This guide will explore the potential steps you could take if a Metro Bank data breach were to occur and affect your personal data. In certain cases, it may be possible to make a claim following a breach of your personal data. However, there are a set of criteria that need to be met in order to have valid grounds to pursue compensation. We will discuss these further throughout our guide.
Metro Bank Data Breach – When Could You Claim Compensation?
Additionally, our guide outlines what laws are in place to protect your personal data and the parties responsible for adhering to these laws. We will also discuss how a bank data breach could occur.
Moreover, we look into the steps you could take should a breach of your personal data occur. Also, we will explore what data breach compensation you could potentially receive if you make a claim that succeeds.
Furthermore, we conclude our guide by explaining what you can expect if you work with a No Win No Fee solicitor and the services they could offer to benefit both you and your claim.
For more information, you can contact our team of advisors. They can offer further guidance about when you could claim compensation following a personal data breach. Please select a method below to get in contact:
- Call on 0161 696 9685
- Fill out your details via our online form to contact us
- Use our chat feature to speak with an advisor
Select A Section
- Metro Bank Data Breach – When Could You Claim Compensation?
- What Data Could Be Involved In A Bank Data Breach?
- Evidence That May Support A Claim For A Bank Data Breach
- What Could I Do If A Metro Bank Data Breach Were To Occur And Affect My Personal Data?
- Compensation Payouts After A Bank Data Breach
- Make A No Win No Fee Bank Data Breach Claim
Metro Bank Data Breach – When Could You Claim Compensation?
Firstly, a data breach is defined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a security incident which has affected the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of your personal data. The ICO are an independent body responsible for upholding your freedoms as a data subject.
Personal data is any information that can be used to identify you. It can include your name, address, and telephone number. Additionally, special category data is information which is sensitive in nature and therefore requires more security. This can include biometric data as well as personal data revealing your racial or ethnic origin.
Controllers and processors are in charge of protecting your personal data. A data controller decides how and why your data is collected. A processor will typically be a third party working on behalf of the controller.
They each have a responsibility to protect your personal information under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation.
If there is a failure on the part of a controller or processor to adhere to data protection laws which caused a breach of your personal data and led to you experiencing emotional harm or financial loss, you may be eligible to make a personal data breach claim.
What Limitation Periods Apply To Data Breach Claims?
In addition to meeting the criteria we have laid out above, you also need to ensure you start your personal data breach claim within the limitation period. This is generally six years but will be reduced to one year when the claim is against a public body.
For further information about when you could be eligible to seek data breach compensation and how long you have to do so, please get in touch.
What Data Could Be Involved In A Bank Data Breach?
A bank may process several types of personal data, including your:
- Name
- Postal address
- Email address
- Phone number
- Date of birth
- Credit card and debit card details
Additionally, they may also possess special category data such as biometric data.
If there is a failure to protect this personal data, it could cause you to experience financial loss or emotional damage. For example, the bank may fail to update its company records after you told them your new address. As a result, a staff member may have sent a letter containing your new debit card and pin number to the wrong postal address. This could lead to you experiencing financial loss in the form of money being stolen from your account.
Similarly, the bank may also have the wrong email address listed for you even though you informed them of your updated email address. As such, an email containing information about your credit card may be sent to the wrong person. This could lead to you experiencing stress or anxiety.
To learn what steps you could take if a Metro Bank data breach were to occur and affect your personal data, contact an advisor using the number at the top of the page.
Evidence That May Support A Claim For A Bank Data Breach
There are several pieces of evidence that could help to support your potential claim following a personal data breach. For example:
- Bank statements, credit reports, and other financial documents can illustrate financial losses.
- Evidence of correspondence you have had with the bank, such as copies of emails or letters that provide details on how the breach occurred and the type of data that was affected.
Additionally, if you contact the ICO, they can investigate the data breach. If they do, their findings can help to support your claim.
If you are unsure what evidence you could gather to strengthen your case, you can get in touch with an advisor. They can assess whether you’re eligible to have a solicitor represent your case. If it’s found you have legitimate grounds to seek compensation, you could be connected to a solicitor from our panel. They have experience handling data breach cases and can guide you through the different stages of the claims process.
