PCM and breach of Confidential Information

Goings On LWV September 09 issue 14

Four years ago when we moved in to our home in Laguna Woods and Third Mutual, our telephone was listed in the telephone book (SBC) but our address was not….. by specific request. We have never, ever been listed in any Laguna Woods directory not because we didn’t want to be but because it just never appeared. In the latest phone book our name and ADDRESS as well are listed. How did this happen? Who is responsible? When we moved in here we gave emergency contact information to PCM as part of the package we were required to provide. In the latest phone book that CONFIDENTIAL EMERGENCY information has appeared. The emergency contact never lived with us at this address. In the latest phone book our emergency contact name, our address, and the contact’s unlisted phone number WHICH IS OUT OF STATE is listed. How did this information become public? Who disclosed the information? When we moved in four years ago photographs were taken to be used for our LWV ID cards ONLY. We were assured they were for that purpose and that purpose alone; that it is confidential and would be used for NO OTHER PURPOSE EVER. We have not changed our consent to have the information used.
Cheryl Walker called when I was elected to the board and asked for a current photo to use in the story in the Globe; before I was able to e-mail the photo to Walker the LWV ID photo appeared in her story. It was in fact, used several times over the next months in both the Globe and OCRegister which owns the Globe. I gave no authorization to release this photo AT ANY TIME TO ANYBODY FOR ANY REASON. Who released it? Since this information and this photograph were only in PCM maintained confidential files this means there has been a breach of confidentiality and a dispersal of private and confidential information by PCM. If I were the only person thus victimized by the managing agent it could be considered personal harassment. It is indeed harassment, and possibly ID Theft. However, since this board is aware of at least one other Third Mutual resident also having personal and confidential information made public it becomes a PATTERN of activity. Has someone profited from the release of this information? Who might that be? Have membership lists and personal and confidential information been sold to outside interests? If so, who profited? Who authorized this activity? Who is responsible? What is being done specifically to rectify this situation?
It is interesting to note that a member is entitled to a membership list which includes names and addresses of fellow members. However, past experience has demonstrated that membership lists are not given to members when they are simply requested of the managing agent. Why then, is confidential information about members available to what appears to be paying customers?