Press Release
19/09/24
For Immediate Release
A leading North-West firm has secured almost 8,000 claimants as part of a High Court case against outsourcing giant, Capita, about 18 months on from a major cyber-attack at the company.
Manchester-based Barings Law has slammed the outsourcing giant for its handling of the breach, which occurred in March last year and was claimed by the Black Basta ransomware group.
Forging ahead with client sign ups, Barings Law Head of Data Breach, Adnan Malik, said this is the largest action against the outsourcing giant in the world which the firm filed in the High Court earlier this year.
Mr Malik continued: “We’re expecting our application with the High Court to be presented next year due to several delays in the justice system.
“Despite it being about 18 months since the breach occurred, we have continued to receive sign ups daily and much interest, and I expect more to come in.
“This is a hugely significant case and one that will affect thousands, so we owe it to our clients to fight for them.”
Mr Malik explained that part of the delay is down to organisations taking longer to notify those affected of the breach.
He added: “We have seen instances where people are receiving letters from The Trustees of affected pensions that their bank details, including their sort codes, have been breached more than a year after the attack.
“Just last month one claimant was informed that their: name, gender, date of birth, address, national insurance number and employment details and history were breached in the March 2023 attack.
“This delay only occurs when the cyber-attack has been so bad that it takes more than a year to find out what details have been breached. Generally, this process takes between three to six months.”
One of the individuals affected by the breach and now client of Barings Law, is Yorkshire mining veteran, Alexander Mathewson, who said he was ‘fuming’ to learn of the attack in the media three months before he received a letter from his pension provider, the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, and Capita.
Speaking to his discovery of the cyber-attack, Mr Mathewson explained: “It was lucky that I picked that paper up on Sunday in March last year. The press knew, everybody knew expect the miners whose money is in the scheme. I think it’s disgusting.
“I contacted three firms that day and Barings was the only one who got back to me.
“I would have thought The Trustees, and the management would give people advice, but they didn’t do anything.
“I had to go on social media and get the message out to the others about contacting Barings because it’s the best thing I could think to do.
“The firm has been regularly updating myself and other claimants, which is great as a lot of miners are elderly, retired people. They don’t understand the ins and outs and put a lot of trust in people and companies, such as Capita.”
As those affected continue to grapple with this unprecedented fall-out, it appears the breach has not slowed down Capita from securing additional government contracts.
According to the conglomerate’s online newsroom, in August it announced that it renewed its contract to administer the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme for six years from 2026.
Capita also announced in January this year, that it secured a three-year contract extension with Westminster City Council.
Mr Malik expressed disappointment that major organisations were continuing to place trust in Capita, despite the company’s security history and resistance in admitting fault.
He continued: “This proves that even the UK Government doesn’t take data security seriously, and it worries me because someone has to be held accountable.
“Capita are not trying to fight the case; they’re trying to fight the process. They had the opportunity to handle this situation differently and provide compensation to those affected but they have decided not to.
“At Barings Law, we are committed to fighting this case and securing justice for all of the hard-working individuals who have had their data breached. A case management hearing has been set for June next year, so we look forward to hearing Capita’s arguments in the High Court then.”
Mr Malik expressed disappointment that major organisations were continuing to place trust in Capita, despite the company’s security history and resistance in admitting fault.
He continued: “This proves that even the UK Government doesn’t take data security seriously, and it worries me because someone has to be held accountable.
“Capita are not trying to fight the case; they’re trying to fight the process. They had the opportunity to handle this situation differently and provide compensation to those affected but they have decided not to.
“At Barings Law, we are committed to fighting this case and securing justice for all of the hard-working individuals who have had their data breached. A case management hearing has been set for June next year, so we look forward to hearing Capita’s arguments in the High Court then.”
-ENDS-
About Barings Law
· Established in 2009, Barings Law is based in Cardinal House, Manchester.
· The firm represents victims of consumer and business mis-selling on a no win no fee basis.
· Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
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