Customer information law in the workplace

[O2GuruAdam]

Hi, I am a mobile phone repair technician and frequently backup customers phone information i.e. Documents and images. Just recently my company is bringing into question me having customers information on my laptop.

Scenario:

Customer brings in handset for repair to which i am unable to fix and must send away to manufacturer. Manufacturor will wipe the handset upon receiving it so customer has asked me to hold a backup of their information as they are unable to do so.

Now sometimes this is straight forward and the info is deleted once handset is returned and restored. But I know that information can always be undeleted so that is question 1. Am i liable for that information been still technically available?

Question 2. Is that sometimes the customers dont return and i hold that info in case they do as not to cause them to lose it. Is this an offence of any sort to keep that info?

I am rather confused as my job entails plugging in 100's of phones a day and information comes and go's like no ones business!

[dzug2]

It's your company's responsibility to provide you with a ruling on this - not you. And <<you>> are not liable - they are

Personally I don't see any problem in what you are doing

[dzug2]

I'd have thought in any case that the data owner - the customer - has given consent to it - end of problem

[joko]

i agree... you have the owners permission to have it.

merely having information in itself is not an offence - using it to commit fraud or something would be, but asuming oyui arent going to do that then i dont see a problem

maybe they are just concerned of being blamed for something should any of your customers be victims of id theft or something...
perhaps you shoudl start copying the info onto disc and giving it to the customer, so you never retain a copy.

[tonywiltshire]

Many people have confidential information on their clients, patients or customers, think of Doctors, Solicitors, teachers and many others, provided you do not use or disclose the information, except where you suspect an offence has been committed ( was Gary Glitter not found to have incriminating information on a computer by those repairing the machine?) If any information is not used for gain or advancement I think you have little that should concern you. The suggestions by both d2 & Joko have some merit.