Have you received an email from a charity about the Beacon CRM data breach?
If a charity or organisation has contacted you to say that your personal information may have been affected by the Beacon CRM data breach, you may be entitled to make a data breach compensation claim.
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland will not pursue compensation from any of the charities or organisations affected by the Beacon CRM data breach.
We understand that you may have donated to, volunteered with, supported or received help from the charity that contacted you and may feel uncomfortable about making a claim against them.
Any Beacon CRM data breach claim that we agree to pursue will be against Beacon CRM, the technology provider involved in the breach – not the charity that contacted you.
If you have received a notification telling you that your personal information may have been affected, our specialist data breach solicitors can review what has happened and explain whether you may have a claim.
Find out if you have a claim against Beacon CRM.
Who is Beacon CRM?
Beacon CRM is a technology provider that supplies customer relationship management software used by charities and other organisations.
A CRM, or customer relationship management system, allows organisations to manage information about the people they interact with.
Charities may use Beacon CRM to hold information about:
- donors;
- supporters;
- volunteers;
- members;
- fundraisers;
- event attendees;
- service users;
- and people who have contacted the organisation.
This is why you may have received a notification about the data breach from a charity rather than directly from Beacon CRM.
The charity had the relationship with you and used Beacon's technology to store and manage information relating to that relationship.
If Thompsons pursues a claim on your behalf in relation to the Beacon CRM breach, that claim will be pursued against Beacon CRM and not the charity.
What is the Beacon CRM data breach?
Beacon CRM has confirmed that an unauthorised third party gained access to its systems.
Copies of customer database backups were made, and available evidence suggests those copies were likely downloaded.
As charities and other organisations use Beacon CRM to manage information about their supporters, donors, volunteers and other contacts, personal information stored within those databases may have been affected.
Why have I received an email from a charity?
You may have received an email or letter because your personal information was stored in Beacon CRM by a charity or organisation you have previously had contact with.
For example, you may have:
- donated to the charity;
- volunteered with it;
- been a member;
- attended an event;
- taken part in fundraising;
- contacted the charity through its website;
- subscribed to communications; or
- received services or support from it.
- The charity is contacting you because it holds the relationship with you and your details may have been stored within the affected Beacon CRM system.
The charity is contacting you because it holds the relationship with you and your details may have been stored within the affected Beacon CRM system.
Receiving that notification does not mean that Thompsons will make a compensation claim against the charity.
What personal information may have been affected?
The information involved will vary depending on the charity or organisation and your relationship with it.
Personal information potentially affected could include:
- your name;
- address;
- email address;
- telephone number;
- donation history;
- Gift Aid information;
- membership details;
- event attendance information;
- volunteer information;
- communication preferences;
- notes linked to your record; and
- attachments or documents.
In some cases, more sensitive personal information may have been stored, including health information, accessibility requirements, service-user information or details about an individual's personal circumstances.
Not everyone affected by the Beacon CRM breach will have had the same information involved.
Can I claim compensation for the Beacon CRM data breach?
You may be able to make a Beacon CRM data breach compensation claim if your personal information was affected and you suffered distress, anxiety, loss of privacy, financial loss or another impact as a result.
You do not necessarily have to have lost money to have a potential data breach claim.
Having your personal information exposed or accessed without authorisation can cause understandable concern about:
- who may have access to your information;
- how that information could be used;
- scam or phishing attempts;
- identity fraud;
- sensitive information becoming known to others; or
- losing control over your personal data.
Our specialist data breach solicitors can review the notification you have received and advise whether you may be entitled to compensation.
What should I do if I have received a Beacon CRM data breach email?
If you have received an email or letter telling you that your personal information may have been affected, keep a copy of it.
You should also:
- keep any follow-up emails or letters about the breach;
- avoid deleting correspondence you have received;
- be cautious of unexpected emails, calls or text messages;
- avoid clicking links from unknown senders;
- do not provide passwords, payment details or personal information in response to unexpected contact;
- monitor your accounts for unusual activity; and
- seek advice if the breach has caused you distress, worry or financial loss.
You do not need to know exactly what happened or establish whether you have a claim before contacting us.
Send us the notification you received and our solicitors can assess your circumstances and explain your options.
Specialist data breach solicitors in Scotland
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland has experience helping people affected by significant data breaches, including claims involving Arnold Clark, Capita, JD Sports and South Lanarkshire Council.
We understand that the Beacon CRM breach may be particularly confusing because the notification is likely to have come from a charity or organisation you know and trust rather than from Beacon CRM itself.
Michelle Young
Michelle Young
“Data breach claims are an increasingly important area of work, and at Thompsons we have specialist experience supporting people whose personal information has been exposed or put at risk.
