Queenie
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2005
- Messages
- 3,144
DID YOU TAKE YOUR DRIVING THEORY TEST BETWEEN 4 SEPTEMBER 2004 AND 22 APRIL 2007?
We are sorry to tell you that, in May this year, Pearson Driving Assessments Limited, (part of the Pearson group of companies), a private contractor to the Driving Standards Agency informed us that a hard disk drive had gone missing from Pearsons secure facility in America where Pearson processes information relating to the driving test. The hard disk drive contained the records of candidates for the driving theory test from September 2004 until April this year.
The records contained on the hard disk drive were: the name of test applicants; their postal address; their telephone number; the test fee paid; their theory test centre; a code indicating how the test was paid for; and, where provided, an email address. The drive did not contain details of any individuals bank account or credit card. It did not contain their driving licence number, nor their National Insurance Number. It did not contain their date of birth, nor a copy of their signature, and it did not contain the result of their test.
We can tell you that Pearson has informed the Agency that the hard disk drive was formatted specifically to fit Pearson configuration and as such is not readily usable and/or accessible for third parties. Pearson has also confirmed that there is no external indication of the drives contents.
We regret the loss and apologise unreservedly to customers for the uncertainty and concern they may have. We also want to say that Pearson are issuing their own apology.
The Information Commissioner advised on 14 December that he is concerned about any security breach especially where large numbers of individuals are concerned. However, he recognises that the risks are lower where the personal data does not include banking or credit card details and where security safeguards were in place to protect the data from third party access. He has also indicated that this case does not appear to present a substantial risk to large numbers of individuals.
But if you are concerned and would like to speak to an advisor, please ring our special advice line free of charge on 0800 0150286. The line is open until 10.00 pm on Monday 17 December and from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm on Tuesday 18 December until Friday 21 December.
Rosemary Thew
Chief Executive
DSA
Brendan Magee
Chief Executive
DVA
17 December 2007
We are sorry to tell you that, in May this year, Pearson Driving Assessments Limited, (part of the Pearson group of companies), a private contractor to the Driving Standards Agency informed us that a hard disk drive had gone missing from Pearsons secure facility in America where Pearson processes information relating to the driving test. The hard disk drive contained the records of candidates for the driving theory test from September 2004 until April this year.
The records contained on the hard disk drive were: the name of test applicants; their postal address; their telephone number; the test fee paid; their theory test centre; a code indicating how the test was paid for; and, where provided, an email address. The drive did not contain details of any individuals bank account or credit card. It did not contain their driving licence number, nor their National Insurance Number. It did not contain their date of birth, nor a copy of their signature, and it did not contain the result of their test.
We can tell you that Pearson has informed the Agency that the hard disk drive was formatted specifically to fit Pearson configuration and as such is not readily usable and/or accessible for third parties. Pearson has also confirmed that there is no external indication of the drives contents.
We regret the loss and apologise unreservedly to customers for the uncertainty and concern they may have. We also want to say that Pearson are issuing their own apology.
The Information Commissioner advised on 14 December that he is concerned about any security breach especially where large numbers of individuals are concerned. However, he recognises that the risks are lower where the personal data does not include banking or credit card details and where security safeguards were in place to protect the data from third party access. He has also indicated that this case does not appear to present a substantial risk to large numbers of individuals.
But if you are concerned and would like to speak to an advisor, please ring our special advice line free of charge on 0800 0150286. The line is open until 10.00 pm on Monday 17 December and from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm on Tuesday 18 December until Friday 21 December.
Rosemary Thew
Chief Executive
DSA
Brendan Magee
Chief Executive
DVA
17 December 2007
