Liverpool Council has been forced to apologise following a potential data breach after 10,000 letters relating to council tax energy rebates were issued incorrectly.
Earlier this week, the local authority sent out thousands of letters to homes across the city who do not pay by direct debit, inviting them to apply for the scheme. On Wednesday afternoon, council officials realised that the wrong names had been placed on the letters and sent out to addresses.
The council has issued a statement confirming it will now investigate the matter “in accordance with our data breach protocols”. They have assured residents that there is “no possibility that a person can claim the energy rebate inappropriately using the details contained in the this letter because we undertake several identity and bank account checks before we make a payment.” The statement added: “We are very sorry that this has happened and the correct letters will start to be sent to affected households from Friday.
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“It will include advice to destroy the original letter and a reminder on how to apply for the energy rebate online. We will work as fast as we can to ensure that the funds are deposited in resident’s accounts as quickly as possible.”
Liverpool Council has come under fire for its handling of the energy rebate since its announcement in February. When the £150 scheme was confirmed by the authority cabinet to begin in April, it was expected that payments would be made by the start of that month and into May to the near quarter of a million homes.
Yet some residents across the city have not received the financial support for their energy bills. More than 90,000 of the around 120,000 households have received a payment.
The £150 rebate is part of a £32m scheme confirmed by the Government in a bid to ease pressure on household living costs. The local authority said residents who pay by direct debit would receive their rebate first as their bank details are already on its system.
The mistake over names and addresses on the letters was criticised by Liberal Democrat group deputy leader Cllr Andrew Makinson. He said: “This Labour council seem unable to get even the most basic things right.
“Residents will have had their time wasted, and worse, this latest cock-up will further delay struggling families from getting their £150 rebate. Not only will the council now have to pay for new letters to be sent out, but they also risk a large fine for breaching GDPR data protection rules.
“As ever, it will be Liverpool Council tax payers who are left to pay the price.”
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