What is a Data Breach?

The Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) detail the requirements for the processing of personal data. The companies that control such data must put the necessary technical safeguarding in place to protect the personal data that they collect.

Many companies do take such actions to secure the personal data that they hold. However, there are some organisations out there that do not take their data protection responsibilities seriously and have not put the necessary safeguards in place. If your personal data is lost, disclosed or misused and it has caused you distress or financial loss then you may be entitled to claim compensation.

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How Do I Know If My Data Has Been Breached?

The types of data that are often breached include sensitive information such as email addresses, passwords, phone numbers, addresses, bank account details, medical records and other sensitive personal information. If you have been the victim of a data breach then the company from where the data breach occurred should have contacted you to advise you of the breach either by phone, letter or email.

However, if you have not been notified, but still feel that you have been the victim of a data breach, then please request a free claim assessment to discuss your personal circumstances further.

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How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Data Breach Claim?

Firstly, the data breach must have occurred within the last 6 years – so if you feel you have been the victim of a data breach then you should act now. Secondly, the level of compensation that you could receive for a data breach claim will depend upon the circumstances of the breach. For example, what element of your personal data has been breached and what impact has this breach had on you such as distress, anxiety or financial loss.

Depending upon the circumstances of the breach your claim could be worth anything from £1,000 to £5,000 for a minor data breach or up to £50,000 for major data breaches.