Monthly Pay Advice in the post – Risk of Identity theft?

[Bowler]

My employer has decided to send out my monthly pay advice in the post. No prior notification about this, it just simply landed on my “welcome mat” one day. This used to be handed-out.

The pay advice service is outsourced, so there’s nothing really wrong with that, but my pay advice now arrives as a franked document, so it was obvious what the contents are. It now arrives at my door in the same state as if it had been placed in my hand when at my place of work.

For me, this is absolutely ripe for identity theft, as the pay advice details (what is to me) highly sensitive personal information (Employer, Employee No, NI Number Etc), that (I guess) would be very useful for those who want this data.

The issue for me is that if someone in the postal service steals this document, it will be too late.

This could all be avoided by either handing the pay advice out locally (as before) or posting it out in a plain envelope (ie some degree of anonymity). Couldn’t it?

I know there is a question of practicality here (company has 4000+ staff on 20+ UK locations), so in taking this step has my employer increased the risk of my identity being stolen? By increasing the risk of potential theft, has my employer potentially failed to maintain a reasonable (and manageable) level security of confidential information? If my identity is actually stolen as a result of this, will my employer have breached any data protection issues?

I’ve raised this through the normal employer channels, but nothing seems to have happened (yet). First implied response was “lots of companies do it that way”

Realistically is there anything I can actually do, if I get the “tough” response (however it gets dressed up)?

Am I being unnecessarily paranoid?

[mybrainhurts]

The only useful information for someone of bent bent is your NI number.

Why don't you suggest they amend their system so NI numbers don't appear on payslips?

[Hedders]

Bowler said:

Am I being unnecessarily paranoid?

No, they are being unnecessarily careless IMO. Can't you just give the payroll company your office address as your postal address? Why does a company that works for your employer need to contact you at home?

[rlw]

mybrainhurts said:

The only useful information for someone of bent bent is your NI number.

Why don't you suggest they amend their system so NI numbers don't appear on payslips?

Required by law I think

[Bowler]

Hedders said:

Can't you just give the payroll company your office address as your postal address? Why does a company that works for your employer need to contact you at home?

Posting to my office address is the same as posting ton my home, unless they are in bulk and in an anonymous envelope

Pay Advice has my name and address on the front in any case, so obviuously they have this data already. I guess that my company got the payroll company, to enter some sort of confidentiality agreement, so I'm that not concerned on this point.

My view is that I would rather not reciece any pay advice at all, if it meant this risk was minimised (after all month to monmth I'm only really bothered that my salary gets paid). To me I can't see why these aren't available on request with and SAE