August has brought important movement in several claims, alongside wider developments affecting consumers’ rights, privacy and finances.
This month has been about keeping people informed as existing cases develop, highlighting emerging issues and expanding our practical guidance.
Here’s what we’ve been working on.
Claim updates
Several claims already on our radar saw significant developments this month.
Social media harm claim
Social media was firmly back in the spotlight following a major child safety ruling against Meta in the United States. TikTok also agreed to pay $400m to end a US lawsuit alleging that its platform violated children‘s privacy.
The rulings do not apply to UK users. However, scrutiny of social media platforms is growing here, with at least one UK law firm investigating whether people allegedly harmed by social media as children could have grounds to seek compensation.
We’re continuing to raise awareness to give those affected the opportunity to register their interest while the UK legal position develops.
Car finance compensation
Millions of drivers have been waiting for news about compensation after the UK’s motor finance scandal. But just months after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) unveiled its long-awaited compensation scheme, it is already facing legal challenges from both lenders and consumer groups.
The result? Compensation payments could take longer than many people expected.
We explained what is happening, who is challenging the scheme, and what it could mean for consumers. We also looked at how you can start a claim today.
Legal Aid Agency data breach claim
People pursuing compensation following the Legal Aid Agency data breach received an important update.
According to an update sent to claimants by one law firm, the LAA has admitted that it failed to comply with its data security obligations under UK GDPR and that this failure materially contributed to personal data being unlawfully accessed during the cyberattack.
We’ve been explaining what the latest development means and helping potentially affected people check their eligibility for the legal action.
Mastercard compensation moves closer
There was encouraging news for millions of UK consumers waiting for their share of the £200 million Mastercard settlement.
The final legal dispute holding up distribution has now been resolved, with at least £100 million expected to go directly to eligible consumers. The claims process is expected to open in the coming months, with payments currently anticipated during the first half of 2027.
Flo data privacy claim
The privacy practices of period and fertility tracking apps were back in the headlines this month following new research examining six popular apps.
It comes amid ongoing questions surrounding Flo after legal action in the US alleged that sensitive reproductive health information was shared with third parties.
Last month, we highlighted the $59.5 million settlement agreed by Flo Health, Google and Flurry.
In August, we continued raising awareness of what the allegations could mean for UK, and gave people the opportunity to register their interest if they used Flo during the period at the centre of the allegations.
Practical consumer updates that could save you money
This month, we highlighted several changes that could make a practical difference to household finances and everyday consumer rights.
New subscription protections brought forward
New rules designed to tackle subscription traps are now expected to come into force in January 2027, earlier than originally planned. With government figures suggesting there are almost 10 million unwanted active subscriptions in the UK, the changes could make a significant difference.
£150 Warm Home Discount
We used August to raise awareness of an important deadline for households that could qualify for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter.
Ahead of the 23 August deadline, we highlighted the importance of making sure the person receiving a qualifying benefit, their partner or legal representative was named on the electricity account. We hope our reminder helped eligible households check their details in time and reduced the risk of anyone missing out on support they were entitled to receive.
Tenancy deposit rules could change
The government has announced plans to change how tenancy deposits are protected in England and Wales. Under the proposals, landlords and letting agents would no longer be able to retain deposits themselves through insured schemes.
Importantly, the proposals do not change tenants’ existing rights where landlords fail to follow the tenancy deposit protection rules. We explained what could change, what stays the same and where renters can find out more about their existing rights.
New Buy Now Pay Later protections
Buy Now Pay Later products are now regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, giving millions of consumers stronger protections when using services such as Klarna, Clearpay and PayPal.
We took a practical look at what those changes mean at the checkout and what consumers should still consider before choosing to spread the cost of a purchase.
New guides to help consumers understand their rights
We’ve continued building our library of in-depth, plain-English guides. This month, we added three new resources.
A plain-English guide to the Competition Appeal Tribunal
The Competition Appeal Tribunal, or CAT, sits at the centre of many of the opt-out competition claims we cover. Our new guide explains what the CAT does, how collective actions reach the Tribunal and why cases heard there can affect millions of consumers.
What counts as personal data under UK GDPR?
Personal data goes far beyond names and addresses. Our new guide explains what can count as personal data, why certain information receives additional legal protection and how criminals can combine seemingly harmless pieces of information to build a much more detailed picture of someone. It also helps you understand why even apparently straightforward data breaches should not automatically be dismissed as insignificant.
Period and fertility tracker privacy
We also expanded our coverage of health data with a dedicated guide to period and fertility tracker privacy. It explores the types of intimate information these apps can collect, what can happen to that information, why health data receives additional legal protection and the questions consumers should consider before sharing reproductive health information through an app.
The guide also puts the allegations surrounding Flo into the wider context of health app privacy.
Scotland could expand opt-out collective actions
We’ve also been following an important development that could change how collective justice works in Scotland. We looked at what is being proposed, why participation in collective actions matters and what the developments could potentially mean for consumers elsewhere in the UK.
We achieved Cyber Essentials certification
There was also an important milestone for Join the Claim itself this month. We’re pleased to have achieved Cyber Essentials certification. For us, this matters because people may share personal information when checking their eligibility for a claim or registering their interest.
Cyber security is never a one-off exercise, but achieving Cyber Essentials is another important
August newsletter coming soon
Our monthly newsletter will be landing soon, bringing together:
- The latest claim updates
- Key legal developments
- Straightforward explainers.
If you want a quick round-up without the jargon, keep an eye on your inbox.
Want to explore any of the claims or guides mentioned above? Visit jointheclaim.com to see the latest updates and check what might apply to you.
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.
