Mother, 43, slams Passport Office for ‘concerning’ data breach after receiving six strangers’ confidential documents in the post

A mother has slammed the UK Passport Office over a ‘concerning’ data breach after she received six strangers’ confidential documents in the post. 

Nadine Bradley, 43, successfully applied for travel documents for her sons Dru, 21, Ethan, 18, and Jamie, 16, and was awaiting the return of two birth certificates.

But she was surprised when a large envelope was dropped off at her house containing six strangers’ passports, none of which shared a surname.

The government agency offered its ‘sincere apologies’ and claimed ‘this is not something that happens on a regular basis’, before urging Nadine to refrain from contacting the intended passport holders herself.

Nadine, who is disabled and relies on the support of her husband and carer, Stephen, 54, said the incident ‘was really concerning’ and criticised the Passport Office for ‘s****ing over’ its customers. 

Nadine Bradley (pictured) has slammed the UK Passport Office over a ‘concerning’ data breach after she received six strangers’ confidential documents in the post

The Passport Office offered its ‘sincere apologies’ and claimed ‘this is not something that happens on a regular basis’ (Stock image)

See also  Donald Trump confirms Melania's mother Amalija, 78, is 'very ill' causing the former first lady to skip New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago: It's a 'very tough' situation he told an adoring crowd during toast to ring in 2024

Nadine said a more sinister recipient could have taken advantage of the data breach, but she decided to contact HM Passport Service immediately.

She said: ‘I could have gone and opened a whole load of credit cards. Identity fraud is a big thing.’

‘Has our paperwork landed in someone else’s hands?’ 

Nadine sent the six passports back to the government agency on 29 April. After receiving her children’s new passports, she is still waiting on two of their birth certificates.

In an email to Nadine, the passport service said: ‘I fully appreciate your concerns regarding the potential breach of data protection.

‘I can assure you that this is not something that happens on a regular basis.’

The government agency asked her to send the passports back with a promise of reimbursement.

Nadine said a more sinister recipient could have taken advantage of the data breach, but she decided to contact HM Passport Service immediately (Stock image)

Nadine sent a receipt for £8.95 to the government agency, but three weeks later has received no acknowledgement or reimbursement.

She said: ‘I know it is not a lot of money to some people but I cannot be losing money. It is the principle of it.

‘You don’t expect His Majesty’s government to be s****ing you over.’

A HM Passport Office spokesperson said: ‘We take our responsibility for the documents of our customers extremely seriously.

‘Where we receive a report of missing documents, we will thoroughly investigate to ensure every effort is made to recover them.’