Hundreds of victims to get compensation | EUROtoday

The Post Office has agreed compensation for a whole lot of former sub-postmasters after by accident leaking their names and addresses on its company web site.

The information breach was revealed in June final 12 months when it emerged the private particulars of 555 victims of the Horizon IT scandal had been revealed.

The firm has now confirmed particular person payouts of as much as £5,000 with the potential for increased sums for individuals who need to pursue an additional declare.

The Post Office has already apologised and mentioned it was working in “full co-operation” with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The sub-postmasters’ particulars had been revealed in a doc on its web site.

At the time, then-Post Office chief government Nick Read mentioned the leak was a “truly terrible error”.

The regulation agency Freeths, which acted for the 555 sub-postmasters after they sued the Post Office in a landmark High Court case in 2017, mentioned it had secured the payouts on behalf of all these affected and their authorized representatives.

Of the 420 victims Freeths represents within the ongoing and separate battle for compensation from the scandal, 348 have already acquired payouts for the breach.

Former sub-postmaster Chris Head welcomed the Post Office admitting the info breach mistake, however mentioned they took “far too long to right this wrong”.

“We cannot underestimate the level of pain, anxiety, stress and worry that so many people have had to suffer through this new episode. Post Office did not seem to understand how much this impacted those people. They appeared unwilling to engage in genuine discussions until further action was on the table.

“The influence on myself and my household has been profound on high of an already traumatic previous 10 years because of the Horizon scandal.”

The Post Office said victims would be paid either £5,000 or £3,500, depending on whether the individual was also living at the address at the time.

In a statement it also confirmed it would consider any special cases if individuals believe they are entitled to further amounts.

“We have written to all named people both straight, or by way of their solicitors. If there are any people whose identify was impacted by final 12 months’s breach, however who haven’t acquired details about the fee for some cause, they’ll contact us or ask their solicitors if they’ve authorized illustration,” it said.

The lawyer who led the case on behalf of the sub-postmasters said the agreement was struck without the need for any claims to be submitted but also allowed victims the opportunity to pursue further action.

“We welcome the progress we now have made with this case however there may be nonetheless an extended technique to go to recognise the devastating influence of this breach for these affected,” mentioned Will Richmond-Coggan, Freeths’ companion specialising in information breach litigation.