Credit union-hired investigators ‘stole data’

Criminal prosecutions have begun against private investigators accused of stealing personal data from the Department of Social Protection to help credit unions track down loan defaulters.

The move follows a lengthy probe by the Data Protection Commissioner into the activities of private investigators hired by at least a dozen credit unions to assist in establishing the most recent addresses of members who have ignored or missed communications about overdue loan repayments.

Hundreds of credit union customers are believed to have had their personal details revealed to private investigators who managed to dupe Department of Social Protection staff into disclosing them.