Email blunder leaves Sportspark bosses red-faced


21 April 2007 09:19

Bosses at the University of East Anglia Sportspark were forced to apologise after a member of staff accidentally sent out every one of their customers' email addresses to more than a thousand people.

People who use the sports venue were sent the Sportspark E-Zine previewing a forthcoming charity event, but opened it up to discover their email addresses had been shared with almost 1,200 other customers.

The person sending out the email had accidentally forgotten to hide the email addresses of all the recipients who were getting the message - so everyone sent the message could read them.

The Sportspark was accused of breaking the data protection act and one person who responded to the message said: “I am sure I will not be the only one who is upset that their email addresses can be simply given away to more than 1,100 people so cheaply.”

Upon realising the mistake, Keith Nicholls, director of physical education and sport at the Sportspark, sent out an apology.

It said: “This should not have happened and I regret any problems this may cause you. In future I have arranged that the email will be checked by a second member of staff before it is sent.”

Other email blunders that have landed people in hot water:

In 1999 a Norwich Union employer circulated a series of internal emails claiming one of the insurance group's companies was being investigated by the Department of Trade and Industry. The email found its way to the competitor, which started legal action and led to Norwich Union paying £450,000 in compensation.

Labour spin doctor Jo Moore was forced to resign after she sent an email on September 11, when two planes were flown into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre, describing the day as “a very good day” to bury bad news.

In 2000, people around the world discovered Claire Swire's sexual preferences after an email sent to colleagues at her law firm in which she made an off-the-cuff sexual remark was circulated around the world.



Have you been the victim of an email blunder? Call Evening News reporter Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk

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