Can the DWP get any worse?!

trb10

So this morning I received my tribunal papers from the DWP and some of the evidence that is enclosed is actually for a completely different person and contains lots of their personal details!  Clearly this is a data breach but it also concerns me that some of my information might be enclosed in someone else's appeal! 
To whom should I take this matter up with as a matter of urgency?  I'm currently waiting on the phone to talk to the tribunal service to tell that several pages are about a completely different client!

Ray212

Going back a few years but on the brightside BT once gave me an old DWP phone number. I had people phoning day and night. Before I even got the chance to say I wasn't the DWP they were telling me their ailments, some were shouting as they hadn't received their payments. Others were crying. Took 5 days for BT to change the number but I think I lost 5 years of my life in those 5 days.

Hannah_Alumni

@trb10 That's awful! In hindsight, I am glad you got the details and are honest enough to call and report their error! I believe contacting the DWP directly would be the best way. They have a complaints procedure with contact details for each department. 

trb10

I spoke to a lady who didn't seem in the least bit perturbed that I had someone else's details and they may well have mine!  She said "It happens very very rarely" I replied that that didn't help me.  She reported it to some sort of department and said I wouldn't hear the outcome!  She then seem surprised that I wanted to make a formal complaint.  I pointed out I had the other persons full address, DOB, NINO and telephone number so could potentially do a lot of damage with that if I was that way inclined.

Hannah_Alumni

@trb10 It may be worth mentioning this to your Local MP. I'm sure they'd be very interested to know! Like you said, fraud would be very easier with all those details.