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Domestic Violence and Data Breaches

The long term effects of experiencing domestic violence can be devastating and, for many people, escaping such a situation can be incredibly difficult. If you have been a victim of domestic violence and your personal data has been exposed in a data breach, this could potentially put you at risk of further harm from your abuser. If you unfortunately find yourself in this situation, we can work alongside you to help you claim compensation.

Many victims of domestic violence choose to withhold their identity, or other personal data, to reduce the risk of them being exposed to their former abuser(s). Unfortunately, there have been a number of incidents over the years where data has been lost or leaked by the companies responsible for keeping it secure, resulting in significant data breaches.

We understand how scary it can be for victims of domestic abuse to experience a data breach, especially as it could jeopardise your safety and security. It goes without saying that urgent action needs to be taken in these situations.

Claiming compensation for a domestic violence data breach can be essential to help cover the costs of certain protective measures, such as moving home. Data breach compensation can also help to make amends for the emotional impact of experiencing such a traumatic event.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse and your data has been put at risk or your address has been exposed, there are a number of options available to you.

Any organisation who collects and stores your personal data has a legal obligation to keep it secure under the terms of the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2018, the Information Commissioner’s Office also specifically outlined how the personal data of domestic abuse victims should be handled in relation to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.

This means, if an organisation loses sensitive data relating to the domestic abuse you suffered, you will have a right to claim compensation.

Why work with Hayes Connor?

At Hayes Connor, our expert team specialise in data breaches only. Unlike many other firms who may offer to help you claim data breach compensation, we have extensive specialist experience in these types of claims.

We are one of the UK’s largest and most experienced teams of data breach experts, which means we know what you are likely to be going through and what needs to be done to make things right.

Our team have specialist expertise in supporting victims of domestic abuse who have had their data exposed in a breach. As such, we will treat your situation with the utmost sensitivity and urgency.

We strive to make the entire claims process as straightforward as possible, while also securing you maximum compensation. Our data breach experts have an excellent track record of securing the maximum compensation for our clients, often without the need for court proceedings.

See what our clients say about working with us

Start a domestic violence data breach claim today

Think you are entitled to compensation for a domestic violence data breach? Use our simple and secure online claim form to inform us of the details of your situation and our team will get back to you shortly to let you know whether we can help.

To speak to a member of our team now about what to do if your personal details have been exposed in a domestic violence data breach, please call us on 0151 363 5895.

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Domestic violence data breach FAQs

How do I know if I have been the victim of a domestic violence data breach?

If an organisation has experienced a data breach and your data has been exposed or compromised, they are legally required to inform you of this. However, this notification isn’t always as prompt as it should be and even where the organisation does contact you, the relevant email or letter can be easily missed.

Unfortunately, we often find that first time victims of a data breach hear about it when the organisation responsible is fined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

If you are still unsure whether your personal data has been exposed in a breach, our data breach experts have help to find this out on your behalf.

Can I claim compensation for a domestic violence data breach?

If your personal data has been exposed due to a breach of the Data Protection Act 2018, or the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, then you will be owed compensation. This is even in cases where you have not suffered any specific harm as a result of the breach.

Under normal circumstances, you will have to wait for the ICO to investigate a breach and decide whether the Data Protection Act has been breached before you can make a claim.

It may also be possible to make a compensation claim if there has been evidence of honour-based violence (HBV) resulting from a data breach. This may be because certain pieces of private data were exposed which led to violence or segregation from someone’s family or community.

What is the time limit for a domestic violence data breach?

You will usually have 6 years to make a claim as standard. This is counted from the date when you first found out about the data breach or would have been expected to be aware of it. This would normally be when the organisation contacted you to inform you of the breach.

How to stay safe following a domestic violence data breach

If your personal data has been exposed following a domestic violence data breach, there are a number of steps you can take to minimise any risk of further harm.

If you believe you may be at risk of physical or emotional harm following a data breach, your first port of call should be to speak to the police to discuss your situation. There are also a number of domestic abuse charities and support groups who you can turn to for advice.

More generally, the following steps should help to keep your personal data secure:

  1. Contact your bank or credit card company – if you believe any financial details may have been exposed.
  2. Change your passwords – both on any affected accounts and anywhere else you’ve used the same ones.
  3. Get up to date cybersecurity software – this can protect you from being targeted by any cybercriminals who get hold of your data.
  4. Register with the Cifas Protective Registration service – they’ll make sure extra checks are carried out if anyone tries to take out products or services in your name.
  5. Report the breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office – they can investigate how the breach happened and take action against the organisation responsible.
  6. Speak to a data breach expert – as well as confirming if you’re entitled to compensation, they can also advise you on having your data removed, so you aren’t at risk from future breaches at the same company.

Find out more about what to do if your data has been stolen in a data breach.

Start your domestic violence data breach claim today

At Hayes Connor Solicitors, we can help you to claim compensation and steer you through the aftermath of a domestic violence data breach – supporting you through the process and minimising the impact on you as much as possible.

Simply use the link above to start your claim or you can call us on 0151 363 5895 to discuss your situation.

You can find out more about our expertise and how we handle data breach claims here. To have your claim assessed for free, you can use our secure online claim form. Or to speak to a member of our team, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0151 363 5895.

You can find out more about our expertise and how we handle claims here. To have your claim assessed for free, you can use our secure online claim form. Or to speak to a member of our team, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0330 041 5137.