Tesco sorry for leaving Twydall customer Keith Bryan's numbers on 'new' phone
Keith Bryan's numbers were stored on another
customer's mobile phone
by Lynn Cox
Tesco has apologised to a Medway man after admitting it
sold a mobile phone with his contact details on it to someone
else.
Keith Bryan was astounded when he got a call from strangers to
say they found his details on a phone they bought from Tesco Extra,
in Gillingham.
The 67-year-old met the couple, who had bought the Samsung
mobile for their son, and returned to the store to find out how it
had happened.
Keith, of Twydall Lane, has a contract phone with Tesco/02
mobile - but has never owned a Samsung.
The couple who bought the phone (pictured right) were able to
get in touch with Keith after going through the contacts and
finding one for 'home', which was his house in Gillingham.
It had been bought in a sealed box, sold as brand new.
Keith, who also stored pin numbers for his bank cards on the
phone, complained to Tesco.
The supermarket giant sent a courier to pick up the phone, which
had been returned to Keith by the store manager, and investigated
the matter.
It turned out that staff at the store had used it to transfer
his contact details from his old mobile with another network, when
he took out a contract with Tesco/02 mobile, but had resold it as
new without deleting his details.
Keith said: "It was quite worrying, it's fortunate these people
were honest.
"I got my contract with them in May last year, and I honestly
can't remember how they transferred the details.
"But still, it is quite worrying that they sold the mobile as
new in a sealed box after it had been used."
Keith has now been assured his details have been deleted from
the phone and all the data on it cleared.
The company also confirmed to him that staff who work at Tesco's
phoneshops will be given refresher training on Data Protection,
which will remind them that security measures should be in
place.
The phone was bought at
Tesco Extra in Gillingham
Keith added: "I'm happy my details have now been removed from
the phone and that steps are in place to prevent it happening to
anyone else."
A Tesco spokesman said: "Our investigation showed the handset in
question has been used to transfer Mr Bryan's contact information
onto his new mobile.
"This is because it was an unlocked handset rather than locked
to a network. Unfortunately, that handset was then mistakenly sold
by the store.
"We have been in touch with Mr Bryan to apologise for this error
and have assured him that his information has not been sent
elsewhere.
"As a gesture of goodwill, we have provided him with a £100
money card for his inconvenience."
Has this ever happened to you? Let us know by leaving a comment
below.
11/02/13
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