Data protection leak

Salkat

Hi,

My recent ex-wife has asked for financial disclosure through solicitors and I have received an email from a random person saying they have been sent all my details from my ex wife's solicitor. This is very personal and sensitive information and contains everything about me as well as the divorce. He was able to contact me a work to let me know. What should I do now? I'm worried that I am open to fraud, stressed and very worried. It's all hard enough and has been a long and tiresome divorce procedure. Worse still my ex wife works at the same place as me so now everyone knows personal details. I have zero confidence in them now and do not want to send them any further details in case this happens again. I work in medicine and know the consequences for us if we do this.

bingo_bango

You need to report it to the ICO at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/handling/

You should then look at the 'For the public' page as they have details on whether you would be entitled to claim compensation for the breach.

I would write to them and advise them that until they acknowledge and rectify the breach, you will not be providing any further information, but bear in mind that this may well be construed as you not 'playing ball' with the court proceedings.

Salkat

Thank you. It's not actually gone to court. I wondered if I should make an appointment with a senior partner and express my concern initially. Thanks for your reply I will look that up

Guest101

Speak to your own solicitor and you may be able to claim for damages

lika_86

Salkat wrote: »

Hi,

My recent ex-wife has asked for financial disclosure through solicitors and I have received an email from a random person saying they have been sent all my details from my ex wife's solicitor. This is very personal and sensitive information and contains everything about me as well as the divorce. He was able to contact me a work to let me know. What should I do now? I'm worried that I am open to fraud, stressed and very worried. It's all hard enough and has been a long and tiresome divorce procedure. Worse still my ex wife works at the same place as me so now everyone knows personal details. I have zero confidence in them now and do not want to send them any further details in case this happens again. I work in medicine and know the consequences for us if we do this.

How has it gone to this person? Wrong address on a letter?

What do you mean by "Worse still my ex wife works at the same place as me so now everyone knows personal details."? How is this related to the email you received from the random person?

If it's just a wrongly addressed letter and the person in receipt of it has contacted you then I suspect the risk of fraud is really low, if they were going to steal your identity, why would they get in touch with you?!

The bigger question is probably why they were sent the information (ie. how the mistake arose) and what your ex-wife's solicitors are going to do about it.

gettingtheresometime

I would imagine you would have no choice in your ex-wife's solicitors being sent info about you....otherwise how could a divorce settlement take place.


I would imagine (not that it makes it any better) is that the papers relating to you got mixed up/included in a letter to this random person. As for contacting you I would have thought it was quite easy to do - look at pay slips etc and just google a telephone number.


Is this person a works colleague as well.


Having said all that yes I would complain as well

Salkat

The guy who emailed me initially contacted me at work and spoke to a member of my team who gave him my email address. They had discussed why and obviously now people know about it. I am hoping that the guy is a decent bloke as he took the time to contact me but this document has all my account details, balances etc. It's unreasonable to send this to a stranger. I think I will take the advice and contact my ex wife's solicitors and let them know I'm wet unhappy

lika_86

Salkat wrote: »

It's unreasonable to send this to a stranger.

It is but I'm also sure it wasn't done intentionally. I suggest you make your complaint known but also recognise that mistakes do sometimes happen.

PeacefulWaters

Did you complain about your colleague giving away your email address to a complete stranger?

For what it's worth, I'd be complaining directly to your wife's solicitor and asking them to offer reasonable compensation. If their number is less than £250 ask them to increase it or let them know you'll be taking further action.

Guest101

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Did you complain about your colleague giving away your email address to a complete stranger?

For what it's worth, I'd be complaining directly to your wife's solicitor and asking them to offer reasonable compensation. If their number is less than £250 ask them to increase it or let them know you'll be taking further action.

a work email? That's not personal data....

Stevie_Palimo

I'd be inclined to believe that whilst the situation has been upsetting for you here the likelihood of receiving a large amount of compensation is slim to zero via the courts, The firm in question could be pulled over the coals and fined for the breach of the DPA but for yourself if you seek damages under section 13, The UK Courts are quite lapse on this area of the law and can mean that you put a lot of time and energy plus stress into something for very little if no return under this part, Costs are a different area whereby any incurred by yourself due to the breach of the DPA are easy to claim back.

I'd be weighing up my time spent, any costs so far and then thinking is it really worth the further stress or can I conclude this issue directly, For the most part if they admit liability then that is half the battle and it just boils down to a level of redress that you are happy with.

In my mind if this upset you in a way in which you claim and had lets say £100.00 roughly in costs then if they come in with that and a figure of around £500.00 as well then it is worth while considering to be honest.