If you’re an SGN employee who received a notification about the November 2025 data breach, you’re probably feeling anxious, worried, and perhaps even angry. Having your personal information, including your salary, National Insurance number, and home address, exposed through no fault of your own is deeply unsettling. The good news is that you have legal rights, and you could be entitled to compensation.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the SGN data breach, what it means for you, and how to claim the compensation you deserve. We’ve helped countless people just like you recover damages for the distress and harm caused by data breaches, and we’re here to support you too.
What Happened in the SGN Data Breach?
Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) experienced a significant data breach on 11th November 2025, affecting approximately 1,401 employees. The incident appears to have stemmed from human error an internal email containing highly sensitive employee information was sent to 32 colleagues within the company. Unfortunately, the situation worsened when one of those employees shared the file externally to their spouse.
The type of information exposed goes far beyond just names and email addresses. We’re talking about deeply personal data that could put you at risk.
Timeline of Events
According to reports, SGN discovered the breach shortly after it occurred and attempted to recall the email. The company has stated it worked to delete versions of the file from employee inboxes and requested that the external recipient delete their copy as well. However, once information leaves the secure environment of an organisation, there’s no guarantee it can be fully contained.
This is precisely why data breach claims exist as a form of recourse under UK GDPR to hold organisations accountable when they fail to protect your personal information adequately.
What Personal Information Was Exposed?
The SGN data breach involved a worrying range of sensitive personal data. If you’ve received a notification letter or email, your information likely included:
- Full name
- Home address
- Work email address
- Date of birth
- Gender
- National Insurance number
- Ethnicity data
- Salary information
The inclusion of salary details is particularly concerning. Knowing what colleagues earn can create tension and awkwardness in the workplace, potentially damaging professional relationships. For some employees, having their home address shared could raise genuine safety concerns, especially if they’ve previously experienced harassment or domestic issues.
This type of information falling into the wrong hands could also be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or targeted phishing attacks. These aren’t just theoretical risks, they’re genuine threats that thousands of data breach victims face every year.
Why the SGN Data Breach Matters
When we talk about what to do if your data has been breached, it’s important to understand the potential long-term consequences. Even though SGN has taken steps to contain the breach, the reality is that once data is out there, you can’t simply put it back in the box.
Immediate Risks You May Face
Identity Theft: With your National Insurance number, date of birth, and address, criminals have much of what they need to impersonate you. They could attempt to open credit accounts in your name, apply for loans, or even claim benefits fraudulently.
Phishing Attacks: Scammers armed with your personal details can craft convincing emails or phone calls claiming to be from SGN, your bank, or HMRC. These targeted attacks are far more dangerous than generic spam.
Workplace Tension: Salary information being shared among colleagues breaks the confidentiality that many employment contracts promise. This can lead to uncomfortable conversations, resentment, and a breakdown in workplace trust.
Personal Safety Concerns: If you’ve taken steps to keep your home address private—perhaps due to past harassment, domestic violence, or stalking—having it shared undermines those protections.
The Emotional Toll
Don’t underestimate the psychological impact of knowing your private information has been exposed. Many of our clients report feelings of violation, anxiety about what might happen next, and a loss of trust in their employer. These feelings are valid, and under UK GDPR, you can claim compensation for the emotional distress caused by a data breach, even if you haven’t suffered financial losses yet.
Your Legal Rights: Can You Claim Compensation?
Under Article 82 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the right to claim compensation if an organisation breaches your personal data through negligence or failure to follow proper procedures.
Eligibility Criteria
To make a successful SGN data breach compensation claim, you need to demonstrate three things:
- SGN, as the data controller, failed to comply with data protection laws by not having adequate safeguards in place to prevent this type of human error.
- The breach directly resulted in your personal data being exposed to unauthorised individuals.
- You’ve suffered either financial loss (such as having to pay for credit monitoring services) or emotional distress (anxiety, worry, stress about potential misuse of your data).
The good news is that you don’t need to prove financial losses to claim. Compensation for psychological distress alone is entirely valid under UK law.
Time Limits for Making a Claim
You generally have six years from the date of the breach to bring a claim. However, we strongly recommend acting sooner rather than later. Evidence is easier to gather, memories are fresher, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing the process is underway.
What Compensation Could You Receive?
Every data breach case is unique, and compensation amounts vary based on the severity of the impact you’ve experienced. However, we can give you a general idea of what to expect.
Types of Compensation Available
Non-Material Damage: This covers the psychological harm you’ve suffered—stress, anxiety, worry, distress, or fear about what might happen with your data. Legal professionals often refer to the Judicial College Guidelines when valuing these claims. Typical compensation for moderate psychological distress in data breach compensation case studies ranges from £1,000 to £10,000, though more serious cases can attract higher awards.
