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Last updated 17th March 2026. If your personal information has been compromised in a credit or debit card data breach, you may be able to claim compensation for any resulting emotional and/or financial harm. Data breach compensation can provide meaningful financial relief for claimants, as payouts can cover lost earnings, therapy costs, and any necessary upgrades to home security.
When valuing debit card data breach claims, legal professionals may use suggested compensation brackets found in a document called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). For example, you may be awarded between £66,920 and £141,240 for severe psychiatric damage, where there may be an effect on relationships and difficulties coping with daily life. Similarly, for severe post-traumatic stress disorder that leaves you unable to function as you did pre-trauma, you might receive anywhere from £73,050 to £122,850. These are useful figures, but your compensation will always be calculated to reflect your specific circumstances.
Data breach law can seem complex, especially if this is your first time claiming. Our advisors can give you straightforward answers to any questions you have and explain whether one of our solicitors could represent you. Data breaches involving bank cards can be profoundly distressing, so please reach out today to find out how our expert solicitors provide compassionate and confidential support to clients.
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Select A Section
- What Is A Credit Card Or Debit Card Data Breach?
- Can I Claim For A Bank Card Data Breach?
- Have My Card Details Been Involved In A Data Breach?
- Examples Of A Credit Or Debit Card Data Breach
- What Could You Claim For After A Credit Or Debit Card Breach?
- What Should I Do After A Credit Or Debit Card Data Breach?
- Why Claim For A Bank Card Data Breach With Advice’s Solicitors
- Talk To Us About Your Credit Or Debit Card Data Breach
What Is A Credit Card Or Debit Card Data Breach?
Personal data is data which can identify a person. Your name, postal address, or credit card information are all examples of personal data. When a security incident compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of this data, this is a personal data breach.
The UK GDPR sets out the criteria for claiming compensation following a personal data breach. Under this legislation, in order to claim, the breach must:
- Include your personal data
- Be the fault of the data controller or processor
- Cause you to experience harm
A data controller is in charge of establishing a lawful basis for collecting and processing your personal data and deciding which data they need. A data processor then processes this data on the controller’s behalf.
If your personal information has been compromised in a credit or debit card data breach, contact our advisors today. They can tell you if you are eligible to claim data breach compensation.
Can I Claim For A Bank Card Data Breach?
Yes, you can make a credit card data breach claim if you were financially or psychologically harmed as a result of an organisation failing to protect your personal information. All organisations that handle the personal data of UK citizens must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), including banks, loan providers, and credit societies.
The UK GDPR is built on 7 key principles that every organisation handling personal data must follow. These are as follows:
- Data minimisation
- Purpose limitation
- Fairness, transparency and lawfulness
- Storage limitation
- Confidentiality and integrity
- Accountability
- Accuracy
If an organisation fails to implement necessary data protection measures in accordance with its legal obligations, such as failing to securely dispose of customer records, a breach may occur. When this compromises your personal information and results in psychological and/or financial harm, there may be grounds to pursue a claim.
To establish your eligibility for starting legal proceedings, all you need to do is call an advisor or submit an online form. This way, you can get answers quickly and find out what to do next.
Have My Card Details Been Involved In A Data Breach?
If a data controller or processor discovers a credit or debit card data breach which could affect your rights or freedoms, they must report this to the ICO within 72 hours. Likewise, they should inform you as soon as possible.
As such, you may receive a notification from the organisation letting you know that your personal data has been compromised. This notification may tell you what data was affected, how, and what steps the organisation are taking.
Read on to learn how a credit or debit card data breach could happen and how to claim, or contact our advisors for more information.
Examples Of A Credit Card Or Debit Card Data Breach
You may be wondering how a credit or debit card data breach could occur. As we have previously mentioned, in order to claim, the breach must be a result of the data controller or data processor’s wrongful conduct. Examples include:
- Misdelivery: A credit or debit card provider could send personal data to the incorrect recipient, allowing another party to access this information.
- Cyberattacks: Organisations must make sure that they have adequate security measures. If this does not happen, a cyberattack might result in a credit or debit card breach.
- Lost or stolen files: For example, if files are lost by an accountant or bank employee.
Our advisors can provide free guidance and an evaluation of your claim when you get in touch today.
What Could You Claim For After A Credit Or Debit Card Breach?
You could claim for the psychological and financial harm resulting from a credit or debit card breach. The mental health impact of a breach is referred to as non-material damage, which can encompass any stress or anxiety you experienced because of your personal information being compromised.
The compensation table below features suggested compensation brackets taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG document aids legal professionals in valuing non-material damage, as the text matches its guideline brackets with various forms of harm.
