The retailer revealed final week that hackers had accessed delicate buyer data, together with dates of delivery, contact particulars and on-line buy histories.
Whereas M&S confused that no cost particulars, financial institution card data, or account passwords have been compromised, and that there is no such thing as a indication the stolen information has been shared, issues persist over the potential for fraud.
An M&S spokesperson mentioned: “Importantly, the info doesn’t embrace useable cost or card particulars, which we don’t maintain on our methods, and it doesn’t embrace any account passwords. There is no such thing as a proof that this information has been shared.”
Now, Thompsons Solicitors is submitting a category motion declare in opposition to M&S, accusing the corporate of failing to adequately defend buyer information and thereby exposing customers to potential scams.
Senior associate Patrick McGuire instructed The Sunday Mail that the solicitors had been “inundated by Scots M&S purchasers who’ve been caught up on this on-line heist and are contacting Thompsons”.
“I believe this would be the greatest information theft case we now have ever been concerned in,” he mentioned.
The lawsuit comes as M&S CEO Stuart Machin prepares for a possible pay reduce of as much as £1.1m, following the fallout from the info breach.
For the reason that incident was made public on 22 April, the corporate’s share worth has dropped by 14%, leading to a projected lack of £831,000 from Machin’s efficiency share plan and £233,000 from a deferred bonus, each slated for cost July.
Drapers has contacted Thompsons Solicitors for remark.