Material Damage: If you’ve incurred actual financial losses—such as paying for additional credit monitoring, costs associated with changing accounts, or even having to relocate due to safety concerns—you can claim these back as well.
Steps to Take Right Now
If you’ve been affected by the SGN data breach, there are immediate actions you should take to protect yourself:
1. Secure Your Online Accounts
Change passwords for all important accounts, particularly online banking, email, and any accounts that hold personal or financial information. Use strong, unique passwords for each account—consider using a password manager to keep track of them.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Wherever possible, add an extra layer of security to your accounts through two-factor authentication (2FA). This means even if someone has your password, they’ll need a second code sent to your phone to access your account.
3. Monitor Your Credit File
SGN has reportedly offered affected employees access to Experian credit monitoring for 12 months. Take advantage of this service and check your credit report regularly for any unusual activity, such as accounts you didn’t open or credit searches you didn’t authorise.
4. Watch for Phishing Attempts
Be extremely cautious of any unexpected emails, text messages, or phone calls claiming to be from SGN, your bank, HMRC, or other organisations. Scammers may use your leaked information to make their approaches seem legitimate. If you’re unsure whether a communication is genuine, contact the organisation directly using a phone number or email address you find independently—not one provided in the suspicious message.
5. Report Suspicious Activity
If you notice anything unusual, unauthorised transactions, unfamiliar credit applications, or suspicious communications, report it immediately to Action Fraud (the UK’s national fraud reporting centre) and inform your bank.
What If You Haven’t Received a Notification Letter?
If you’re an SGN employee but haven’t received an official data breach notification, you may not have been affected. However, if you’re concerned, it’s worth checking.
The best approach is to contact SGN’s HR department or your line manager directly. It’s better to put your enquiry in writing (via email) so you have a record of your request. Ask them to confirm whether your personal data was included in the breach and, if so, what specific information was involved.
Under the UK GDPR, SGN has an obligation to respond to your request. If they fail to reply within three months, you have the right to escalate the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which can investigate on your behalf.
The Data Breach Claims Process
Making a compensation claim might sound daunting, but with the right support, it’s straightforward. Here’s how the process typically works:
Step 1: Free Case Assessment
The first step is to speak with specialist data breach solicitors who can assess whether you have valid grounds for a claim. During this initial conversation, we’ll discuss:
- How the breach has affected you emotionally and financially
- What evidence you have (such as the notification letter from SGN)
- Whether your case meets the eligibility criteria
This consultation is completely free and comes with no obligation to proceed.
Step 2: Gathering Evidence
If we agree that you have a strong case, we’ll help you gather the evidence needed to support your claim. This might include:
- Your data breach notification letter from SGN
- Medical records or GP notes documenting anxiety, stress, or other psychological impacts
- Bank statements showing any financial losses
- Correspondence with SGN about the breach
- Details of any protective measures you’ve had to take
Step 3: Formal Notification to SGN
Once we have everything in place, we’ll send a formal Letter of Claim to SGN (and their insurers). This legal document sets out the basis of your claim, explains how you’ve been harmed, and requests appropriate compensation. SGN typically has 14 days to acknowledge receipt and then up to three months to investigate and respond.
Step 4: Negotiations and Settlement
In most cases, customer data breach claims are settled through negotiation rather than going to court. We’ll handle all discussions with SGN’s legal team and their insurers, pushing for a settlement that fairly reflects the severity of the impact on you.
If necessary, we can obtain specialist medical evidence (such as a psychological assessment) to strengthen your case. The entire process typically takes between six to twelve months, though some cases settle more quickly.
No Win No Fee: Making a Claim Without Financial Risk
One of the most common concerns people have is cost. The last thing you need after experiencing a data breach is to worry about paying legal fees upfront.
That’s why we offer No Win No Fee agreements (also known as Conditional Fee Agreements). Here’s how it works:
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you don’t pay us anything. The risk is entirely on us.
- If your claim succeeds, we deduct a small percentage of your compensation as our fee. This amount is capped by law and will be clearly explained to you before you agree to proceed typically around 25% of your award.
This arrangement means you can access specialist legal representation without any upfront costs or financial risk. You only pay if you win.
Why SGN’s Actions May Constitute a Breach of GDPR
Understanding the legal framework helps you see why you have strong grounds for a claim. Under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, organisations like SGN have strict legal obligations when handling your personal data.
