The UK data watchdog will not take any action against a municipality that sent letters to 10,000 houses waiting for a council tax rebate but addressed them to the incorrect people.
The £150 refund is a component of a £32 million government program to assist individuals with rising gas and electricity prices.
The Information Commissioner’s Office was contacted after Liverpool City Council apologized and forwarded the matter to them (ICO).
The watchdog said that no further action was required and that it had provided the council with data protection guidance.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that the local government issued thousands of letters to residences around the city that do not pay via direct debit urging them to apply for the pay back.
Council officials didn’t realize the erroneous names had been written on the letters until after they had been distributed.
The ICO received a referral from the local authorities, a spokesman for the organization acknowledged.
She stated: “We issued data protection advice and suggestions to the council after carefully evaluating the evidence submitted, and the case was ended with no further action.”
Homes affected by the breach received new letters with instructions on how to throw away the original and a reminder on how to submit an online reimbursement application.
The council promised to work promptly to see that the money was transferred into residents’ accounts as soon as possible.
