Wrong Postal Address Data Breach Compensation Claims
By Marlon Madison. Last Updated 17th October 2025. Every day organisations send letters containing information that can be considered personal or confidential. There are protections for this type of information; your information being viewed by a party or person not authorised to access the information can be considered a data breach. If your information was revealed to someone because of a postal address error, and this led to you suffering harm, you may be able to claim compensation for the harm you suffered in a wrong postal address data breach.
This guide will go into detail about data breaches; we’ll explain common wrong postal address errors and the various steps you can take if your information was exposed in a data breach. If you suffered harm and are interested in making a data breach claim, you can speak to one of our advisers for information on how to formally begin a claim. They offer free advice, can discuss your situation with you and walk you through the claims process.
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What Is A Wrong Postal Address Data Breach?
Any information that can be used to identify you is considered your personal information. Data protection laws, such as the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018, give protection to your personal information when it is used by an organisation (data controller).
There are rules for how your information must be protected and kept confidential and how it cannot be shared in any way considered unlawful. Your personal information being accessed or viewed by someone not authorised to access it can be considered a data breach. Your mail, being delivered to the wrong address, can lead to this.
This could happen because of a:
- Human or Clerical Error: Where a person processing your data inputted a wrong address as part of your information
- A Computer Error: An error with a machine that led to your data being sent to the wrong address
- Failure to Update: If a data controller fails to update contact details when the data subject provides a new address, this could cause a letter to be sent to their old address.
If a person were to suffer harm because their data was shared in any of these scenarios, then if they can prove that the data controller is liable for the personal data breach, they could be eligible to make a claim for compensation. It is an organisation’s responsibility to safeguard your data, and do everything they reasonably can to avoid your information being exposed because of an error.
If you suffered harm because of a wrong postal address data breach, get in touch with one of our advisers now to discuss the compensation you might be able to claim.
Types Of Postal Data Breaches
Data protection laws in this country protect only personal data. This can come in two forms; personal data and information that can be used to identify you such as your name, address, email address, and DOB. Then there is what is called special category data. The UK GDPR adds extra protection to this information as it is considered sensitive and can be information about your sexuality, religious beliefs, trade union memberships and information about your health.
All this type of information can be sent in a letter using a postal service. The data controller, who will usually be the one sending this information, has to protect it from being breached.
As part of the 7 Core Principles of the UK GDPR, organisations have to ensure that the data they hold about you is accurate and kept up to date. This means if you have updated your address and have informed them of it, an organisation still sending your mail to the wrong address can be considered a data breach.
If an organisation sent your confidential information to the wrong address and this led to you suffering harm, you can contact one of our advisers now to discuss the options available to you
NHS Wales Covid Shielding Letter Wrong Postal Address
In April 2020, more than 80,000 people were supposed to get a letter informing them that they were in vulnerable groups and would need to isolate themselves from the COVID-19 outbreak. 13,000 of these letters were sent to the wrong addresses due to an NHS Wales Informatics Service (NWIS), processing error.
Health information being exposed can be upsetting and stressful. If you have had medical information sent to the wrong postal address and have suffered stress due to this data breach, talk to one of our advisers now to discuss the options you have available to you.
Source:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-52283236
Steps To Take After A Data Breach
If a letter meant for you, containing personal information, was sent to the wrong address, you might become aware of the data breach before the organisation does. If this happens you can contact them to make a complaint, or to make an inquiry as to what happened and why it happened.
You can report the data breach to the ICO if you are unsatisfied with their response. If they choose to investigate the issue, they can provide you with a report that you can use if you wish to make a claim. You should contact the ICO within three months of your last correspondence with the organisation.
You can also gather evidence of how the data breach is affecting you and evidence that proves the data breach.
This can be:
- Emails: (And similar correspondence) from the organisation acknowledging the error they made.
- Financial Records: If the breach led to fraudulent activity that cost you money, maintain records of this as proof of your financial losses.
- Medical Records: If the breach led to you suffering mental harm, medical records of your diagnosis can act as evidence in a claim. A data breach solicitor can help you arrange an independent medical assessment.
Our advisers can discuss your situation with you and inform you of the steps you can take if you’ve suffered harm from a data breach. You have data protection rights. Therefore, these allow you to make a data breach claim for compensation when you can prove that the data controller failed to correctly secure your personal information.
Letter Delivered To Wrong Address – How Long Do I Have To Claim?
