Pension plan data breaches

Whether you have sought out your own pension plan or you have been automatically registered on one by your employer, a significant portion of the working population is contributing to a pension plan. Pensions are perhaps not something we often think about in terms of a data security risk, but pension plan data breaches are capable of causing significant damage to those affected.

In fact, employers and pension providers often have to process and hold a variety of different details about employees meaning that, if such information is compromised, it can constitute a significant breach of the victims’ data privacy. Where pension companies or employers have failed to protect pension data, they may be liable to issue compensation pay-outs to those affected.

At Your Lawyers – the Data Leak Lawyers – as leading privacy claims experts we have been representing clients for data matters since 2014. Our experience in data breach claims means that we are well equipped to hold data controllers accountable for their negligence. We believe there is still too much complacency surrounding the importance of data protection, which is why we support data breach victims to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.

The effects of pension plan data breaches

In order to be registered on a pension plan, a significant amount of your personal data usually has to be disclosed. In fact, information disclosure is not a one-off process, as your employer and your pension provider may typically have to exchange information regularly in order to manage payments into your pension plan.

For these purposes, employers and pension providers could be in possession of data such as:

• names;
• email addresses;
• postal addresses;
• payroll information;
• passport or other ID details;
• National Insurance numbers;
• bank account information.

As a result, when pension plan data breaches do occur, they can cause significant information exposure, exposing victims to potentially greater – or more severe – risks of information misuse.

The Now: Pensions data breach that affected around 30,000 customers highlighted just how many different parties may have access to, or control over, pension information, as it was said that an external contractor caused the breach. The protection of pension data could rely on the competence of a number of individuals and organisations.

How victims can claim compensation

Victims of pension plan data breaches could be entitled to claim compensation using the GDPR. In accordance with this UK data protection law, victims could be eligible to pursue data breach claims in order to recover damages for their involvement in a data breach. A legal case may include the loss of control they suffered, any distress caused, and any financial losses or expenses incurred.

If you have suffered from the exposure of pension data, it may be that the data controller’s negligence was to blame, even if a cyberattack provoked the incident. Regardless of the circumstances of the breach, it is always worth seeking legal advice to establish whether or not you may have a claim to make.

Claim with expert Data Leak Lawyers

Whether you suffered a data protection breach by employer or by pension provider negligence, you may have a claim to make. Pension plan data breaches can cause a significant emotional and/or financial impact for those affected, and we can help you to seek the compensation you deserve for the harm you have been caused.

Contact our specialist team today for free, no-obligation advice on your potential claim, and we may even be able to offer you No Win, No Fee representation if we think you are eligible.

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