What Could I Do If A Metro Bank Data Breach Were To Occur And Affect My Personal Data?
There are several steps you could take if your personal data is affected following a breach. For example, you could:
- Contact the organisation: Whilst the organisation needs to notify you of the breach without undue delay, if it affects your rights and freedoms, you could contact them before this point if you suspect your data has been compromised. You can do this via email, telephone or by sending a letter.
- Report the incident to the ICO: If the organisation does not respond or does not provide an adequate response, you could contact the ICO. In some cases, they may choose to investigate your report. Additionally, they can take enforcement action against the organisation if they are found to have breached data protection laws.
You can get in touch with an advisor to discuss the potential steps you may be able to take if a Metro Bank data breach were to occur and compromise your personal data.
Compensation Payouts After A Bank Data Breach
You may be eligible to receive compensation after suffering in a data breach. There are two types of damage you could claim compensation for, material and non-material.
Non-material damage refers to emotional harm. For example, you could suffer anxiety caused by a data breach. Similarly, you could also experience stress due to a data breach. To support your claim, you could request notes from your GP or therapist detailing the effect on your mental health.
When the mental harm you suffered is being valued, solicitors may use the guideline compensation brackets provided by the Judicial College Guidelines to help them.
Some of these figures are in the table below. However, there is no guarantee that you will receive these amounts in your settlement as each claim is unique. As such, you should only use the figures as a guide.
Compensation Guidelines
| Injury | Severity | Notes | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric Damage | Severe (a) | The person has problems in respect to coping with life and work, as well as other issues. The prognosis is very poor. | £54,830 to £115,730 |
| Moderately Severe (b) | There are significant problems similar to the above bracket but the prognosis is a lot more optimistic. | £19,070 to £54,830 | |
| Moderate (c) | There have been problems, though the prognosis is good and there has been marked improvement. | £5,860 to £19,070 | |
| Less Severe (d) | The period of the disability and the impact on daily life will be considered in relation to the award. | £1,540 to £5,860 | |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Severe (a) | Effects are permanent and prevent the person from returning to a pre-trauma level. | £59,860 to £100,670 |
| Moderately Severe (b) | There is a better prognosis due to professional help though there are persisting disabilities. | £23,150 to £59,860 | |
| Moderate (c) | The person has largely recovered and the effects that remain don't have a large impact. | £8,180 to £23,150 | |
| Less Severe (d) | A full recovery has virtually been made within one to two years. | £3,950 to £8,180 |
What Is Material Damage?
Material damage is the financial losses you have experienced due to a data breach. As mentioned, this could include loans being taken out in your name and money stolen from your account. This could be compensated for within your settlement.
For more information on the potential settlement you could receive following a successful claim for a personal data breach, get in touch on the number above.
Make A No Win No Fee Bank Data Breach Claim
You may want to work with a data breach solicitor from our panel. They have experience with handling claims similar to your own.
Furthermore, they could offer to work on a No Win No Fee basis, putting forward a Conditional Fee Agreement. If you choose to enter into this contract with them, you won’t be expected to pay for the services of your solicitor if your claim is unsuccessful.
Alternatively, your solicitor will deduct a fee from your compensation, commonly referred to as a success fee if your case has a successful outcome. A restriction is placed on the percentage they are permitted to take by the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
Discuss Your Data Breach Compensation Claim
We hope this guide has helped you understand the steps you could take should a Metro Bank data breach occur. However, if you have any other questions, please get in touch on the number above.
Additionally, they can provide further guidance on data breach claims, including eligibility, time limits and compensation settlements.
For more information, you can reach an advisor via one of the following methods:
- Call on 0161 696 9685
- Complete our form with your details to contact us
- Speak with an advisor through our chat feature
Additional Resources
You can find more of our guides below:
- Family Data Breach Compensation Claims Guide
- How To Make A Lost Records Data Breach Compensation Claim
- Breach Of Confidentiality Compensation Claims Explained
More helpful external resources are below:
- Data Breaches – Government Guidance
- Stress – NHS
- Make A Complaint– ICO
Thank you for reading our guide on what steps you could take if a Metro bank data breach where to occur. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the details provided above.
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