If you have suffered financial or emotional harm because a letter that contained personal data about you, has been sent to the wrong address you may be wondering if you could make a data breach claim.
In the sections below we explore who could be eligible to make a claim for compensation after a letter was sent to the wrong address. We look at time limits for starting a claim. We offer some general examples of how a data breach such as this might happen before moving on to evidence that can support your claim.
We conclude with an explanation of how eligible claimants can be connected with a No Win No Fee data breach solicitor to help.
To learn more, you can:
- Ring on 0333 241 2521
- Contact us online
Can I Claim If A Letter Has Been Sent To The Wrong Address?
There are eligibility criteria for starting a compensation claim for a data breach after a letter was sent incorrectly.
Firstly, it’s important to show that the data controller, usually an organisation who will decide the means for processing your personal data, failed to adhere to the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
Secondly, it is vital to show how this failure in adherence led to your personal data being breached i.e. a letter being sent to the wrong address.
And thirdly, how this breach of your personal data led to you suffering harm such as emotional distress or financial losses.
It’s important to note that not all instances of a letter being sent to the wrong address is automatically a breach of data protection rules, so feel free to speak to our team about your eligibility to claim.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Data Breach Claim?
Another important point to consider is the 6-year time limit set out for starting a data breach compensation claim. This means that generally when making a data breach claim legal proceedings must be issued within 6 years. Although there are exceptions to this rule.
How Can A Postal Data Breach Happen?
Below we look at some examples of how a letter could be sent to the wrong address in a way that prompts a data breach claim:
- Staff in a company could fail to update address details and send the letter to your old address.
- Human error could result in documents being put in the wrong envelope.
- More than one letter could be included in the envelope.
- A failure to hand deliver the letter to the right address.
Do I Need Evidence To Prove A Claim?
Evidence crucially underpins any potential claim for data breach compensation. With this in mind, it can be helpful to gather the following:
- Any correspondence from the organisation about the data breach.
- Copies of the documents which were sent to the incorrect address.
- Copies of medical reports that prove you have suffered stress or anxiety due to the data breach.
- Bank statements. For example, that show stolen funds from bank accounts or fraudulent credit set up in your name.
If you would like to discuss your eligibility to work with a data breach solicitor, please connect with an advisor on the contact details above.
Make A No Win No Fee Data Breach Claim Today
We can connect eligible claimants to a data breach solicitor. They provide their services under a type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
There are no upfront fees needed to pay the solicitor for the work they will do on the case. Claims that fail require no solicitors fees. If your data breach claim is successful then a solicitor who works under a CFA can take a legally capped percentage from the compensation awarded to cover their success fee.
So if your personal data was breached when a letter was sent to the wrong address, contact us today to see if you could be eligible to seek compensation.
To learn more, you can:
- Ring on 0333 241 2521
- Contact us online