Bacup motorist sent credit card details of another driver

5:04pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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A MOTORIST appealed against a parking ticket - only to be sent another woman's address and credit card details.

ParkWise have launched an investigation after Anna Preece received the confidential information when she wrote to complain about her fine.

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Mrs Preece had parked in St James Street, Bacup, to take her son to the doctors when she overstayed the 30 minute allotted time in the parking bay.

She wrote a letter to ParkWise to try to cancel the parking ticket but was unable to get her doctor to write her a note to confirm that the appointments were running late.

When ParkWise wrote back to say they had found no grounds for cancellation of the charge, they also enclosed a penalty charge notice of another offender - including her full name, address and credit card details.

Mrs Preece, from Field Top, Weir, said: "This is a very serious failure of their data protection procedures - it is their responsibility to protect this very private and valuable data.

"The public have a great interest in how government bodies and their agencies treat private details of the public's personal information.

"On the PCN I received, the lady from Haslingden has filled in her credit card details.

"I've checked her name and address with mine but they are not similar at all.

"The issue is not the fact that I got a fine, it's that a public organisation is not able to keep private details confidential.

"I am keeping the PCN safe until they arrange its collection and I hope this doesn't happen again.

"I wonder how many times this has happened already and what they are doing about it. It's a disgrace."

A ParkWise spokesperson said: "ParkWise take the Data Protection Act very seriously.

"A full investigation has now been launched into this matter and those affected will be contacted once the findings are presented."

The spokesperson confirmed that she was due to speak to Mrs Preece and the lady from Haslingden about the matter on Wednesday.