I am concerned about the info held on my lap top that my insurers are destroying - what can I do?

Question

My insurance company have replaced my old lap top as it was damaged. They have my old one which I sent to them to assess. I am not getting it back. My concern is the information that is held on it. It will be stored for 8 weeks then destroyed but they use a 3rd party company I have never heard of and are not able to satisfy me that it will be carried out safely. Anyone could access my details and it is making me nervous. They are refusing to send it to me to destroy as it is now their property. I have been in touch with the Information Commisioner who administers the Data Protection act and they have advied me to obtain in writing the procedures they will use to destroy, how it is stored and the protection I have. If this isn't satisfactory they think I should get the lap top back.

Any advice?

Answer 1

Ask them what measures will be taken to erase the data.  Give them a copy of the letter you have from the Information Commissioner, too.  They should comply with how they intend to get rid of the data.  If not, see what the Information Commissioner can do to help.

Answer 2

As above.Pursue it.

Answer 3

They may have a right to retain the laptop but they do not have a right to retain the information contained on the harddrive of the laptop. Write to them and ask that they send back the harddrive - I strongly recommend you pursue this.