Argos and B&Q stay shtum with customers after e-bungle

Argos and B&Q have not said they will contact their registered customers about recent security problems on their websites.

It is widely regarded as best practice for sites to admit when they have had a problem and provide customers with information to make decisions based on what has happened - such as whether to change login and password details.

Both retailers have fixed the serious security flaws affecting their sites but as yet neither has informed its customers – instead, the sites' users have been finding out from silicon.com.

One who contacted us and who wished to remain anonymous said: "I was actually in the Argos site and about to order a present for my son when my Outlook alarm told me I had mail. For some reason I checked it before processing the order and saw the headline. I then chose not to order the goods online."

He added that problems at various sites haven't "put me off continuing to order online - it's just so convenient. I won't stop using Argos per se but will think twice about using their online offering." <

At the time of writing B&Q hadn't said it will be contacting its registered online customer base.

Argos had issued a statement saying: "We would like to reiterate that no credit card information is contained, and therefore accessible, on the www.argos.co.uk site. The company will continue to maintain its commitment to customer information security."