You can make an address data breach claim if an organisation has failed to comply with data protection laws and your data has been compromised, resulting in you suffering harm for which you can seek compensation. Having your address disclosed without your consent can be deeply upsetting. It’s also completely understandable that you will be concerned regarding how a personal data breach with impact your life. You deserve to have your personal information linking your address to be handled securely. Here at Data Breach Claims, we can step in and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Key Takeaways
- Data breach compensation can cover both psychological and financial harm.
- In 2024, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) completed 1,991 personal data breach cases.
- Organisations can protect your personal data by using up-to-date cybersecurity systems and providing adequate training to staff with data access.
- The catalyst for an address data breach can range from data leaks because of human error to poor implementation of data protection policies.
- Our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors can provide you with immediate support and guidance for your claim that is tailored to your unique circumstances.
If you are in need of fast and clear guidance straightaway, get in touch with an advisor using the contact information below:
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- Call for free on 020 8050 6279
- Contact us online
- Text us using our live chat, where you will be greeted by a dedicated advisor, not a chatbot.
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Our team of specialist advisors are ready to assist you with your data breach claim
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is An Address Data Breach?
- Can I Make An Address Data Breach Claim?
- How Could Your Home Address Be Exposed In A Data Breach?
- Who Could Be Liable For An Address Data Breach?
- How An Address Data Breach Could Affect You
- What Compensation Could You Receive For An Address Data Breach?
- What Evidence Do You Need For An Address Data Breach Claim?
- Can You Make A No Win No Fee Address Data Breach Claim?
- Why Choose Specialist Data Breach Solicitors?
- More Information
What Is An Address Data Breach?
An address data breach is a security incident involving an unauthorised individual gaining access to a person’s personal information, containing their home address. Additionally, human error or unlawful activity could result in the destruction, loss or alteration of your address.
Has your address been breached, and you are unsure whether you could be eligible for compensation? We can assess your eligibility to make an address data breach claim at no cost to you if you get in touch with us.
Can I Make An Address Data Breach Claim?
Yes, you can make an address data breach claim if you can prove that your personal data was compromised because of a failure to comply with data protection law, and this resulted in you suffering harm.
In simple terms, personal data is any information that could directly identify or in accordance with other information.
The important thing to note is that any organisation that handles your personal data must do so in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). These laws detail and impose duties and responsibilities on two important roles: data controllers and data processors. The specific duties and responsibilities involve safeguarding your personal information throughout every phase of data processing, including collection, storage and deletion.
If either of the above parties fails to comply with data protection laws, it may result in an address data breach.
A personal data breach involves any security incident that impacts the confidentiality, integrity or availability of personal data as stated under Article 4 of the UK GDPR. Moreover, Article 82 of the UK GDPR outlines that the following eligibility criteria must be satisfied to make a personal data breach claim:
- A data controller or processor failed to adhere to data protection laws
- This failure caused a personal data breach
- As a result, you suffered psychological or financial harm
We understand this is a lot to take in. Personal data breach claims are a complex area of law, and we want you to have a clear understanding moving forward. Call us today so we can assist you.
We Can Help With Your Claim
Our team of specialist advisors are ready to assist you with your data breach claim
How Could Your Home Address Be Exposed In A Data Breach?
Your home address could be exposed in a data breach in numerous ways, including through a cyberattack caused by poor IT security or due to human error.
We’ve provided some examples below. Your home address could also be exposed if:
- Data isn’t encrypted correctly
- Adequate data protection training isn’t provided
- Data protection policies aren’t put in place
- A security culture isn’t fostered
- Cybersecurity tools aren’t implemented
If your home address has been compromised due to one of the above failings, speak to one of our dedicated advisors to see if you could have an eligible claim.
Who Could Be Liable For An Address Data Breach?
Multiple agencies and companies could be liable for an address data breach, including your employer, various medical settings, and your bank.
Please take a look at who else can be liable below:
- Education facilities such as universities and schools
- Social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook
- Government departments like HMRC and DWP
- Councils such as the local city council or local authority
- Gym and leisure centres, including personal trainers
- Online shopping and e-commerce, for example, food supermarkets and clothing outlets
If you have any questions about who can be liable in an address data breach claim, please phone us for free today.
How An Address Data Breach Could Affect You
An address data breach could affect you both psychologically and financially.
An individual could experience several different types of psychological responses to an address data breach, including emotional distress, anxiety, depression or PTSD. Moreover, this psychological harm could have a knock-on effect on the individual’s finances. For example, the person may be so distressed that strangers may know their home address due to the breach, that they lose money on installing home security or moving house.
If you would like to discuss what valid data breach claims look like with an advisor, call us today.
What Compensation Could You Receive For An Address Data Breach?
The compensation you could receive for an address data breach is determined by the psychological harm you have suffered, the severity of it and whether you have incurred any financial losses.
The psychological harm you have suffered as a direct result of the personal data breach is referred to as ‘non-material damage’ and can be covered as part of your data breach compensation.
