.
NIE Energy has written to all relevant customers to let them know that a data tape containing their names, addresses and other information is missing. NIE Energy has written to all relevant customers to let them know that a data tape with their names, addresses and other billing information is missing.
The company said contractors Northgate Information Solutions were responsible for processing billing information for NIE Energy.The company said contractors Northgate Information Solutions were responsible for processing billing information for NIE Energy.
Letters sent by NIE to the affected customers are due to arrive later.Letters sent by NIE to the affected customers are due to arrive later.
The missing information concerns billing information for 10 August 2009.The missing information concerns billing information for 10 August 2009.
NIE said the missing tape did not contain any bank, debit card or any other similar information that would be classified as sensitive under the Data Protection Act.NIE said the missing tape did not contain any bank, debit card or any other similar information that would be classified as sensitive under the Data Protection Act.
It contained details such as account names and addresses, customer numbers, bill amounts, previous payments and account balances from electricity bills compiled five months ago.It contained details such as account names and addresses, customer numbers, bill amounts, previous payments and account balances from electricity bills compiled five months ago.
While we have not been able to locate this tape, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that it has fallen into the wrong hands Stephen McCullyManaging director NIE EnergyWhile we have not been able to locate this tape, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that it has fallen into the wrong hands Stephen McCullyManaging director NIE Energy
The company said Northgate Information Solutions was contracted by NIE Energy to provide data management services including organising the backing-up of billing information through its subcontractors, Liberata and Formscan.The company said Northgate Information Solutions was contracted by NIE Energy to provide data management services including organising the backing-up of billing information through its subcontractors, Liberata and Formscan.
Each day, after electricity bills are produced, Liberata transfers billing information by means of a tape to Formscan to be backed up onto microfiche.Each day, after electricity bills are produced, Liberata transfers billing information by means of a tape to Formscan to be backed up onto microfiche.
It was during this process relating to a single day's electricity bills that the tape went missing.It was during this process relating to a single day's electricity bills that the tape went missing.
Northgate has appointed Deloitte to conduct an independent review of internal and sub-contractor processes and procedures.Northgate has appointed Deloitte to conduct an independent review of internal and sub-contractor processes and procedures.
NIE said the tape could not be read by a standard computer and required specialist equipment and knowledge to access the information.NIE said the tape could not be read by a standard computer and required specialist equipment and knowledge to access the information.
Apologising for the incident, NIE Energy managing director Stephen McCully said: "We fully appreciate that our customers will be concerned that any personal information regarding them is missing.Apologising for the incident, NIE Energy managing director Stephen McCully said: "We fully appreciate that our customers will be concerned that any personal information regarding them is missing.
"However, while we have not been able to locate this tape, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that it has fallen into the wrong hands."However, while we have not been able to locate this tape, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that it has fallen into the wrong hands.
"A thorough investigation has been carried out and we have already introduced measures to prevent this from happening again.""A thorough investigation has been carried out and we have already introduced measures to prevent this from happening again."