Report on Activities - Operations

Complaints received during 2001-02

In the reporting year, the PCPD received 888 new complaints of possible breaches of the PD(P)O. Compared with 789 complaints received in 2000-01, this represents a 12% year on year increase in the complaint caseload. (Figure 4)

Of the 888 complaints received in the reporting period, 68% of them (606) were complaints against private sector organizations. Compared with 535 cases received in 2000-01, this represents a 13% increase in this category of complaints.

A further 15% (135) were complaints against public sector organizations. The remaining 17% (147) were complaints lodged against a third party individual. (Figure 5)

Of the 606 complaints against private sector organizations, 26% of them (157) involved allegations relating to the practices of financial institutions. The majority of these complaints related to the use and security of personal data in recovery actions for overdue loan payments by appointed debt collectors of these institutions.

A further 15% (90) were complaints against the telecommunications industry, the majority of which related to disputes over service payment and the activities of those involved in debt recovery actions.

The following figure shows the number of complaints received by the most significant industry sectors in the year under review and the previous year. (Figure 6)