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Extraordinary breach of confidentiality by PMP’s Gordon & Gotch

Gordon and Gotch, the magazine distribution business owned by public company PMP today breached the confidentiality of many newsagents by disclosing email addresses of all small business newsagencies that it claims are in arrears with their accounts.

I was sent a copy of the email by several newsagents and the email list appears to be different – making it hard to see the extent of the security breach by the company. The lists, in the wrong hands, could be detrimental.

I have reached out to senior management of Gotch, a lawyer who fights for justice and a shareholder activist.

11 likes
Ethics

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  1. Gary

    onwards to class action!

    2 likes

  2. Mark Fletcher

    I urge newsagents to tweet and use other social media to shine a light on this.

    0 likes

  3. Paul

    LoL you’re right there Gary, particularly if they were wrong in that the listed agents actually HAD paid.

    And while not completely on track has everyone had a look at their “Puzzler” invoiced allocations for Monday. One title in the Puzzler range that I normally receive 6 or 7 of and sell 4 has miraculously beeen increased to 27 for Mondays delivery ! Wonders who’s short of money after Christmas ?

    0 likes

  4. Peter

    Paul your Gordon & Gotch return is not due to 1300 ESST (or there about) allow 2 hours earlier for processing (by there computer as time due in defined by when they have finished processing and not when they received your returns data). So these puzzler should be returnable on the Monday you receive them with the credit in this month (December). This answers the cash side not the extra work involved with no compensation though.

    I will process all Gotch Invoices tomorrow Sunday and Early return fairly hard which will go in Monday

    1 likes

  5. Mark Fletcher

    Okay, I have completed a questionnaire on the Office of the Information Commissioner’s website. That suggests that they could investigate this matter for anyone whose email address has been published.

    The frist step is to complain to Gotch. I’d suggest all newsagents listed do this urgently. Give Gotch a month then get the Information Commissioner on the case. Check it out: http://www.oaic.gov.au

    This is my recommended course of action.

    1 likes

  6. michelle

    Great advice Mark but how do we find out if we are on the list?

    0 likes

  7. Mark Fletcher

    Michelle you would have received an email Friday.

    0 likes

  8. Shaun's

    Yeah not on the list …….for once

    0 likes

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