If you have suffered harm because a confidential or personal letter of yours has been delivered to the wrong address then you could potentially claim compensation.
If you wish to make a claim, you must start it within a certain time limit.
For a data breach claim, this will be 6 years from the date of the incident if the liable party is a non-public body. Your time limit to start a claim against a public body is 1 year.
Get in touch with our advisors at any time to find out if you are still within your time limit to claim.
Wrong Postal Address Data Breach Compensation Calculator
If your claim is successful, you can be awarded for the financial and psychological impact of the wrong postal address data breach. The financial harm is referred to as material damage, which can encompass the costs of counselling and additional home security.
You can also claim compensation for any mental or psychological harm you may have suffered. This is non-material damage, which can be valued using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This text may be used for this task because it publishes suggested compensation brackets for many kinds of harm.
Below, you will see several guideline ranges from the JCG. Please note that the top figure has not been taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Notes | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Severe PTSD | Severe effects to the claimant’s ability to function in life | £59,860 to £100,670 |
| Moderately Severe PTSD | Similar symptoms, but a better prognosis of recovery than to the injuries listed above | £23,150 to £59,860 |
| Moderate PTSD | The claimant will have mostly recovered but some effects can remain | £8,180 to £23,150 |
| Less Severe PTSD | The claimant will have recovered within a year or two | £3,950 to £8,180 |
| Severe Psychiatric Damage | The claimant’s ability to go cope with life has been severely damaged | £54,830 to £115,730 |
| Moderately Severe Psychiatric Damage | Injuries similar to above but with a more optimistic look for recovery | £19,070 to £54,830 |
| Moderate Psychiatric Damage | The claimant will have been showing good recovery even if problems persist | £5,860 to £19,070 |
| Less Severe Psychiatric Damage | The claimant’s ability to perform daily functions will have been affected for a time | £1,540 to £5,860 |
Our advisers can offer you a valuation of your data breach compensation claim. Why not reach out to them for a free consultation on your situation?
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We are here to help you
Here at UKlaw our expert advisors are on hand 24 hours a day 7 days a week to assess your compensation claim. Should you require free legal advice we can connect you to a specialist solicitor.
Begin Your Wrong Postal Address Data Breach Claim
A solicitor can represent you in a data breach claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This can be an easier way to fund legal representation and can mean you’d have the experience and aid of a solicitor to make sure your claim is handled as well as it can be.
A solicitor working on a No Win No Fee basis would not charge you upfront service fees, nor any as your claim progresses. You also won’t be charged these fees if you lose. If you win, you would pay them a success fee, a legally capped percentage of the compensation that you receive.
Our panel of solicitors could represent you in your wrong postal address data breach claim. They could also offer advice on other data breach claims, such as if a confidential email was sent to the wrong email address. To inquire about speaking to one, reach out to one of our advisers now by:
- Calling them on 020 3870 4868
- The claim online form
- Using the live chat feature
Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more about wrong postal address data breach claims, please see some common questions and answers below. For further help and assistance, please contact our friendly advisory team today.
What Is The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)?
The Information Commissioner’s Office is the independent regulatory body responsible for upholding data protection laws in the UK. This organisation is also tasked with promoting information rights, handling complaints, investigating breaches, and issuing fines to organisations where appropriate.
Will The ICO Pay My Compensation?
No, the ICO does not have the authority to pay you compensation. Rather, the regulator has the power to investigate breaches and issue fines for non-compliance with data protection legislation.
What Is Classified As Personal Data?
Personal data is any type of information that could be used to reveal your identity, such as:
- Your name
- Your postal address
- Your national insurance number
- Your phone number
What Is Special Category Data?
Special category data refers to information that is more sensitive in nature. This data requires additional protections under UK GDPR and may include:
- Biometric and genetic data
- Health data
- Sexual orientation and information concerning your sex life
- Your religious, political, and philosophical beliefs
Learn More About UK GDPR Rights And Obligations
We’ve included additional links you might find useful, such as:
- ICO: The ICO’s guide to making a complaint to an organisation about a data breach
- GOV: The government’s guide to data protection explains the rights you have in regards to the protection of your data.
Thank you for reading our guide on a wrong postal address data breach. We also offer guides on other topics such as:
- Read about wrong email address data breach claims.
- Learn about claiming because your personal information was verbally disclosed.
Please get in touch with our advisers for any help you might need.
