TNT restructures express services
TNT restructures express services
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Courier loses 25 million people's data (UK)
When heading to work, most couriers probably don’t expect to find themselves at the centre of a large-scale loss of data leading to a political storm.
But for TNT one misplaced package has caused a national outcry, as CDs containing the personal data of 25 million people is now missing.
Information about anyone registered with HMRC as receiving child benefits is likely to be contained on the missing CDs, including birthdates, addresses and bank details, which leaves them vulnerable to identity fraud.
An HMRC employee sent the child benefit database from Tyne and Wear to London using courier firm TNT in October. They were not sent with a recorded delivery courier and as a result TNT has said it is unable to track the package.
“TNT operates a general internal mail system for the HMRC and other associated government agencies,” a statement for the company said.
“General mail does not carry a track and trace mechanism and hence it has been impossible, in this instance, to conduct an audit to identify if the item entered the system.”
While there are no doubt red faces all round, it is the HMRC employee and chancellor Alistair Darling who are suffering more than the courier. The staff member was placed under police protection, while the chancellor is fending off resignation calls.
Read MoreTNT says unclear if it ever had data
Dutch mail company TNT said there was no way of verifying if a shipment with personal data of 25 million Britons and believed lost was actually sent through the mail system it operates.
TNT runs an internal mail system for HM Revenue and Customs, the tax authority, that carries up to 100,000 mail items each night.
Chancellor Alistair Darling told parliament on Tuesday that two discs containing information on 25 million Britons had disappeared after being sent through the mail system.
TNT said the system offered the option for the sender to choose a service that offers full track and trace of a shipment, but for the shipment in question, that option was not selected.
“General mail does not carry a track and trace mechanism and hence it has been impossible, in this instance, to conduct an audit to identify if the item entered the system,” the company said.
TNT said it was cooperating fully with the tax authority and the Metropolitan Police in the investigation into the missing computer discs.
TNT shares were down 3.3 percent at 25.62 euros by 3:40 p.m.
“It’s embarrassing, it was sensitive mail,” ING analyst Axel Funhoff said.
Funhoff said it was unlikely, however, that TNT would lose customers as a result.
TNT inaugurates international air route at Rennes
TNT Express has inaugurated a new international air route between Rennes in north-west France and its European air hub at Liège to improve service to customers in the Brittany region.
The service, which has been in operation since October, was officially inaugurated on November 15 in the presence of TNT Express France CEO Eric Jacquemet, representatives of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and numerous customers. During his visit, Jacquemet underlined the very satisfying capacity utilization of the new route one month after the start, and highlighted the advantages of the service for customers in the region.
The route is operated five days a week by BAE146 QT or B737 freighters, with capacity to transport 10 tons of international parcels, documents and freight, TNT Express France said in a statement.
The late departure time of 22:50 offers exporters in Bretagne maximum flexibility with later pick-up times. On its way back, the plane from Liège arrives at Rennes at 06:10, offering optimal organisation of import deliveries throughout the whole region.
The new service complements the daily route that already exists between Rennes and Marseille for domestic shipments. In France, TNT Express has flights to and from six airports: Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Paris CDG, Toulouse and Rennes.
Read MoreRegulatory experts from around the world meet at IPC
Twenty-seven regulatory experts from IPC member postal operators, Japan Post and postal operators in Eastern Europe participated in a regulatory experts’ meeting on last week in Brussels. Beginning in 2008, the expert group will meet in Senior Executive Forums which will provide a platform for exchange of views at macro level on regulatory topics.
The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to discuss privatisation and liberalisation. A high point was a presentation on privatisation in Japan by guest speaker Masahiko Metoki, general manager for international strategy at Japan Post; he was assisted by senior manager Shoji Maruyama. Wolfgang Pickavé, director of regulation strategy at Deutsche Post, and Victoria Kickinger, secretary general at Österreichische Post, provided insight into the European experience of privatisation. Discussion on liberalisation kicked off with a presentation from Leen van de Weert, senior advisor, pubic affairs at TNT Post, who outlined legislative progress towards full opening of the Dutch market.
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