FAQ | Equifax Data Breach Settlement (2023)

  • Basic Information and Overview

  • 1. I received a Notice of a Class Action Settlement. Why?

    A Court authorized thenotice to inform you how you may be affected by this Settlement. Thenotice describes the lawsuit, the general terms of the Settlement and what it may mean to you. Thenotice also explains how to participate in, or how you could have excluded yourself from, the Settlement if you were impacted by the Data Breach.

    For information on how to determine if you are a Settlement Class Member, and therefore eligible for benefits under this Settlement, see FAQ 5.

  • 2. What is this lawsuit about?

    In September 2017, Equifax announced that it had been the victim of a criminal cyberattack on its systems. The attackers gained unauthorized access to the personal information of approximately 147million U.S. consumers. This information included people’s names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some instances driver’s license numbers, credit card numbers, or other personal information.

    Numerous lawsuits were brought on behalf of consumers whose personal information was impacted as a result of the Data Breach. Chief Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is overseeing these lawsuits. These lawsuits are known as In re: Equifax Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, Case No. 1:17-md-2800-TWT. The consumers who sued are called the “Plaintiffs.” Equifax, Inc., and two of its subsidiaries are the “Defendants.” Plaintiffs claimed that Equifax did not adequately protect consumers’ personal information and that Equifax delayed in providing notice of the data breach. The most recent version of the lawsuit, which describes the specific legal claims alleged by the Plaintiffs, is available here. Equifax denies any wrongdoing, and no court or other judicial entity has made any judgment or other determination of any wrongdoing.

  • 3. Why is this a class action?

    In a class action, one or more people called “class representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people with similar claims. All of these people together are the “class” or “class members.” Because this is a class action, even persons who did not file their own lawsuit can obtain relief from harm that may have been caused by the Data Breach, except for those individuals who excluded themselves from the Settlement class by the deadline.

  • 4. Why is there a Settlement?

    The Court has not decided in favor of Plaintiffs or Equifax. Instead, both sides agreed to a Settlement after a lengthy mediation process overseen by a retired federal judge. Settlements avoid the costs and uncertainty of a trial and related appeals, while more quickly providing benefits to members of the Settlement class. The class representatives appointed to represent the class and the attorneys for the Settlement class (“Class Counsel,” see FAQ 21) believe that the Settlement is in the best interests of the Settlement Class Members.

  • Who Is Part of the Settlement

  • 5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?

    You are a Settlement Class Member if you are among the approximately 147million U.S. consumers identified by Equifax whose personal information was impacted by the Equifax Data Breach.

    You can confirm you are a Settlement Class Member, and eligible for benefits, by:

    • Going here; or
    • Calling the Settlement Administrator toll-free at 1-833-759-2982.


    When using the link above, if you have gone by more than one last name (for example, a maiden name and a married name), make sure that you check all of your last names. If you received a message that your information was impacted, please use your last name that received the “impacted” message when submitting your claim form.

    Excluded from the Settlement are:

    • Officers and directors of Equifax;
    • The presiding judge and any judicial staff involved in the lawsuit; and
    • Any Class Member who validly opted-out (see FAQ 24).
  • The Settlement Benefits

  • 6. What does the Settlement provide?

    Equifax will pay at least $380,500,000 into a Consumer Restitution Fund. The Consumer Restitution Fund will be used to:

    • Make cash payments for Out-of-Pocket Losses and Time Spent (see FAQ 7);
    • Purchase Credit Monitoring Services (see FAQ 8);
    • Pay cash Alternative Reimbursement Compensation to Settlement Class Members who already have their own credit monitoring or identity protection coverage before making a claim (see FAQ 10);
    • Make cash payments for Subscription Product Reimbursement;
    • Purchase Restoration Services for all Settlement Class Members, regardless of whether they make a claim (see FAQ 11);
    • Pay the costs of notifying Settlement Class Members and administering the Settlement;
    • Pay service awards to the Settlement Class Representatives, as approved by the Court (see FAQ 23);
    • Pay attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, as approved by the Court (see FAQ 22).

    If the Consumer Restitution Fund is used up, Equifax will pay up to an additional $125,000,000 to payOut-of-Pocket Losses (see FAQ 13).

    Equifax has also agreed to implement and maintain certain business practices relating to its information security program (see FAQ 14). A detailed description of these business practices commitments is available in the Settlement Agreement, which is availablehere.

  • 7. How will the Settlement compensate me for identity theft I have already suffered or money I have already paid to protect myself, and my time spent on those things?

    (Video) How to Complete Equifax Data Breach Settlement for Free Money

    Settlement Benefit: Cash Payment for Time Spent:

    The deadline to file an Initial Claims Period claim as a result of the Data Breach was 1/22/2020. The deadline to file eligible Extended Claims Period claims for time or money you spend in the future as a result of the Data Breach is 1/22/2024(see FAQ 12).

    If you spent time (i) dealing with fraud, identity theft, or other alleged misuse of your personal information that is fairly traceable to the Data Breach, or (ii) taking preventative measures (time placing or removing security freezes on your credit report, or purchasing credit monitoring or identity protection) that are fairly traceable to the Data Breach, then you may make a claim for reimbursement for $25 per hour for up to 20 hours.

