Zurich Insurance loses 51,000 UK customers details

Thursday, 22 October 2009 03:54

Zurich Insurance has revealed it has lost data on 51,000 UK customers.

The information has been missing for over a year and was lost in South Africa during an office transfer when back-up data tapes went missing.

The loss has only now come to light.

Details of Zurich general insurance customers were lost, and not those with life policies.

Tape also included details on a 550,000 customers from South Africa and 40,000 clients from Botswana.

Zurich claims there is no evidence to suggest that the data has been misused or compromised and an investigated into the disappearance is under way.

Annette Court, chief executive of Zurich's European insurance business, said: "We take the security of our customers' data very seriously.

"What has happened is unacceptable to us."

She added a dedicated response team has been put in place to support concerned customers.

Customers affected will be send letters with a dedicated telephone number.

Other Zurich customers in the UK can call 08000 152 183 (or +44 1709 764401 if they are abroad) if they have any concerns and information is available on the Zurich website at www.zurich.co.uk/id.

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