Couple cancels holiday after Thomson data breach

A couple has told how they have been forced to cancel their holiday due to the recent Thomson data breach.

Back on 15 August, the travel plans, home addresses and flight dates of 458 customers were accidentally emailed to 500 people across the country.

See also: Thomson holiday data breach reveals 500 customer details

See also: Flight attendants suffer fractured spine and pelvis in Thomson flight turbulence

And now, amid fears their homes will be burgled, customers say their holidays have been ruined.

And one couple, Mandy and Pete Garland, from Weston-super-Mare, have even cancelled their Caribbean getaway.

They had booked to go on a two-week holiday to the Dominican Republic when they received an email from Thomson with a balance reminder that also contained holiday details of other customers.

Mandy has now decided to cancel the holiday as they cannot change the dates because of their jobs, and has so far received "no money back".

Speaking to Western Morning News, Mandy, of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, said: "My biggest worry was how many people on that list are going to be prepared to show those details?

"Anybody with a little bit of brains would be able to look at the list and go 'there's a pretty good chance that house is going to be empty for at least a week'.

"So my biggest concern was the security of the house."

Another customer, Karen James, from Cornwall, who has a holiday to Lanzarote booked, said: "I would love to change my holiday dates but with other commitments, work and child cover, I have to stick to those dates and hope I'm not targeted by burglars."

Travel Mole reports that Thomson would not confirm whether it was cancelling holidays free of charge for those customers affected.

It also refused to say if any action has been taken as a result of its internal investigation into the breach.

According to the BBC, Thomson apologised for the error at the time, and a spokesman said the email was "identified very quickly and recalled".

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