A group legal action has now been launched in response to the major data breach at the Co-op, which exposed the personal information of up to 6.5 million members. This claim offers affected individuals a potential route to compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis.
The breach, believed to be the work of a cybercriminal group, involved the unauthorised access and theft of sensitive member data, including:
- Full names
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
- Postal addresses
- Co-op membership card details.
Although Co-op initially downplayed the severity of the incident, the company has since confirmed the breach following the release of stolen data samples by the hackers.
What do we know about the Co-op data breach claim?
The group legal action seeks compensation for those whose personal data was compromised. While no financial details or passwords were reportedly taken, the exposure of contact and membership information still carries serious risks – particularly around phishing scams, identity theft, and emotional distress.
Lawyers behind the claim argue that the Co-op failed in its legal duty to protect customer data under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act.
This is a no-win, no-fee lawsuit
The claim is being brought forward on a no-win, no-fee basis. That means people who sign up won’t pay anything up front and will only contribute to legal fees if the claim is successful. However T&C’s apply and you should always check these before sigining.
If the case is won or settled, the law firm is likely to charge a “success fee” – typically a percentage of the compensation awarded. It’s a low-risk way to seek justice if you’ve been impacted by the Co-op data breach.
Who can join the Co-op data breach compensation claim?
You may be eligible to join if:
- You were a Co-op member at the time of the breach
- You received notification that your data may have been affected.
The Co-op isn’t the only one under fire
This breach follows closely behind another high-profile cyberattack – this time involving Marks & Spencer. If you’re an M&S customer, you can find out more about making a potential compensation claim on our website
What should you do now?
We’ll continue monitoring both the Co-op and M&S breaches and will provide updates as more details become available. In the meantime, if you’ve been notified your data may have been compromised, you may be entitled to join the claim for compensation.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
