[Updated] 2018 data breach : BA fined £20 million
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,140
Not personally concerned about compensation, as i wasn't affected by the breach, but alerted by Amex as was everyone else [I guess]. My Amex, which I use for BA and just about everything else, remained secure.
Whereas ... I used my MBNA Visa card at 4 locations in Malta back in May, and ended up with a couple of 'mystery transactions' in June! Alerted by MBNA, new card arrived within a few days [including an intervening weekend].
Whereas ... I used my MBNA Visa card at 4 locations in Malta back in May, and ended up with a couple of 'mystery transactions' in June! Alerted by MBNA, new card arrived within a few days [including an intervening weekend].
#62
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
It was inevitable that they would be fined a massive amount. They are a test case for GDPR and needed punishing.
Their constant head in the sand handling of this mess probably annoys the ICO too. Certainly they are still lying about cards not being used in fraud and their constant efforts to claim they are victims is simply not correct. They were negligent and deficient.
Their constant head in the sand handling of this mess probably annoys the ICO too. Certainly they are still lying about cards not being used in fraud and their constant efforts to claim they are victims is simply not correct. They were negligent and deficient.
#63
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, België
Programs: MUCCI Gold
Posts: 2,512
The "no fraud" claim doesn't even stand up to the most basic scrutiny. The idea that a bunch of hackers will compromise a site in order to secure names, card numbers, CVVs, basically everything needed to perform a card transaction - and then do nothing with these details - is patently absurd.
#64
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,873
Well, I think that this is why the ICO investigation was so important. Clearly, the truly guilty parties here are the hackers, but my view as I articulated previously, is that BA weren't fulfilling their responsibilities under GDPR and they need to finally internally move their corporate mindset to accepting they might have done something wrong!!
#65
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,212
Well, I think that this is why the ICO investigation was so important. Clearly, the truly guilty parties here are the hackers, but my view as I articulated previously, is that BA weren't fulfilling their responsibilities under GDPR and they need to finally internally move their corporate mindset to accepting they might have done something wrong!!
#66
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,989
I'm very happy to see BA fined in this way and suffering huge negative publicity across all media.
My dealings with BA following the data breach were both disappointing and frustrating: they merely kept repeating that it was an illegal theft of data and refused point-blank to reimburse me for the inconvenience and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in having my cards cancelled.
I told them that I would, as a result, use BA less frequently in future. They undoubtedly hear that numerous times every single day but I kept to it - just 16 BA flights so far this year (of which 6 were RFS redemptions), compared with 60 this time last year.
My dealings with BA following the data breach were both disappointing and frustrating: they merely kept repeating that it was an illegal theft of data and refused point-blank to reimburse me for the inconvenience and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in having my cards cancelled.
I told them that I would, as a result, use BA less frequently in future. They undoubtedly hear that numerous times every single day but I kept to it - just 16 BA flights so far this year (of which 6 were RFS redemptions), compared with 60 this time last year.
#67
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott LTP/PE
Posts: 292
My opinion is at odds with most/all of you, but for me the size of this fine is FAR out of scale to any damage known to have been caused by the data breach. It just takes money away from investment in a business, new aircraft etc, jobs etc, and as others have said will just get added to airfares and be paid by you and I. Anti capitalist legislation at its finest, supported by those that think they need to be compensated for anything and everything.
#68
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,989
As Rory Cellan-Jones says on the BBC website, "The message [to major corporations] is clear - if you don't treat your customers' data with the utmost care expect severe punishment when things go wrong."
#69
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott LTP/PE
Posts: 292
Then don't do Buisnes with them. They were targeted by a criminal act, suffered financial business damage as a result, and now they are being disproportionately fined. Consumer protection protects you from losing money when sellers make false claims. I suspect you suffered no damage at all except to your high horse?
#70
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 464
#71
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dundee
Programs: BA Plastic. HH Diamond. Speedwell Bar Lifetime Platinum.
Posts: 1,424
#72
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
I imagine BA’s legal bods are already hard at work, fervently drafting their appeal to the ICO.
Seems like our fellow-poster buddman has somehow managed to get a sneak preview of their opening statement
Seems like our fellow-poster buddman has somehow managed to get a sneak preview of their opening statement
#74
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, België
Programs: MUCCI Gold
Posts: 2,512
Then don't do Buisnes with them. They were targeted by a criminal act, suffered financial business damage as a result, and now they are being disproportionately fined. Consumer protection protects you from losing money when sellers make false claims. I suspect you suffered no damage at all except to your high horse?
BA chose to prioritise short term profit over ensuring it had adequate security in place, and now it is rightly paying the price. As ever their management knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,140
There's more than an individual's financial loss [if any] at play here, surely?
What about stress/concern? And the time taken to check and ensure everything's OK? The initial impact of those certainly diminished my enjoyment of my holiday at the time it all started to happen.
What about stress/concern? And the time taken to check and ensure everything's OK? The initial impact of those certainly diminished my enjoyment of my holiday at the time it all started to happen.