Cattles has lost personal data on 1.4 million customers; the lost information also includes HR data relating to staff in employment upto October 2010.
Two IT back-up storage tapes were discovered missing from Cattles’ Kingston House building in Birstall, West Yorkshire, at the end of November 2011.
The tapes contain personal data relating to 1.4 million customers, limited to names and addresses for 800,000 but also including date of birth and payment history for 600,000.
Cattles has issued a statement which said a process was underway to inform affected customers and former employees.
The Information Commissioners Office has also confirmed it is investigating the loss, and it has been reported that the data concerns Welcome Financial Services and Shopacheck, both subsidiaries of Cattles.
Cattles’ statement said: “There is no evidence that the information has fallen into the wrong hands or been used maliciously. However, Cattles takes its obligations to protect personal data of its customers and staff extremely seriously and we deeply regret what has happened.
“We have employed a specialist data security firm with extensive experience in financial services, to review data security across the group and advise on any necessary improvements.”
An ICO spokesperson added: “We have recently been informed of a possible data breach which may involve Welcome Financial Services Limited including its business Shopacheck. We will be making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken.”
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