Public Services Card

Smidge · 06-12-2012 01:55PM #1

Has anyone on here heard of this?

I heard about it this morning and it seems a bit odd to say the least.
From what I can gather the Dept of Social Welfare has sent out letters asking people to consent to give up their rights to the data protection act.

I could understand if it were just within departments of say, social protection etc(for fraud purposes etc) but to grant ALL government departments the right to share your information?

Can the government vouch for EVERYONE in all of these departments(and that's a hell of a lot of people) to use this information correctly?

Surely once you give up your right to the data protection, thats it, game over, everyone has your information.

Don't think I could do this myself as I wouldn't trust everyone in these departments for there not to be abuse somewhere along the line, after all there have been mistakes made before.

Sauve · 06-12-2012 01:56PM

Dont believe everything you hear. Seriously.

06-12-2012 01:58PM

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Pages/RegistrationofCustomersforaPublicServicesCard%28PSC%29.aspx

stargazer 68 · 06-12-2012 01:58PM

I got the letter in the post a couple of weeks ago. Form to fill in if you agreed with it etc. I didnt do anything with it as it only said information would be shared with other departments i.e passport office for photos etc. Far too little information for me to hand out more details

Smidge · 06-12-2012 02:04PM

Dovies wrote: »

I got the letter in the post a couple of weeks ago. Form to fill in if you agreed with it etc. I didnt do anything with it as it only said information would be shared with other departments i.e passport office for photos etc. Far too little information for me to hand out more details

Have to agree with you there.

I saw a copy of the letter a friend of mine got in the post yesterday and and the form that you are asked to fill in and thought the exact same thing.

They are asking you to give up the legal right to data proctection but providing you with very, very little information about what EXACTLY they are going to do with your information.

Wicklowrider · 06-12-2012 02:34PM

Dovies wrote: »

Far too little information for me to hand out more details

Agree.

A neighbour of mine called to the door about a week ago with the form. She was asking me for advise. I helped her fill out her claim for disability a while back ( she is semi literate)and I think there were about 5 pages. Just one question when they want you to sign something like that? I'd think twice if it was mine. I'm guessing its to do with collecting the household charge and the likes.

Smidge · 06-12-2012 02:54PM

I was of the same thought Wicklow rider.

When my friend showed me the form(I had heard nothing about these new cards on any media)I thought "Not a chance would I sign anything like that".

Fair enough if the DSW or whatever they are called now wants to crack down on fraud etc(and I have no reservations there) but to be sent a letter from DWS asking you to allow the use of all of your information to be used within ALL government agencies???

Not a feckin chance mate.

Would you like for someone in the motor tax department to be able to go in a have a nosey around all of your medical history????

mechanical aid · 10-12-2012 10:11PM

Seen a friends form today...seems like ID cards by stealth..if you agree to sign it they say they dont need a picture as they have a digital copy from your passport.If you say no the letter says its fine not to sign or take any further notice...There was also a ridiclous question sheet that seemed to be designed to distract from the fact the Dept of Social Welfare are making a massive power grap and stamping on peoples rights by claiming to cut fraud...one question was what was your nickname in school and the rest were equally pointless and could have been written by a child.These people are crazy.

SEPT 23 1989 · 10-12-2012 10:14PM

Wipe your arse with it and sent it back

Hippies! · 10-12-2012 10:20PM

Aaaah heeeeeore don't get me started on the bleedin' labour

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 10-12-2012 10:27PM

Theyre after all your information!! Mwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Relax the heads. The only info that's stored on these cards is your PPS number, date of birth, place of birth and address. All info that the DSP have on you already anyway. The cards have the ability to store other data on them at a later date should you wish to use it for that purpose. There's nothing sinister about it, for now it's more a control measure by DSP than anything else.

Wicklowrider · 10-12-2012 10:44PM

deccurley wrote: »

Theyre after all your information!! Mwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Relax the heads. The only info that's stored on these cards is your PPS number, date of birth, place of birth and address. All info that the DSP have on you already anyway. The cards have the ability to store other data on them at a later date should you wish to use it for that purpose. There's nothing sinister about it, for now it's more a control measure by DSP than anything else.

Did you read any of the above posts?

They are requesting people to sign a document authourising ANY government dept to SHARE ANY INFORMATION on their records with ANY other dept. Now, would you be comfortable with your medical records, for example, being passed around?

JustAThought · 11-12-2012 01:30AM

Wicklowrider wrote: »

Did you read any of the above posts?

They are requesting people to sign a document authourising ANY government dept to SHARE ANY INFORMATION on their records with ANY other dept. Now, would you be comfortable with your medical records, for example, being passed around?

Advise to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Comissioner.

Seriously - this state is becoming like a facist dictatorship.