Data Controller Responsibilities
As a data controller, SGN is required to:
- Implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data (Article 32 GDPR)
- Ensure that processing is lawful, fair, and transparent (Article 5)
- Process data in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unauthorised access or disclosure
The fact that an employee could easily send highly sensitive information about 1,401 colleagues to 32 people—and that this information could then be forwarded externally—suggests that SGN may not have had adequate safeguards in place.
What SGN Should Have Done
Proper data protection measures might have included:
- Email encryption for sensitive employee data
- Data loss prevention (DLP) systems that flag or block emails containing large amounts of personal information
- Access controls limiting who can view payroll and HR data
- Staff training on handling confidential information
- Clear policies and procedures for sharing employee data internally
The fact that human error led to this breach doesn’t absolve SGN of responsibility. Organisations must anticipate that mistakes can happen and implement systems to prevent or mitigate them.
Support Available from SGN
To their credit, SGN has taken some steps to support affected employees. According to reports, they’ve established an Employee Assistance Programme offering:
- Free counselling services
- Financial advice
- Wellbeing resources
- 12 months of Experian credit monitoring
While these measures are helpful, they don’t replace your right to pursue compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Think of it this way: these services are SGN’s attempt to mitigate the damage, but they don’t address the fundamental fact that your privacy was violated through their failure to protect your data adequately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation can I get for the SGN data breach?
Compensation amounts vary based on the severity of the impact you’ve experienced. For moderate psychological distress (anxiety, worry, stress), awards typically range from £1,000 to £10,000. If you’ve also suffered financial losses, these can be claimed on top. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we understand your specific circumstances.
How long do I have to make an SGN data breach claim?
You generally have six years from the date of the breach (11th November 2025) to bring a claim. However, we recommend starting the process as soon as possible while evidence is fresh and your memory of events is clear.
Will making a claim affect my employment with SGN?
No. It’s illegal for an employer to discriminate against or penalise you for exercising your legal rights under data protection law. You’re entitled to claim compensation without fear of repercussions at work.
Can I claim if I’m just worried but haven’t suffered any financial loss?
Absolutely. Under UK GDPR, you can claim compensation for psychological distress alone, even if you haven’t experienced direct financial losses. Anxiety, worry, and stress about potential misuse of your data are all valid grounds for a claim.
What evidence do I need for my SGN claim?
The most important piece of evidence is your data breach notification letter from SGN. Beyond that, anything that demonstrates the impact on you is helpful—GP notes mentioning anxiety or stress, correspondence with SGN, records of protective steps you’ve taken (like credit monitoring), or bank statements showing financial losses.
How long does an SGN data breach claim take?
Most claims settle within six to twelve months, though timelines can vary. Some straightforward cases settle more quickly, while others may take longer if SGN disputes the claim or the case needs to go to court.
Is the ICO investigating the SGN data breach?
The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) investigates significant data breaches and has the power to fine organisations up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual turnover (whichever is higher) for serious GDPR violations. Whether they’re investigating SGN specifically isn’t always public information, but you can report the breach to them if you haven’t already.
Will SGN contact me if I’ve been affected?
SGN should have sent data breach notification letters to all 1,401 affected employees. If you think you should have received one but haven’t, contact your HR department or line manager to check.
Get Expert Help with Your SGN Data Breach Claim Today
If you’ve been affected by the SGN data breach, you don’t have to face this situation alone. Our panel of specialist team of data breach solicitors has helped thousands of people like you recover compensation for the harm they’ve suffered.
We understand how stressful and unsettling it is to have your private information exposed. That’s why we handle every aspect of the legal process for you, keeping you informed every step of the way.
Why Choose Us?
- Specialists in Data Breach Claims: We focus exclusively on data protection cases and understand the complex legal framework inside out
- No Win No Fee: You pay nothing unless your claim succeeds—zero financial risk
- Free Case Assessment: We’ll review your case at no cost and with no obligation to proceed
- Proven Track Record: We’ve successfully recovered millions in compensation for data breach victims across the UK
- Compassionate Support: We know this is a difficult time, and we’re here to support you throughout the process
Don’t let SGN’s failure to protect your data go unchallenged. You have legal rights, and you deserve compensation for the anxiety, distress, and potential risks you’re facing.
Contact Us Today
Phone: 020 8050 6279
Online: Get in touch via our contact form
Call us now for a free, no-obligation discussion about your SGN data breach claim. Our friendly team is ready to answer your questions and help you take the first step toward getting the compensation you deserve.
The sooner you act, the sooner we can begin building your case and securing the justice you’re entitled to. Don’t wait reach out today.