TaxBuddi Data Breach – When Could I Claim Compensation?

In this guide, you can find information on the potential steps that could be taken should a TaxBuddi data breach happen.

TaxBuddi data breach

TaxBuddi Data Breach – When Can I Claim Compensation?

There may be some instances in which a personal data breach claim could be made. However, in order to have valid grounds to seek compensation, a set of criteria need to be satisfied. As you move through this guide, you will find information on the eligibility requirements as well as the steps you could take to strengthen your case.

This guide will also explore what a personal data breach is, how one could occur and the ways in which it could impact you. Additionally, it will discuss the responsibilities that certain parties have with regard to the storing, handling and processing of your personal data and the legislation they must adhere to.

Furthermore, we will discuss the potential data breach compensation payout that could be awarded following a successful claim and how it may be valued.

To conclude, our guide will provide an overview of how it could benefit you to work with a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis. 

For more information, please speak with an advisor via the following contact details:

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TaxBuddi Data Breach – When Could I Claim Compensation?

The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), which works in conjunction with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), establish the responsibilities that data controllers and data processors have with regard to handling, storing and processing your personal data, both digital and physical forms.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), an independent body responsible for upholding information rights, provides a helpful overview of the role these two parties have:

  • Controllers: The party responsible for determining, either alone or with others, the purpose and means for processing personal data.
  • Processors: The party that processors personal data on behalf of the controller.

Personal data is any information that could be used to identify a person such as their name, email address, bank details or postal address. Additionally, there is another type of data referred to as special category data which, due to it’s sensitive nature, requires extra protection. This can include biometric data when used for identification purposes and data that reveals your racial or ethnic origin.

A breach of your personal data is defined by the ICO as a security breach that results in the accidental or unlawful loss, alteration or destruction of your personal data. It can also involve your personal data being disclosed or accessed without authorisation.

In order to have a valid claim for a personal data breach, it needs to be demonstrated that:

  • A controller or processor failed in their responsibilities to uphold data protection laws.
  • Due to their wrongful conduct, a breach occurred compromising your personal data.
  • As a result of the breach, you experienced emotional damage or financial loss.

Time Limits To Claim For A Data Breach 

There are certain time limits that must be adhered to when making a data breach claim. If you are claiming against a public body you generally have one year to begin the process. If not, you must begin your claim within six years. 

For more details on the data breach claims time limit and eligibility criteria, please contact an advisor on the number above.

What Is A Breach Of Personal Data? 

There are several ways a personal data breach could occur. For example:

  • Cyber security incident: The organisation may not have kept their cyber security systems up to date and suffer a ransomware attack. As a result, your personal data, including your name, credit and debit card details, postal address and email address are stolen, which leads to you suffering from anxiety and stress. 
  • Human error: A physical file containing your personal data, including that which relates to your finances, is not securely locked away. As a result, your documents are stolen and you experience financial loss via money being taken from your account. 

To learn what steps you could take should a TaxBuddi data breach occur and affect your personal data, please contact an advisor on the number above.

Evidence Supporting Claims For Data Breach Compensation

If your personal data is compromised in a breach, you should contact the organisation to find out what information was affected and how they plan to rectify the situation. Any correspondence you have with the organisation can be used as evidence to support your potential claim.

If they do not give an adequate response or do not respond at all, you may wish to complain to the ICO. The ICO can investigate the incident and if their findings support your case, you could use these as evidence. 

Additionally, it is important to show that you were mentally or financially impacted due to the data breach. As such, it could benefit you to gather the following: 

  • Copies of medical reports that show any mental harm you have experienced.
  • Proof of financial losses, such as bank statements and credit reports.

To find out more about the evidence that could be used in data breach claims, reach out to an advisor on the number above.

How Much Compensation Could You Get For A Data Breach?

Following a successful data breach claim, you could be awarded a settlement that includes compensation for:

  • Any emotional harm you experienced because of the breach. This is referred to as non-material damage and can include mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, distress or stress. 
  • Any financial loss you experienced because of the breach. This is referred to as material damage and can include money stolen from your account, loans that have been taken out in your name, and lost earnings that you have incurred due to taking time off work to recover from the breach.

Below, we have included a table of compensation brackets that have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that can be used by legal professionals when valuing the non-material damage aspect of your settlement.

However, these are only to be used as a guide as settlements can vary on a case-by-case basis.

Compensation Amounts

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Injury Severity Compensation Bracket Details
(a) Psychological harm Severe £54,830 to £115,730 The person will have marked problems coping with different areas of life and the prognosis will be very poor.
(b) Psychological harm Moderately Severe £19,070 to £54,830 Despite the person still having significant problems coping with different areas of their life, the prognosis will be better than in the above bracket.
(c) Psychological harm Moderate £5,860 to £19,070 The person will have shown a significant improvement and will have a good prognosis.
(d) Psychological harm Less Severe £1,540 to £5,860 How long and to what extent the person has been affected will be considered when valuing the award.
(a) Reactive disorder (psychiatric) Severe £59,860 to £100,670 The injured person is unable to cope with anything near to pre-trauma level due to permanent effects.
(b) Reactive disorder (psychiatric) Moderately Severe £23,150 to £59,860 A better prognosis is achieved due to some recovery with help from a medical professional but the person is still likely to have a significant disability for the foreseeable future.
(c) Reactive disorder (psychiatric) Moderate £8,180 to £23,150 There may be ongoing issues, but these won’t be majorly disabling, and the person will have made a significant recovery.
(d) Reactive disorder (psychiatric) Less Severe £3,950 to £8,180 The injured person has nearly fully recovered within 1-2 years with minor symptoms continuing over a longer period.

Our advisors can offer you a free personalised estimate of how much compensation you could be entitled to. Call on the number above to learn more about how data breach claims are valued.  

Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Represent A Data Breach Claim?

A No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel can use their years of experience to help you seek compensation. They could offer their services, such as help gathering evidence to support your claim and ensuring your claim is presented in full within the relevant time limit, via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

If you enter into a CFA, you typically won’t have to pay for the services your solicitor provides upfront or throughout the duration of your claim. Moreover, if your claim is lost, you won’t have to pay for the work your solicitor has completed. 

You will owe your solicitor a success fee if your case is won. This will be taken from your settlement as a percentage, which is capped by law.

If you would like to see whether you are eligible to be represented on a No Win No Fee basis, please get in touch with an advisor from our team. If they find your case to be valid after carrying out an assessment, they could connect you with a data breach solicitor from our panel. 

Speak To Our Team If A TaxBuddi Data Breach Occurs

We hope this guide on what you could potentially do should a TaxBuddi data breach occur and affect your personal data has helped. However, if you have any other questions, please get in touch with an advisor via one of the following contact methods:

Find Out More About Personal Data Breach Claims

For more of our helpful data breach guides:

For more external resources:

Thank you for reading this guide regarding the potential steps that could be taken if a TaxBuddi data breach were to occur and compromise your personal data. If you have any remaining questions, please get in touch with an advisor from our team. 

Writer KC

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