+ Wernt there 40 " civil" servants caught + prosecuted for abuse of records only last week. Un-*ing- believable.

Mothers maiden name, pps number, dob, bank account details...

Smidge · 11-12-2012 01:36AM

deccurley wrote: »

Theyre after all your information!! Mwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Relax the heads. The only info that's stored on these cards is your PPS number, date of birth, place of birth and address. All info that the DSP have on you already anyway. The cards have the ability to store other data on them at a later date should you wish to use it for that purpose. There's nothing sinister about it, for now it's more a control measure by DSP than anything else.

Wicklowrider wrote: »

Did you read any of the above posts?

They are requesting people to sign a document authourising ANY government dept to SHARE ANY INFORMATION on their records with ANY other dept. Now, would you be comfortable with your medical records, for example, being passed around?

I have said before and say again I have no problem with this if it for the purpose of cutting out SW fraud etc.
But they have enough information to do this within the DSFA without allowing other agencies etc access.

As someone else above said the question sheet thing, and I laughed when reading it, is bizarre to say the very least and indeed does seem like a distraction.

I'll give you an example of why I wouldn't be to comfortable if it were me being asked to sign this form

I had a friend who worked in one of the larger SW "signing" on offices in Dublin about 15 years ago and boy, the stories we heard from this person:eek:
Now don't get me wrong, I laughed. I'm not adopting a moral standpoint but I stopped laughing when another friend asked this person to "do a check" on a guy she was seeing. Person working in SW office could practically tell us what this guy had for his breakfast:mad:

Another friend(more of a friend through a friend) worked for another government dept but even in a more sensitive capacity and quite frankly, when in their own company was one of the most indiscreet people I have ever met.

My point is people are people.
EVERYBODY talks about their work.
If your dept is not SW I could forsee nosey parkers having a snoop on their neighbours if the were able.
TBH, I'd be shocked if they didn't as it is human nature.

It is a horse of a different colour if it is only the designated dept, ie SW, have your relevant details.
That is as it should be.

Smidge · 11-12-2012 01:41AM

JustAThought wrote: »

Advise to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Comissioner.

Seriously - this state is becoming like a facist dictatorship.

+ Wernt there 40 " civil" servants caught + prosecuted for abuse of records only last week. Un-*ing- believable.

Mothers maiden name, pps number, dob, bank account details...

When my pal got this form they hadn't a clue what to make of it so showed it to me to see what I thought.
I told them not to sign it but my friend said "If I don't sign it will the SW think I have something to hide?" Which they most certainly do not(husband lost the job through serious illness).
But she was genuinely worried.

Esoteric_ · 11-12-2012 02:10AM

I dunno about anyone else, but my letter and my kid sister's letter from the social told us if we didn't get new cards and go to appointments to get them done, our JSB would be stopped.

Tbh, I don't really care if the government have information on me. I have nothing to hide. I know it's the principal of the thing that counts, but I have bigger things to worry about than someone having my PPS number and photo. :pac:

Smidge · 11-12-2012 02:27AM

LyndaMcL wrote: »

I dunno about anyone else, but my letter and my kid sister's letter from the social told us if we didn't get new cards and go to appointments to get them done, our JSB would be stopped.

Tbh, I don't really care if the government have information on me. I have nothing to hide. I know it's the principal of the thing that counts, but I have bigger things to worry about than someone having my PPS number and photo. :pac:

There was no mention of that on the letter that I saw, it just asked you to fill in the form and return it(no mention of any appointments etc either

)

TBH Lynda, that sounds pretty threatening!
not to boil the cabbage twice but if it were only the dept of SW using this card, fine.
Not every other dog and divil that works in these agencies.
Can they vouch individually for each and every single employee in each of these many dept's to do the right thing with ALL of your information????

Is every single departments fitted with hack proof security systems to avoid identity theft from outside these agencies which is the very thing that can happen if the wrong person gets hold of, as you say, your PPS and photo????

I don't bloody well think so but yet they expect you to do what a person who is not dependant on SW to do and that is to divulge all of your information.

BTW, how did the audition go?

Esoteric_ · 11-12-2012 02:31AM

Smidge wrote: »

There was no mention of that on the letter that I saw, it just asked you to fill in the form and return it(no mention of any appointments etc either )

TBH Lynda, that sounds pretty threatening!
not to boil the cabbage twice but if it were only the dept of SW using this card, fine.
Not every other dog and divil that works in these agencies.
Can they vouch individually for each and every single employee in each of these many dept's to do the right thing with ALL of your information????

Is every single departments fitted with hack proof security systems to avoid identity theft from outside these agencies which is the very thing that can happen if the wrong person gets hold of, as you say, your PPS and photo????

I don't bloody well think so but yet they expect you to do what a person who is not dependant on SW to do and that is to divulge all of your information.

