The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word AVENGERS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
V
E
N
G
E
R
S
More clues leading to the result AVENGERS
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "people getting their own back" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case people getting their own back = avengers.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does AVENGERS mean?
AVENGERS noun- One who avenges or vindicates
- One who takes vengeance.