When someone receives a data breach notification, it can be worrying and confusing. People may not know what information has been affected, how it could be used, or whether they have the right to claim compensation.
Our role is to make that process clearer. We help clients understand what has happened, what their rights are, and whether they may be able to make a claim for distress, loss of privacy, financial loss or other impact caused by the breach.”
Our data breach solicitors can help you understand:
- what the Beacon CRM breach means;
- why you received a notification;
- whether your personal information may have been affected;
- what information may have been involved;
- what evidence you should keep;
- whether you may be entitled to compensation; and
- what happens if you decide to proceed.
All enquiries are treated sensitively and in confidence.
No Win No Fee Beacon CRM data breach claims
We act in data breach compensation claims on a No Win No Fee basis.
This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be charged our fees, provided you meet your obligations under the agreement.
If your claim is successful, our fee will be deducted as a percentage of the compensation secured.
We will explain the terms clearly before you decide whether you want to proceed.
Find out if you have a claim against Beacon CRM
If you have received an email or letter telling you that your personal information may have been affected by the Beacon CRM data breach, speak to Thompsons Solicitors Scotland.
You are not making a claim against the charity that contacted you.
Registering your details allows our specialist data breach solicitors to review what has happened and advise whether you may have a claim against Beacon CRM.
It does not commit you to proceeding with a claim.
Talk To Thompsons today.
Talk To Thompsons
If you have received an email about the Beacon CRM data breach, speak to Thompsons Solicitors Scotland today.
Our specialist data breach solicitors can help you understand your rights and whether you may be able to claim compensation.
Talk To Thompsons today.
FAQs: Beacon CRM Data Breach Claims
No.
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland will not pursue compensation from the charity or organisation that notified you about the Beacon CRM data breach.
Any Beacon CRM data breach claim that we agree to pursue will be against Beacon CRM.
Potentially, yes.
You may have donated to, volunteered with or received support from the charity and understandably may not want to make a compensation claim against it.
You are not being asked to make a claim against the charity.
Our solicitors can assess whether you may instead have a compensation claim against Beacon CRM arising from the data breach.
The Beacon CRM data breach is a cyber security incident involving Beacon CRM.
Beacon has confirmed that an unauthorised third party accessed its systems. Copies of customer database backups were made and available evidence suggests these were likely downloaded.
Your personal information may have been stored in Beacon CRM by a charity or organisation you had a relationship with.
That charity therefore has your contact details and has contacted you to let you know that information it held about you may have been affected.
This will vary from person to person.
Information potentially involved could include your name, address, email address, telephone number, donation history, Gift Aid information, membership details, event information, volunteer information, communication preferences, notes and attachments.
More sensitive personal information may also have been involved in some cases.
You may be able to claim compensation if your personal information was affected and you suffered distress, anxiety, loss of privacy, financial loss or another impact as a result.
Whether you have a valid claim will depend on your individual circumstances.
Potentially, yes.
A data breach claim is not necessarily limited to financial loss. You may also be able to claim where the breach has caused distress, anxiety, worry or loss of control over your personal information.
Our solicitors can advise you based on your individual circumstances.
Keep the email or letter and any follow-up correspondence relating to the breach.
You should also remain alert to unexpected emails, telephone calls or text messages requesting passwords, financial details or personal information.
If you contact Thompsons, it is helpful to provide us with a copy of the notification you received.
Yes.
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland has specialist data breach solicitors who can review the information you have received, explain your rights and advise whether you may be able to pursue a compensation claim against Beacon CRM.
Yes.
We act in data breach compensation claims on a No Win No Fee basis. We will explain the terms, including any deductions that may apply if your claim is successful, before you decide whether to proceed.
Our Fees
We act for you on a no win, no fee basis. This means that, provided you meet your obligations and do not withdraw your instructions before your claim is concluded without our agreement, you will not be charged any fees, VAT, or outlays if your case is unsuccessful.
If Your Claim Is Successful
- Our fee will be deducted as a percentage of the compensation secured.
- This fee includes the cost of any After the Event (ATE) insurance arranged to protect you from liability for the other side’s costs if your claim is unsuccessful.
If You End Your Agreement Early
- If you withdraw your instructions or later continue your claim with another firm, you may be liable for the reasonable cost of the work completed and any outlays incurred up to that point.
- Other Circumstances Where You May Be Liable for Costs
- If you act fraudulently or provide misleading information.
- If you refuse our advice to settle after a formal offer is made.
Full Terms
Full details are set out in our Terms of Business, which will be sent to you when your claim is accepted. Making an initial enquiry does not place you under any obligation.
