ICO blasts lax student loan firm

ICO blasts lax student loan firmThe Student Loans Company has been slammed for a catalogue of cock-ups in which sensitive customer information, including medical details and a psychological assessment, was sent to the wrong people.
An Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) investigation found that not enough checks were carried out when documents were being scanned to add to customer accounts, and more sensitive documents actually received fewer checks.
The organisation, which administers all student finance contracts for those still at college and the repayments once they have left, has been forced to sign an undertaking committing it to ensure proper checks are carried out before correspondence is sent out, as well making staff better aware of its data protection policy.
ICO head of enforcement Stephen Eckersley said: “For the majority of students, the Student Loans Company represents a crucial service that they rely on to fund their studies. Students are obliged to provide personal information to the loans company, both while they receive the loan and in the years when they are paying it back, and they are right to expect that information to be properly looked after.
“Our investigation showed that wasn’t happening. We’ve spoken with the company and made clear that changes need to be made, and a formal undertaking is now in place.”

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