Rogers blames document dumping on third-party company

Discarded forms found in Toronto alleyway had been filled out

Last Updated: Monday, April 9, 2007 | 11:36 AM ET

CBC News

Rogers Communications says an individual with a sales company it hired appears to be responsible for dumping hundreds of its cable and internet order forms containing personal information in plain view in downtown Toronto.

Rogers would not identify the firm, but Taanta Gupta, vice-president of communications for Rogers, said the individual thought to be responsible has been contacted. She would not say what action might be taken against the company, which still does work for Rogers.

The person apparently at fault no longer works for the third-party company, she added.

Rogers began to investigate on Saturday after learning that a man had found the documents in an alleyway and parking lot near Mutual and Dundas streets on March 5.

Gordon Bobbitt, a retired social worker, told the Toronto Star newspaper that some of the paper had blown under the window of his apartment and he went outside to clear the litter.

The papers appeared to have come from a box, ruined by snow, that was in the alley behind a coffee shop, he told the Star. 

He said the documents had personal information about Rogers clients — names, telephone numbers, addresses, drivers' licence numbers and, in some cases, social insurance numbers — and what appeared to be credit card data.

Rogers denies any credit card information was on the forms.

Gupta said the numbers on the line for credit information were additional drivers' licence numbers.

Rogers will be speaking to the sales company to explain the proper way to dispose of personal information, she said.