Non-material damage can be calculated by solicitors using frameworks such as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG is a publication which outlines guideline brackets of compensation for a wide variety of injury types, including their severities.
To be helpful, we have designed a table below containing several compensation brackets for psychological harm sourced from the JCG. This will hopefully give you a clearer picture of what data breach compensation can look like.
An important disclaimer to disclose is that the top figure has not been selected from the JCG, and this table is intended for guidance only.
| INSTANCE OF HARM | COMPENSATION GUIDELINE | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Psychiatric Harm Plus Financial Harm | Up to £250,000+ | Severe psychiatric and financial harm, such as lost wages, relocation costs and therapy fees. |
| Severe - General Psychiatric Damage | £66,920 to £141,240 | This level of award is subject to specific factors like impact on the claimant's relationships and how well they cope with life. |
| Moderately Severe - General Psychiatric Damage | £23,270 to £66,920 | This compensation bracket is influenced by the same factors referenced above with the distinction that the prognosis is more positive. |
| Moderate - General Psychiatric Damage | £7,150 to £23,270 | The harmed individual will struggle with the same details mentioned above but improvements will have been made. |
| Less Severe - General Psychiatric Damage | £1,880 to £7,150 | How long the claimant had the disability will be taken into account and how badly daily activities are impacted. |
| Severe - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | £73,050 to £122,850 | The harmed individual will suffer permanent effects and will not be able to work. |
| Moderately Severe - PTSD | £28,250 to £73,050 | This compensation bracket is distinct from the above because the prognosis will be better alongside some possible recovery under the guidance of professional help. |
| Moderate - PTSD | £9,980 to £28,250 | Any ongoing side effects will not be grossly disabling and a large recovery will have been made. |
| Less Severe - PTSD | £4,820 to £9,980 | The claimant will have made virtually a full recovery within one to two years. |
Can I Claim For Material Losses Caused By An Address Data Breach?
Yes, you could claim for material losses caused by an address data breach, such as relocation fees if you feared for your safety. Specifically, material losses translate to any money you have lost as a direct result of your personal data breach.
These data breach costs are referred to as ‘material damage’ in the context of data breach compensation, and we’ve provided some examples below:
- Loss of earnings
- Therapy costs
- Expenses incurred from installing home security systems
Importantly, you could claim for any financial losses caused by a data breach on their own.
We can help you claim compensation. Simply get in touch with our team of advisors today.
What Evidence Do You Need For An Address Data Breach Claim?
The evidence you need for an address data breach claim is proof that the breach has occurred, its impact on you and your connection to the data.
Strong pieces of evidence you could use to support your address data breach claim are:
- Your data breach notification letter
- Any correspondence between you and the organisation responsible
- Any findings from an investigation by the ICO. (ICO is the UK’s independent authority on data protection and information rights.)
- Proof of psychological harm, such as your medical records and a psychologist’s letter confirming your diagnosis
- Proof of financial losses by providing your payslips, invoices and bank statements
Notably, you must start your claim within the legal time limit. You generally have up to 6 years to begin your address data breach claim.
We can gather evidence on your behalf and assess your eligibility regarding time limits. Call us today to find out more.
Can You Make A No Win No Fee Address Data Breach Claim?
Yes, you can make a No Win No Fee address data breach claim with our panel of solicitors, provided you are eligible. The term No Win No Fee refers to the costs of hiring professional legal representation, not the costs of making a data breach compensation claim.
Specifically, our panel of solicitors work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means you won’t have to pay for solicitors’ fees if your address data breach claim fails or while it is in progress, and you also won’t be caught off guard by paying for any upfront solicitors’ fees.
In the event that your address data breach claim wins, you will pay a success fee. This is paid directly from your data breach compensation. Importantly, you will take home the bulk of your compensation, as the success fee will be deducted as a legally limited percentage under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
To learn more about why a CFA is helpful for claimants, contact us today.
Why Choose Specialist Data Breach Solicitors?
You should choose our specialist data breach solicitors because our panel will give you immediate access to a robust range of support services to help you through the claims process. Here are some examples of how we can help you:
- Getting you access to the help you need in the form of occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and other medical professionals
- Translating any legal jargon so you can make your own decisions with complete clarity
- Secure an independent medical assessment to strengthen your address data breach claim
- Securing evidence to support your claim
- Calculate your compensation to accurately reflect any and all physical, psychological and financial harm
Our advisors are available around the clock to assist you. If you believe you would benefit from using our services, get in touch with us today using the contact information below:
Contact Us About Your Address Data Breach Claim
- Call for free on 020 8050 6279
- Contact us online
- Text us using our live chat
More Information
For more information, read some more guides by us:
- Read our guide on government data breach claims.
- Take a look at our guide on making an HR data breach claim.
- Have a read of our guide on a human error data breach claim.
Deepen your research by reading these external resources:
- Guidance on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from GOV.UK.
- Information on Data security incident trends from the ICO.
- Cyber security advice for you and your family from the National Cyber Security Centre.
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on how to make an address data breach claim.