新西兰英语 742 EQC apologises

 　　EQC sent an email by mistake to the wrong person. The email contained private information about 83,000 earthquake damage claims. While it did not have names, it gave addresses and information about the damage at that address and the amount of money it would cost to repair the property. Many home owners are still waiting to find out how much EQC will pay to repair their home but EQC has not told them. However, a businessman who has done repairs for EQC received this email with the EXCEL¹ spreadsheet attached. When EQC contacted him, he deleted the information but already other people in his office had seen it.

　　EQC sent an apology to everyone on their email list and plans to place an advertisement in the newspaper to apologise for this breach² of privacy³.

　　Meanwhile, the businessman who received the email asked why EQC has not told home owners the information about their claim for damages. Why are people still waiting to find out?

　　This is not the first time a government organisation⁴ has sent emails with private information to the wrong person. It is quite easy for us to make a mistake with an email address but a government organisation needs to be more careful with private information.

　　Type EQC in the search box to find out more about insurance claims after the earthquakes in Canterbury.

　　Vocabulary

　　?EQC – Earthquake Commission⁵ – it is owned by the government

　　?claims – asking for EQC to pay for repairs to damage caused by the earthquake

　　?breach – break in a promise to keep information private

1 excel   

v.胜过，优于，杰出，善于，擅长于

参考例句：

• If your talent combines with diligence,you can excel in your pursuit.如果你把天赋与勤奋结合起来，你所追求的事业便会出类拔萃。
• He is working hard to excel his predecessors.他正努力超越他的前任。

2 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

3 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。

4 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

5 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。