Suing the HMRC

[bluejacker2006]

The HMRC have sent a document containing all my personal information about my bank details and employment/earnings to an address in london which i have never been connected to, luckily a family friend managed to get it and send it on to us. I would like to sue them for negligence of my personal data, how would i go about doing this and could you suggest anybody who is capable of...

[Buenchico]

You've not suffered any financial loss or physical injury. No court in the land would be likely to accept that you'd suffered great psychological trauma because of HMRC's actions. So there is nothing upon which to base a civil claim against HMRC. i.e. you can't sue them.

If you still want to complain,you should refer the matter to the Information Commissioner:
http://www.ico.gov.uk.../data_protection.aspx

Chris

[daffy654]

If you have no connection to the address how on earth did a family friend manage to get the letter from there?

[bluejacker2006]

Basically, we have never lived in london, the person who got the letter is a family friend so eventually managed to get the letter to me. I am not interested in the money i just want the HMRC learn that they can't flump up and get away with it, i'm just fed up with our goverment doing what they please with no consiquenses.

[rinkins]

I think you'll find Chris has already given you the best advice. Go to the Information Commissioner

[Coobeastie]

What are the odds that the HMRC have randomly assigned an address to your records posted out your bank details and still managed to get an address which happens to belong to somebody who knows you.

[bluejacker2006]

it may sound unbelievable but thats whats happened and just wanted some advice, thanks chris for the info,

[Coobeastie]

Have you entertained the notion that somebody who knows you via the family friend might have been trying to steal your identity and the family friend intercepted the letter. Presume you've spoken to HMRC have they told you why they released the information?

Have you complained directly to them yet?

http://www.hmrc.gov.u...s/how-to-complain.htm

[bluejacker2006]

they have no record of any information for that address, the family friend is very well trusted and would have any reason to steal my identity

[boxtops]

It could be someone else though bluejacker, identity thieves are extraordinarily devious. HMRC must have a reason for sending your info to that address - wasn't there a covering letter with it, which would be a good place to start?

[Vagrant]

Complaining to HMRC is a waste of time - they have a whole department of people who do nothing more than send out grovelling apology letters.
HMRC have on 2 occasions lost original, irreplaceable documents I've had to send them (they insist on originals for certain documents).
No amount of complaining gets the original documents back - the only thing you get back is a letter - "We're extremely sorry, etc etc etc ...