Watchdog blasts DSGi for data protection breach

ICO names and shames retail group for data protection breach

Lost and found: PC World customers' credit agreements were found dumped in a skip

DSG International (DSGi) has come under fire from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for failing to dispose of customers' information properly.

The retail group has been found in breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA) after eight customer credit agreements were discovered in a skip close to one of its PC World outlets.

The agreements related to transactions that took place two years ago and contained financial and personal information.

Under the terms of the company’s data destruction policy, the documents should have been transported to a central facility and shredded.

John Browett, chief executive of DSG Retail, confirmed that the group has signed a formal undertaking agreement with the ICO to guard against similar breaches happening in future.

Mick Gorrill, head of enforcement at the ICO, said the case highlights the need for all companies to train their staff in data protection policies.

“Any organisation collecting and holding personal information needs to ensure that information is kept and disposed of safely and securely," he added.

“Making sure data is disposed of securely and not keeping information for longer than is necessary can help to prevent information falling into the wrong hands.”