BTW, how did the audition go?

I'll see if I can dig out the letter, mine and my sister's said 'payments will be affected if you do not attend' or something to that effect. Like I said though, it doesn't affect me really. If somebody gets hold of my PPS number and photo, the worst that'll happen is they'll defraud the system, which is not my fault if it happens (unless I give my card to a stranger!).

The Voice audition? Went well, got through three rounds!

Good memory!

Edit to say - the appointment on the letter was for getting photos taken for the card, and providing a birth cert and passport.

Smidge · 11-12-2012 02:37AM

LyndaMcL wrote: »

I'll see if I can dig out the letter, mine and my sister's said 'payments will be affected if you do not attend' or something to that effect. Like I said though, it doesn't affect me really. If somebody gets hold of my PPS number and photo, the worst that'll happen is they'll defraud the system, which is not my fault if it happens (unless I give my card to a stranger!).

The Voice audition? Went well, got through three rounds! Good memory!

Edit to say - the appointment on the letter was for getting photos taken for the card, and providing a birth cert and passport.

Will we see Will I Am giving you the funny eyebrow thing??:D

Back on topic.....

Looks like a completely different letter to my friends.
Hers was the same as other posters, Ie sign consent box and answer silly questions.
They also said there was no need to send photo as they could use your passport one:eek::eek:

No thanks:mad:

Esoteric_ · 11-12-2012 02:39AM

Smidge wrote: »

Will we see Will I Am giving you the funny eyebrow thing??:D

Back on topic.....

Looks like a completely different letter to my friends.
Hers was the same as other posters, Ie sign consent box and answer silly questions.
They also said there was no need to send photo as they could use your passport one:eek::eek:

No thanks:mad:

Haha, nope, I doubt it!

Yeah, mine and my sister's was to come in to talk to them. They interviewed us in a private room, took a photo, signature, birth cert, made us choose security questions to use to activate the card when it came out. I don't think they had a copy of my passport though, so that might be why I was called in?

Smidge · 11-12-2012 02:43AM

LyndaMcL wrote: »

Haha, nope, I doubt it!

Yeah, mine and my sister's was to come in to talk to them. They interviewed us in a private room, took a photo, signature, birth cert, made us choose security questions to use to activate the card when it came out. I don't think they had a copy of my passport though, so that might be why I was called in?

Jesus Lynda that's even worse than the feckin letter my pal got:eek:

Esoteric_ · 11-12-2012 02:46AM

Smidge wrote: »

Jesus Lynda that's even worse than the feckin letter my pal got:eek:

:pac: I've had a quick look and can't find my letter, but if I find my sister's, I'll post a copy of it later on.

In fairness, it's a standard letter from the social. We want you to do this, if you don't, your payments will be affected.

It's not like they can rob from my (empty!) bank account with it. :pac:

Richard Hillman · 11-12-2012 02:51AM

I hear you can lose your rights to clean drink water

Smidge · 11-12-2012 02:54AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I hear you can lose your rights to clean drink water

That was informative!!!!
Thanks

MagicSean · 11-12-2012 03:10AM

I'd say they are trying to standardise their databases. Long overdue.

gozunda · 11-12-2012 03:14AM

Considering the governments reputation with data protection and technology to date - it might be the better side of discretion to ignore any such requests.

Smidge · 11-12-2012 03:15AM

MagicSean wrote: »

I'd say they are trying to standardise they're databases. Long overdue.

SW database=Fine

Every agencies with access=Not Fine

Smidge · 11-12-2012 03:16AM

gozunda wrote: »

Considering the governments reputation with data protection and technology to date - it might be the better side of discretion to ignore any such requests.

+1

minidazzler · 11-12-2012 08:23AM

It's all well and good to standardise databases, but could I send a Data Protection Letter or a FOIA letter to find out who exactly has been accessing things about me? Just as a way of making sure it's all on the level and I'm not being checked up on by someone for the laugh.

Ghandee · 11-12-2012 09:16AM

The FG final solution is upon us.

MagicSean · 11-12-2012 10:30AM

minidazzler wrote: »

It's all well and good to standardise databases, but could I send a Data Protection Letter or a FOIA letter to find out who exactly has been accessing things about me? Just as a way of making sure it's all on the level and I'm not being checked up on by someone for the laugh.

I don't see why you couldn't. Look at it this way. If the Gardai want to check up on you with the welfare theyll need to try and find you using name, date of birth and any address. The Garda database goes by a unique id number which social welfare have no access to. Similarly, social welfare use pps numbers which gardai have no access to. Passport office use a different id number as well I believe. Prisons use a prison number. Courts use case numbers. RSA use driver licence number. It's a pointless mess. The information will be gotten either way but with a more standardised system it'll be gotten faster and will be more accurate.

Public Services Card

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