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Equal Pay Balancing the Scales in the Workplace

The concept of equal pay for equal work seems straightforward. However, achieving this balance in the workplace requires a legal framework. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 provides this framework, ensuring workers are compensated fairly for their contributions. The concept of equal pay for equal work seems straightforward. Yet, achieving this balance in the […]

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Nuvei Sold to Private Equity Firm in $6.3 Billion Deal: A New Chapter for the Canadian Fintech Giant

Nuvei, the Canadian payments processor backed by actor Ryan Reynolds, is undergoing a major transformation. The company has been acquired by private equity firm Advent International in a deal valued at a staggering $6.3 billion. This move marks a significant moment for Nuvei and its shareholders, propelling the company forward in the competitive fintech landscape.

Nuvei Sold to Private Equity Firm in $6.3 Billion Deal: A New Chapter for the Canadian Fintech Giant Read More »

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Mastercard Implements Reduction in U.S. Interchange Rates to Support Small Businesses and Merchants

In a bid to foster a more equitable landscape for small businesses and the wider merchant community, Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has embarked on an initiative to lower its U.S. credit card interchange rates over a five-year term, following a legal settlement with merchants. The agreement, reached in conjunction with Visa and court-appointed class counsel, encompasses

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Adyen and Adobe Commerce Empower Merchants with Integrated Payment Solutions

Adyen, the global financial technology platform, has recently announced a strategic collaboration with Adobe Commerce, aiming to revolutionize online and offline payment solutions for enterprise-level merchants operating on the Adobe Commerce platform. This partnership aims to provide flexible payment experiences across various channels and global markets. The collaboration enables Adobe Commerce customers to expand their

Adyen and Adobe Commerce Empower Merchants with Integrated Payment Solutions Read More »

Spotlight On Payments: Mollie Capital’s Evolution from Payment Processing to Financial Services

Since its inception in 2004, Mollie, headquartered in Amsterdam, has transcended its role as a mere payment processor to become a catalyst for business growth across Europe. With a client base exceeding 200,000, Mollie has expanded its services beyond traditional payment methods like credit cards and PayPal, venturing into the realm of financial services with

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From Click to Checkout: The Role of Payment Gateways in Online Transactions

In the rapidly expanding realm of digital commerce, where transactions occur with the click of a button, the pivotal role of the payment gateway emerges as a cornerstone of online transactions. Operating discreetly in the background, this virtual sentinel plays a critical role in facilitating the secure and seamless transfer of funds from the customer’s

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Unzer Eases Into New Territory: Bafin Relaxes Customer Acquisition Rules

In a recent development, the financial supervisory authority, Bafin, has decided to ease its restrictions on Unzer E-Com GmbH, a subsidiary of the Berlin-based payment service provider Unzer. This decision permits Unzer E-Com to cautiously onboard new customers, marking a partial lifting of the ban on new business that had been in effect since the

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Adyen Collaborates with BILL to Enhance Financial Solutions for SMBs

Adyen, a leading financial technology platform for businesses, has recently announced an exciting partnership with BILL, a prominent financial operations platform specializing in small and midsize businesses (SMBs). This collaboration aims to bring about significant advancements in financial solutions tailored for SMBs, marking a pivotal moment in the industry. The focus of this partnership is

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Striking Sales Strategies: What Your Sales Team Can Learn from a Striker

In the dynamic world of sales, where every interaction counts, there’s a surprising parallel to be drawn between the strategies of your sales team and those of a striker on the football field. Just as a striker’s goal is to score, your sales team aims to close deals and drive revenue. Let’s explore how your

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Navigating Office Politics: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s modern workplace, office politics is an ever-present challenge that affects professionals across various industries, irrespective of gender or age. Understanding and effectively managing office politics are essential skills for success in the corporate world. Understanding the Landscape Research indicates that office politics tends to be more prevalent in larger organizations, particularly in competitive

Navigating Office Politics: A Comprehensive Guide Read More »

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Post-Brexit: data protection
Card processor sends sensitive data to wrong address
24 August 2022

Worldline SA subsidiary Payone GmbH has been accused of breaching data protection rules after it sent sensitive employee payroll information to the wrong address by accident. The Worldline Group holdS a 60% stake in the Frankfurt based company who have a small UK market presence.

In June 2021, one of Payone GmbH’s ex UK employees (the data subject) received a “potential data breach notification” from the firm advising him that his salary, National Insurance data, nationality (Special Category Data) was amongst various bits of information sent to an incorrect home address.

This included personal information such as the former employees name, age and address.  It also included details such as the date of birth and the amount of annual work bonus he received in his bank account amongst other identifiable data.

Payone GmbH confirmed that this document was sent out in error following an employee making a mistake when re-entering data processed by their third-party payroll provider.  The error arose when the employee was fulfilling an Article 15 GDPR request. The error was spotted by the data subject when he noticed in an email version of the document that the postal address was incorrect. An attempt to notify Payone GmbH of the error went in vain as the document was already irretrievably despatched.

The data subject was alarmed with the incident which exposed him to the possibility of fraudulent activity, amidst reasonable fears his data could end up on the dark web and used by criminals.  Habitually resident in the UK he complained to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in June 2021. He similarly raised the concern in Germany via The Hessian Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HBDI).

The ICO reprimanded Payone GmbH for the error in their final decision letter.
Similarly, the HBDI cited a violation of Article 5(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) relating to integrity and confidentiality.

The ICO stated in their July 2021 findings that Payone GmbH, “should take steps to ensure that all personal data records are accurate and up to date. Holding inaccurate information, such as addresses, does increase the risk of personal data breaches and poses risks to the security of information”.

The HBDI confirmed in their October 2021 findings that Payone GmbH had taken remedial action. They concluded that a monetary fine would not be imposed on Payone GmbH as they had taken technical and organisational steps in response to the data breach. Data subjects could now request their data in an autonomous portal.

The GDPR, which came into effect in 2018, gave the Information Commissioner’s Office greater powers to tackle data breaches. The new ‘UK GDPR’ charts its own course after Brexit whilst seeking to maintain EU GDPR adequacy.  In extreme scenarios, organisations face penalties of up to £20m or 4 per cent of their global worldwide turnover, whichever is more.

In the years prior to GDPR, the ICO fines were capped at £500,000.

The data subject said: “I am just glad I spotted it; they were going to resend the document again to another wrong address. Prior to Brexit the process would have been commenced via the ICO who in turn would liaise with the HBDI on the data subjects’ behalf; but I found myself communicating with both authorities separately which was an additional step but in the end was surprisingly
effective. Unfortunately, Payone GmbH again sent my incorrect address to the
Workers Pension Trust in January 2022, and documents yet again went to the wrong address. In my opinion they have not learned from the first time and my complaint is sitting with the ICO yet again”.

The former employee is pursuing a remedy under Article 82 UK GDPR via
the Court’s of England & Wales.

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