ACC say latest privacy breach was "human error"

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ACC say breach was "human error"

3News NZ

ACC sent Mr Sharpe an email to say sorry for the breach (file pic)

ACC sent Mr Sharpe an email to say sorry for the breach (file pic)

By Amanda Gillies

There are calls for more heads to roll at ACC after yet another embarrassing privacy breach.

Auckland man Kahl Sharpe was sent the private details of another claimant by mistake.

The blunder comes almost a year after the Ellerslie builder's details - along with thousands of others - were sent to Bronwyn Pullar.

Mr Sharpe was flicking through his file sent to him by ACC when he discovered five pages clearly not meant for him. He has a neck and shoulder injury, but the pages detailed a brain injury to a Te Atatu man.

ACC sent an email to say sorry, and in a statement to 3 News said it was a “human error”, but it is not the first time it has happened. Two inquiries are already underway after 6,700 claimants’ private details were sent to Bronwyn Pullar.

Mr Sharpe says it is particularly surprising given earlier privacy breaches.

“To have this pile of paperwork turn up and have someone else's details in them is just mind boggling after all the issues that have happened in the last couple of months,” he says.

Mr Sharpe is now taking ACC to court. He also wants ACC Minister Judith Collins to step down, and says the leaks simply are not good enough.

3 News did request an interview with Ms Collins. She was not available, but in a press release said she was disappointed by the privacy breach.

3 News

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Comments

16/07/2012 1:36:52 p.m.

Pauline l wrote:

Yes, those details that were sent in error of a man in Te Atatu with a brain injury were those of my ex husband. Absolutely disgusting and a complete breach of privacy. No excuse in my view whatsoever.

15/07/2012 2:44:23 a.m.

alison wrote:

Not many comments what with this being the umpteenth time. Come on Judith your report card is a F for fail.

14/07/2012 2:55:42 p.m.

Huang wrote:

@YUCC.. No organisation is perfect, and neither is an individual. Slips ( i won't called it breaches ) can occur because of some disenchanted employee or one waking up on the wrong side of the bed. It happens everyday in other organisations. All Sharpe has to do is destroy or return it. Instead, he goes to the media and exposed his own privacy. The media is not perfect either, yet it explores instances of failings of others. The evil about privacy breaches is a beatup by a small minority. Can't see anything wrong with having an injury and claiming. There is no shame, unless the claim is made up.

13/07/2012 11:19:02 p.m.

YUCC wrote:

@ Huang: You obviously have no understanding of the EVIL that permeates ACC and of the damage they do to injured people's lives day in and day out. Good on Kahl Sharpe for speaking out - that's the only way there will be change. Bronwyn Pullar set the ball rolling big time, now it is up to others to carry on the fight to change ACC culture and behaviour.

13/07/2012 8:17:36 p.m.

Huang wrote:

Hello Mr Sharpe! Because of you running to the media, I now know that you have neck and shoulder injury. So what? There is now a breach of your privacy that you treasured (really?) so much. You are the cause of your own breach. Can ACC sue you? If you have any sense of righteousness left, you will be using your own money to sue ACC.

13/07/2012 6:48:10 p.m.

David wrote:

Yep definitely human error... the National Party are one great big human error.