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ACC privacy victims offered compensation

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ACC privacy victims offered compensation

3News NZ

Bronwyn Pullar

Bronwyn Pullar

ACC is offering compensation payments to victims of the privacy breach which saw details of more than 6000 claimants inadvertently emailed to a private individual.

Bronwyn Pullar, involved in her own dispute with ACC, received the email and initially refused to return or destroy it.

ACC laid a complaint with the police but they decided no offence had been committed.

TV One reported on Tuesday night letters were going out offering cash payments to some of the claimants whose details were sent to Ms Pullar.

ACC won't say how many, or how much it is offering them.

The report said ACC had paid out more than $185,000 in compensation for 32 privacy breaches in the last seven-and-a-half years - an average of nearly $6000 for each of them.

The privacy breach was the biggest in New Zealand's history and the fallout has so far claimed six casualties.

Murray Hilder is the latest board member to resign, following chairman John Judge, two other board members, and chief executive Ralph Stewart.

Cabinet minister Nick Smith resigned his portfolios over a conflict of interest after it was revealed he supported Ms Pullar in her compensation claim case.

NZN

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Comments

29/06/2012 6:33:44 p.m.

Mr K. Gibson. wrote:

I am also a long term ACC recipient. I have been inferred that I had been lying about my condition. I just recently had my 2nd review within 10 years. The 1st in 2002 and the 2nd in 2010. Needless to say that both decisions were in my favour. In the 2nd review which had changed from the ist review came to a cost of $4000. The lawyers were in wellington, and now that I am back on my ACC income, which is only $60 above an invalids income(net)I wonder why I put myself through the stress. I was injured in 1980 and now at 56 going on to 57 years I am supposed to be able to find work. ACC use a specialist that always seems to find in their favour, he travels all around N.Z., and gets approx. $1800-$2000 a session that lastys about 45 mins.=, even though my condition has detereiorated over the years I cannot follow the logic that if I was unfit for work when I was in my late 20's, how can I be found fit for work now.I have had a number of case managers but this one is and I quote " I am determined to find you fit for a job of some description even if it is from home " unquote. If I am found fit once more for work I will just chnge to the invalids benefit as before and stay on it thist time as I have other medical problems too. I feel empathy to those who are going through this process for the 1st time, and the fact that the ACC keep changing the playing field in their favour doesn't help either. Most of my case managers haven been very tactful and respectful towards me but this last one is I think vindictive towards me. When I rang to complain about his accusation towards me that he inferred I was lying about my medical condition, which he hasn't any medical knowledge of and the persistance of getting me in to work even if it was from home in Ch-Ch, is a joke. I wasn told that I was to submit my grevience in writing which of course their is only my wording that the conversation took place over the phone I feel will only make my lifestyle more difficult and not as independant as I am told is what they are trying to do. I also feel that and now that I acknowledge that it was salsry bonus which was behind the drive to getting me off ACC is something I haven't suspected for some time. This'll alsogaray seems to attract they hardly nuts to carry outstanding thatcher part of the job. I could go on but I'm sure thatcher whoever reads thistles will get they idea.

27/06/2012 11:07:47 p.m.

Mary Birch wrote:

I had my privacy breached in August 2011. ACC advised me in a phone call & letter of apology. Being a victim of abuse is one issue. To have my personal details disclosed to another source by a Government agency (ACC) is another. ACC thinks a letter of apology justifies its careless & negligent actions. I will be seeking compensation personally. This is not an act of error but straight out negligence. Mary Birch

25/06/2012 8:15:22 p.m.

dianna hirst wrote:

Iam one of those who had their privacy breached. How do I make a claim I have had a letter of apology but no offer of compensation. I guess they are hoping we will just go away quietly

20/06/2012 3:38:27 p.m.

Ange wrote:

I also was a victim of the breach. Further more, prior to this ACC also sent me the details of someone elses claim by mistake. When I called to tell them, and express concern that maybe this person was also sent my claim details in the mix up, I was told that this was an isolated case, and that these things do not happen very often. They asked me to return the information, which I did. If I was to share private information about one of my staff members, I would be up on a charge, and have to pay big time!! Now I hear only those with sensitive cases will be getting compensation. What about everyone else? Our information is out there for who knows to see, and the information they have could enable anyone to take our identity in identity theft. Dates of Birth, Full Names and Addresses, Phone Numbers... Who will be liable if someone does get hold of this information and steals our identities, gets a passport, drivers licence, racks up debt, or commits crimes all while using our details?? Well, it could happen...
If one gets compensation, we all should!!!

20/06/2012 3:30:05 p.m.

len wrote:

Martin you are absolutely right - Pullar has been very articulate on this side of the coin but 'she can't possibly work' is the side of the coin the public wont ever know about - Nick Smith went into the ACC role with a serious anti-ACC attitude which showed out in the early years with him saying the scheme was a wreck while supporting people in their endeavours to get compensation - now the talk is that levy payers could be getting a billion back - no doubt the people who have had their privacy breached can smell the money and that is their only motivation in finding out if they are on the breach list which probably sums up their original claims!!

20/06/2012 1:52:10 p.m.

Colin wrote:

I got a phone call from ACC to say that they were sorry that i was one of these few that were exposed to the breaching of the privacy act. So I asked ACC to send me a letter regarding this issue, to which they did. What can i do now that i have been exposed like everyone else that have been through this breach? Any answers please??

20/06/2012 12:59:28 p.m.

T Marechal wrote:

Will A.C.C. be honest and offer this to all involved, if a person has no idea thier details were sent how are they going to find out?????

20/06/2012 12:22:37 p.m.

Denise wrote:

Please print how those who have sensitive cases with ACC, can find out if their privacy was breached.Please print a contact for enquiry. Many thanks

20/06/2012 10:58:33 a.m.

colin wrote:

What is ACC going to do about all the accident victims, that they unjustifiably removed from there system over the last 15years. I think its time the govenment axed ACC all together and privatised it.

20/06/2012 10:30:49 a.m.

Richard wrote:

Waste of money - thought the corporation was broke? Suffice to get an apology and get ACC's rot sorted internally.