The privacy commissioner's office has again reined in ACC after it asked clients to sign a form accepting their personal files may be lost, then claimed such a form gave it indemnity.

The waiver forms were introduced after a series of client privacy breaches, including emailing of the personal details of more than 6700 clients to claimant Bronwyn Pullar.

ACC used to send sensitive files to claimants' houses via courier.

It has now asked clients to sign a contract accepting the files may not reach their destination.

The form states the client accepts risks, including "non-delivery, delivery to an unauthorised person, or interception by an unauthorised person".

Outgoing ACC chief executive Ralph Stewart told TVNZ: "They need to indemnify us, just in case it does go to the wrong place and they haven't used the options we've offered them."

But the privacy commissioner's office contacted ACC to put him right after TVNZ approached it about the comments. Mr Stewart later said the corporation would take responsibility for its mistakes.

- © Fairfax NZ News