Home Depot has finally started to email customers to inform them of a major security breach -- one that was first reported in early September.
In the email, which starts out by admitting its customers may have heard about this already, Home Depot confirms news of the breach before offering customers 12 months of free identity protection services and credit monitoring.
Home Depot told Mashable that the emails "started going out on Friday as part of the standard notification process," but that they are being sent out "in batches to ensure they flow smoothly." Which explains why some customers only received it on Sunday.
The company also says that "there is no evidence that debit PIN numbers were compromised or that checks were impacted." But it fails to mention that 56 million credit cars were affected -- something Home Depot itself officially announced on Friday.
Home Depot also apologizes "for the frustration and anxiety this may cause you," and thanks customers for "for your patience during this time."
But a number of customers who received the email don't have a lot of patience for the company.
Email from Home Depot reads As you may have heard... Should start with We're really sorry we suck so bad.— cp (@slideintohome) September 19, 2014
home depot notification email has almost zero actionable info. they were "breached"; what that means left completely unsaid— John Wonderlich (@JohnWonderlich) September 21, 2014
Here's Home Depot's full email.
Dear Valued Customer,
As you may have heard, on September 8, 2014, we confirmed that our payment data systems have been breached, which could potentially impact customers using payment cards at our U.S. and Canadian stores. On September 18, 2014, we confirmed that the malware used in the breach has been eliminated from our U.S. and Canadian stores and that we have completed a major payment security project that provides enhanced encryption of payment data at point of sale throughout our U.S. stores, offering significant new protection for customers. There is no evidence that debit PIN numbers were compromised or that checks were impacted. Additionally, there is no evidence that the breach has impacted stores in Mexico or customers who shopped online at HomeDepot.com.
We are offering customers who used a payment card at a Home Depot store in 2014, from April on, 12 months of free identity protection services, including credit monitoring, beginning on September 19, 2014. We apologize for the frustration and anxiety this may cause you and we thank you for your patience during this time.
For more information, please visit our website where you’ll find frequently asked questions, helpful tips, our Important Customer Notice, and information about how to take advantage of the free identity protection services, including credit monitoring. Should you have questions regarding the authenticity of this email or any additional questions over the coming days and weeks, please call 1-800-HOMEDEPOT.
We hope this information is useful and we appreciate your continued support.
The Home Depot