This guide will discuss the steps that you could take should a Conservative Party data breach occur and affect your personal data.
Conservative Party data breach – Can I claim compensation?
Additionally, we will explain what a personal data breach is, as well as the different kinds of personal data that could be involved.
It will also discuss the responsibilities certain parties have with regards to protecting your personal data and how they could fail to do so.
This guide will also touch on compensation that can be awarded in personal data breach claims that succeed.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered by this guide, we recommend you use the details below and get in touch with a member of our team. If they find that your claim could be valid, they may also connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors. To learn more, use any of the following methods to reach an advisor:
- Phone: 0800 073 8804
- Website: Contact us through our website
- Live chat: Talk to us today about your claim
Select A Section
- Conservative Party Data Breach – Can I Claim Compensation?
- What Data Could Be Involved Should A Conservative Party Data Breach Occur?
- Evidence That Can Be Used In A Data Breach Claim
- What Could I Do If A Conservative Party Data Breach Were To Occur?
- Calculate Compensation For A Personal Data Breach
- How Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help?
Conservative Party Data Breach – Can I Claim Compensation?
Firstly, a personal data breach involves the integrity of your personal data, as well as it’s availability or confidentiality being affected following a security incident.
Personal data is information that can identify you. Data controllers and data processors that handle the personal data of UK residents have to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). The party that makes the decisions regarding your data is the data controller. Then, a data processor follows their instructions to process the data on their behalf.
Not all personal data breaches will form the basis of a valid claim. This is because, to have eligible grounds to seek compensation for a data breach, you must prove the following:
- There was a failure on the part of a controller or processor to adhere to data protection laws.
- As a result of their wrongful conduct, your personal data was breached.
- Due to the personal data breach, you experienced financial loss or emotional damage.
Get in touch with our advisors today to find out if you could be eligible to claim.
What Data Could Be Involved Should A Conservative Party Data Breach Occur?
As we mentioned in the section above, personal data is any information that could be used to identify you. This includes information used alone or used in conjunction with other details. Some examples of personal data that could be involved in a breach include your:
- Full name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Postage address
- National Insurance number
- Debit and credit card details
Personal data also includes special category data. This kind of data, which is sensitive in nature, needs extra protection under data protection legislation. Special category data can include information regarding your:
- Health
- Racial or ethnic origin
- Political views
- Religious beliefs
Get in touch with our advisors now to discuss the steps you could take if a Conservative Party data breach were to occur and affect your personal data.
Evidence That Can Be Used In A Data Breach Claim
Evidence can be helpful when making a personal data breach claim. Whether you collect it yourself or with the help of a data breach solicitor, it can help prove who is liable for the breach, as well as the extent of the damage it has caused to you.
Some examples of evidence that you could gather to support your claim include:
- Medical evidence to illustrate the extent of the harm done to your mental health
- Bills, statements, or invoices that show the level of financial harm caused by the breach
- Letters or emails from the organisation responsible for the breach
- Correspondence with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which enforces the UK’s data protection laws. The ICO may investigate a breach, and the results of this investigation could help support your claim.
To learn how one of our solicitors could help you through the process of building your case, contact an advisors today.
What Could I Do If A Conservative Party Data Breach Were To Occur?
Following a personal data breach, there are several steps you an take. For example, you could contact the organisation or company involved. By doing this, you can find out how the breach occurred and what type of data was compromised.
If communication with the company or organisation has halted or is unsatisfactory to you, you can make a complaint to the ICO. As we have already mentioned, they could launch an investigation into your complaint. Additionally, they can take enforcement action against an organisation if they are found to have breached data protection laws.
Seeking legal advice can also be useful. Our team of advisors are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have and can offer free advice. Additionally, if they find that your claim could be valid, they may put you in touch with one of our expert data breach solicitors.
Calculate Compensation For A Personal Data Breach
Compensation can be awarded for the different ways you have been affected if you’re successful with your personal data breach claim. For example, you could experience material damage and non-material damage.
Non-material damage means the impact a breach has had on your mental health. For example, you could suffer anxiety because of a data breach. Or, you could experience depression after a data breach. Alternatively, you could have had an existing mental health problem made worse.
The table in this section lists guideline compensation amounts taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that legal professionals can refer to when valuing compensation for the non-material damage aspect of your settlement. But, these amounts are not guaranteed. The actual amount you could receive can vary.
| Type of Harm | Description | Guideline Award Brackets |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Harm: Severe | There is a poor prognosis and marked issues affecting several areas of the person’s life. | £54,830 – £115,730 |
| Mental Harm: Moderately Severe | The prognosis for cases in this bracket is more optimistic than above, though significant problems still persist. | £19,070 – £54,830 |
| Mental Harm: Moderate | There is a good prognosis in this bracket, and the person has made significant improvements. | £5,860 – £19,070 |
| Mental Harm: Less Severe | How long symptoms last and how they affect daily life are both considered in this bracket. | £1,540 – £5,860 |
| Anxiety Disorder: Severe | Permanent and severe symptoms reduce the ability to work or function at the pre-trauma level. | £59,860 – £100,670 |
| Anxiety Disorder: Moderately Severe | There is a better prognosis for cases in this bracket due to the person receiving professional help. | £23,150 – £59,860 |
| Anxiety Disorder: Moderate | Remaining effects are not grossly disabling due to a large recovery. | £8,180 – £23,150 |
| Anxiety Disorder: Less Severe | Within one to two years, the person has almost recovered fully. | £3,950 – £8,180 |
Material damage refers to the impact a breach has had on your finances. For example, this may include damage to your credit score, or money stolen from your accounts.
For a free personalised estimate of the compensation you could be awarded after successfully claiming, get in touch with an advisor from our team today.
How Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help?
If you are interested in seeking legal representation to help you through the claims process, our No Win No Fee solicitors could offer assistance. If your claim is valid, one of our solicitors could offer to represent you under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This means that they will provide you with legal advice and guidance, typically without asking for an upfront fee for their services. They also won’t ask for any ongoing costs for their services under this kind of agreement.
With a CFA, your solicitor takes a success fee if your claim wins. This is capped by legislation and is taken as a percentage of your compensation. But, if your claim doesn’t succeed, you will not be asked to pay this fee.
To find out if one of our solicitors could help you, get in touch with an advisor today. They can also provide further guidance on the steps you could take should a Conservative Party data breach occur and affect your personal data. For more information, you can:
- Contact us through our online form
- Call an advisor on 0800 073 8804
- Use the live chat feature
Related Data Breach Articles
If you would like to learn more about the personal data breach claims process, you can read more of our guides:
- Police data breach compensation claims
- Bank data breach compensation claims
- Local authority and council data breach compensation claims
Or, for more helpful resources:
To learn more about the steps you could take should a Conservative Party data breach occur, get in touch today.
Written by Welsh
Edited By Hampton/ Mitchell
