Worker: Postal Service sold private data [View All]

Source: Houston Chronicle/Associated Press

July 30, 2007, 10:08PM
Worker: Postal Service sold private data


By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

SEATTLE — A Postal Service employee sued the agency Monday, accusing it of selling the personal information of its workers to credit card and other companies without consent.

Lance McDermott, a mechanic for mail-processing equipment, said in the complaint in U.S. District Court that he has been inundated with credit card, cell phone and life insurance offers in the past two years.

In some instances, it appears the agency provided the companies with eight-digit employee identification numbers, used for sensitive tasks such as accessing health care records, the complaint said.

McDermott said he was deluged with offers from Visa, Sprint Nextel Corp. and other companies.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of other Postal Service workers, the return of any money the agency may have made by violating the federal Privacy Act, and other damages.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5012967.html