USS/Capita Pension scheme data breach - anyone using a claim site?

Reefer2023

Recently Capita have confirmed a data breach which has affected USS pension members among others. There are already compensation sites out there trying to get people affected to sign up. Does anyone have any experience with these or know of any other group claim being started? USS have offered a 12 month data monitoring subscription (received my email today) with Experian but it does feel pretty poor response.

WhatExpert

I'd be interested in this too. I've signed up with the experian monitoring offer for 12 months. It looks helpful but I'll ask for a few more years

rdddd

Experian is potentially as big a part of the problem as Capita - It is NOT a solution. The USS can expect a raft of compensation claims through law firms set up to mitigate the distress of knowing that your National Insurance number has been stolen among other personal details

Evenmoreconcerned

Just been informed by Experian I have had nearly 50 'unusual activity' searches (none initiated by me) made on my file since the data breach - now seriously terrified.   Have written to USS demanding written response as to what support they are giving individuals affected and what compensation they are offering for extreme distress.  No response as yet.   Like Reefer2023 I am very keen to hear of any group claim being started directly against USS/Capita - or other MSE Forum members' experience of the raft of data breach compensation lawyers already advertising for USS/Capita claims.  Or any larger national support/lobbying group which is being formed specifically to address this USS/Capita issue.  ActionFraud don't want to know because until I am 'defrauded' apparently technically no crime has yet been committed.   And what is the point of the Experian data monitoring subscription if it just tells you the worst - but there are no solutions to actually now stop this going any further?
I'd be very very interested in the experience, advice or additional thoughts of anyone else who has been similarly caught in this USS debacle, as I'm feeling seriously out of my depth.

WhatExpert

Evenmoreconcerned - You can "lock down" your experian credit report. I haven't done that yet, but it should offer some peace of mind.

Reefer2023

WhatExpert said:

Evenmoreconcerned - You can "lock down" your Experian credit report. I haven't done that yet, but it should offer some peace of mind.

That's a good point. I have locked mine down although it is my understanding that it only covers Experian which of course not every lender uses for credit checks, so it's not a catch all but still a useful thing to do. Another point is that it will be unlocked once the free 12 month subscription runs out unless I choose to pay for another 12 months. Would definitely be interested to know what claim companies people are using as this is a pretty big breach and 12 months access to Experian feels like a pretty poor response. 

Evenmoreconcerned

WhatExpert said:

Evenmoreconcerned - You can "lock down" your experian credit report. I haven't done that yet, but it should offer some peace of mind.

Thanks - just did that.  Every little helps.   

philip07766

I’m also affected by this negligent breach and am very concerned. I worked in IT including data rights and this level of incompetence is staggering. I think the response so far is totally inadequate. There should be no time limit on Experian protection and should include other companies offering this service. Compensation should also be talked about. I have the feeling they hope this will go away

ArchSciWoman

I too have these issues and questions. I've been to the Citizens Advice Bureau this morning, because Cifas (apparently "an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to reduce fraud and related financial crime in the UK") states that they partner with Citizens Advice and individuals should go there for, well, advice. The lady I spoke to was very nice, but said they had no advice to give, either on what proactive action might be taken to prevent identity theft using these data, or on how compensation claims might be pursued.

My concern is not just about short term financial losses, but about the long term issues involved in someone using my identity. They've got a data set for hundreds of thousands of people - I presume that organized crime can use these to give people employment records, since they have names, dates of birth & NI numbers for all of us. What happens when I get to pension age and someone else is claiming my state pension? USS have said that our pensions with them are "safe". Well, I presume that if I'd asked them a year ago whether my data were safe, they'd have said the same. So, when I get to pension age, might I expect my USS pension to have been taken by someone else? Who do we discuss these issues with?

I don't like the look of the proliferation of "class action" solicitor sites which appear to be out to make a quick buck. I want to talk to someone who knows what the likely long term issues will be, knows how to proactively prevent as many as possible, and knows what kind of compensation claim I could make, but I'm making no progress in finding out who that might be.

If anyone finds a useful professional to talk to about this, I'd be happy to pay their going rate.

Evenmoreconcerned

I've just received a very useful detailed response from Experian in reply to my earlier 'help...what do I do?' message.  I hope the following relevant pieces of advice they've given are maybe useful to the rest of you :
1.  Definitely Credit Lock your Experian file
2.  Password Notice of Correction:   Experian have offered to add a password which means whenever a credit application is made in your name the company will be prompted to ask for your password before going ahead.   There's a set form of words they have sent me - and you return these to them with your own chosen password.   
3.  CIFAS:  You can apparently apply to have your details registered with the Cifas Protective Registration Service - again they provided me with a link to download the form.  This adds a warning to your details to let lenders know somebody has used your identify fraudulently.
4.  They advised contacting TransUnion and Equifax to get copies of my reports from them also. 

None of these things will entirely prevent future problems, but to give Experian their due I feel they have responded well - and in detail - to my request for help, and at an individual level as they went through all the searches on my report.  I'd certainly recommend writing anyone to write individually to Experian and asking either about these protections or just  'what to do?'   And see what they respond to you.

I think it's also a good thing to have individual responses in writing from Experian on file for future reference - either should the situation worsen - or should compensation claims be made in the future.  If nothing else it shows we are being proactive in protecting ourselves further!

Finally - as ArchSciWoman says - ideally what we all need is someone objective who knows exactly what they are talking about legally, and what we should be doing on all aspects of this.   And who isn't just chasing fees.  I also keep googling 'USS/Capita Support Group' type info online - but nothing.   Yet.   If anyone finds anything please share.
At the moment it seems like we're all mostly hitting brick walls.

Evenmoreconcerned

Good article in THES by Tom Williams yesterday (13th June 2023) - panning USS inadequate response to the databreach and also saying:  "Sean Hunter, a partner at the legal firm Leigh Day, confirmed to Times Higher Education that it was in the early stages of bringing a group claim on behalf of USS members against Capita for any financial losses suffered and distress caused."
Worth reading.  And watching for developments.