However, since every claim is unique, please only use the table for guidance. The top entry is also not from the JCG.
| Type Of Harm | Severity | Damages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Forms of Very Severe Harm + Financial Losses | Very Severe | Up to £250,000+ | Financial impact may relate to lost earnings and the cost of therapy and additional home security. |
| Psychological Damage | Severe | £66,920 to £141,240 | There are permanent symptoms that severely impact the ability to cope with daily life. |
| Psychological Damage | Moderately Severe | £23,270 to £66,920 | Though the symptoms are similar to those above, there is a more optimistic prognosis. |
| Psychological Damage | Moderate | £7,150 to £23,270 | By the time the case is heard at trial, there has been a marked improvement in symptoms, which leads to a good prognosis. |
| Psychological Damage | Less Severe | £1,880 to £7,150 | The award will take into account factors such as the overall impact on daily life and the length of time affected by symptoms. |
| PTSD | Severe | £73,050 to £122,850 | There will be no remaining ability to work or function at the pre-trauma level due to severe symptoms. |
| PTSD | Moderately Severe | £28,250 to £73,050 | There is some degree of recovery possible with professional treatment, leading to a better prognosis. |
| PTSD | Moderate | £9,980 to £28,250 | While a large recovery occurs, some symptoms that are not grossly disabling continue. |
| PTSD | Less Severe | £4,820 to £9,980 | There is a virtually full recovery within 1-2 years, and only minor symptoms remain. |
Material Damage
Material damage is the financial harm you endured due to a breach. This can include:
- Therapy or other mental health services
- Lost earnings, including future income.
- Additional security in the home.
- Relocating to a new property.
To be able to claim compensation for your material damage, you will need to provide evidence such as bank statements and payslips.
Contact our advisors today to learn more about compensation in credit and debit card data breach claims.
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What Should I Do After A Credit Or Debit Card Data Breach?
After a credit or debit card data breach, you should promptly contact your bank to follow its recommendations, take steps to improve your overall security, and connect with a solicitor. These steps can involve:
- Maintaining communications: Stay in contact with your bank to ensure you are kept informed about the data breach.
- Securing information: Change the passwords for any accounts that might have been affected.
- Adding additional security measures: Use multi-factor authentication (MFA), such as a 1-time code sent to your phone to verify access to your account.
- Making a complaint: If you are not satisfied with your bank or card issuer’s response, you can make a complaint to the ICO within 3 months of the last meaningful contact with them.
- Connecting with a solicitor: Here at Advice, our data breach solicitors provide client-focused support throughout the claims process, helping with gathering evidence, preparing casework, and confidentially handling communications with other parties.
If you would like to discuss these steps in detail, please reach out to our advisory team today.
Why Claim For A Bank Card Data Breach With Advice’s Solicitors
If you claim for a bank card data breach with Advice’s solicitors, you will benefit from decades of combined experience and expert guidance through the legal system. We are meticulous in our approach to every case, ensuring no detail is overlooked and that our clients receive the comprehensive support they need. We can assist you by:
- Explaining how you prove the credit or debit card data breach and the harm it caused you
- Breaking down any complex legal terms that will help you to understand the progress of your case
- Making strong arguments for the maximum amount of data breach compensation to be paid to you for your specific circumstances
- Managing communication on your behalf so you never have to navigate correspondence on your own
- Connecting you with trusted specialists who can support your mental health
There is no need to wait if you would like to know more, as our advisors are available at any time to provide confidential assistance. You are welcome to enquire about these services or any other aspects of claiming with Advice.
Talk To Us About Your Credit Or Debit Card Data Breach
You could make a credit card data breach claim with one of our solicitors on No Win No Fee terms. This involves signing a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which will allow your solicitor to proceed without charging you service fees for their work at the following stages of the claim:
- Before the case starts
- As your claim is being assessed
- If you are not compensated
However, should you be given bank card data breach compensation, you will pay a percentage of your compensation to your solicitor. There is a legal cap placed on the percentage taken for this success fee, ensuring that you keep most of the compensation.
For the chance to make a claim with one of our solicitors on this basis, don’t hesitate to contact our advisors today. Before making any legal decisions, you are welcome to ask them more about the process. They can also give you a free case assessment to assess your situation and see if you can pursue compensation. Get in touch today for answers with no strings attached:
- Call 0161 509 2856
- Contact us online
- Or use live chat to talk to an advisor
Related Resources On Financial Data Breaches
For more related resources:
- NCSC – Help to stay secure online
- ICO – Do organisations need consent to share your data?
- ICO – Your right to be informed if your personal data is being used
You can also read our guides on other types of data breach claims, including:
- How to pursue compensation after a breach of bank statements.
- The process of claiming after a Universal Credit data breach.
- Our answers to data breach compensation FAQs.
Thank you for reading our guide to claiming compensation for a credit or debit card data breach.