    You may receive reimbursement for up to 10 hours at $25 per hour by providing a description of (i) the actions taken in response to the Data Breach in dealing with misuse of your information or taking preventative measuresand (ii) the time associated with those actions. You must certify that the description is truthful. Valid claims for Time Spent will be reimbursed in 15-minute increments, with a minimum reimbursement of 1 hour per claim.

    To claim reimbursement of more than 10 hours of Time Spent during the Initial Claims Period, you must have also provided reasonable documentation of fraud, identity theft, or other alleged misuse of your personal information fairly traceable to the Data Breach (i.e., letter from IRS or bank or police report).

    If there are more than $31 million in claims for Time Spent during the Initial Claims Period (see FAQ 12), all payments for Time Spent will be reduced and distributed on a proportional basis. Certain claims for Time Spent may also be made during the Extended Claims Period, up to a total cap of Time Spent during the Initial and Extended Claims Periodsof $38 million in claims.

    Based on the number of potentially valid claims that have been submitted to date, payments for Time Spent likely will be substantially lowered. Depending on the number of additional valid claims that are filed, the amount you receive may be a small percentage of your initial claim.

    The deadline to file an Initial Claims Period claim as a result of the Data Breach was 1/22/2020. The deadline to file eligible Extended Claims Period claims for time or money you spend in the future as a result of the Data Breach is 1/22/2024(see FAQ 12).

    Settlement Benefit: Payment for Unreimbursed Out-of-Pocket Losses:

    The deadline to file an Initial Claims Period claim as a result of the Data Breach was 1/22/2020. The deadline to file eligible Extended Claims Period claims for time or money you spend in the future as a result of the Data Breach is 1/22/2024(see FAQ 12).

    If you spent money to deal with fraud or identity theft that was fairly traceable to the Data Breach, then you can submit a claim for reimbursement up to $20,000 (including your claim for Time Spent). Out-of-Pocket Losses that are eligible for reimbursement during the Extended Claims Period may include, without limitation, the following:

    • Unreimbursed costs, expenses, losses or charges you paid during the Extended Claims Period because of identity theft or identity fraud, falsified tax returns, or other alleged misuse of your personal information;
    • Other miscellaneous expenses related to any Out-Of-Pocket Loss such as notary, fax, postage, copying, mileage, and long-distance telephone charges;
    • Professional fees incurred in connection with addressing identity theft, fraud, or falsified tax returns.

    This list provides examples only, and other losses or costs fairly traceable to the Data Breach may also be eligible for reimbursement during the Extended Claims Period. If you have questions, please call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-759-2982.

    The Settlement Administrator will decide if your claim for Out-Of-Pocket Losses is valid. Only valid claims will be paid. The deadline to file a claim for Out-of-Pocket Losses incurred during the Initial Claims Period was 1/22/2020.

    Certain claims for losses between 1/23/2020 and 1/22/2024 as a result of the Data Breach may be made during the Extended Claims Period (see FAQ 12). The deadline to file those claims is 1/22/2024.

  • 8. How will the Settlement help protect me against future identity theft and fraud?

    Settlement Benefit: Credit Monitoring Services: The Settlement provides a way to help protect yourself from unauthorized use of your personal information. Settlement Class Members were eligible to submit a claim during the Initial Claims Period to enroll in at least four (4) years of three-bureau credit monitoring services, provided by Experian, at no cost. These services include the following features:

    • Three-bureau credit monitoring providing notice of changes to your credit report at all three national credit bureaus;
    • Up to $1 million dollars in insurance covering costs related to identity theft or fraud;
    • Real-time notification of credit inquiries and other notifications;
    • On-demand online access to a free copy of one-bureau credit report, updated on a monthly basis;
    • CyberAgent® Dark Web Monitoring that monitors internet activity for the trading or selling of your personal information;
    • Customer support provided by Experian; and
    • Many other features described here.

    If you submitted a valid claim and enrolled in Credit Monitoring Services during the Initial Claims Period, you could elect to enroll in up to six (6) years of one-bureau credit monitoring services provided by Equifax that would begin after the three-bureau Credit Monitoring Services expire. This one-bureau credit monitoring service will include automated online alerts for key changes to your Equifax credit report, on-demand online access to your Equifax credit report updated on a monthly basis, and, if you request, internet monitoring that includes searching suspicious websites for your Social Security number. You must have opted-in for these one-bureau services when you submitted your Initial Claims Period claim for Credit Monitoring Services and you will be sent instructions for how to enroll in the one-bureau monitoring before your three-bureau Credit Monitoring Services expire. The cost of this service will be paid separately by Equifax, not out of the Consumer Restitution Fund.

    Information about Credit Monitoring Services for minor children is provided in FAQ 9.

    The deadline for all claims for Credit Monitoring Services was 1/22/2020.

    Class Members whosubmitted a valid claim form and elected to enroll in Credit Monitoring Services, will receive enrollment instructions by email (or mail if you filed your claim by mail) by late February 2022. During the Initial Claims Period, Class Members could have filed a claim for both reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses and/or Time Spent and Credit Monitoring Services.Initial Claims Period claims for time spent and out-of-pocket losses are under review. You will be contacted if additional information is needed regarding your claim.

  • 9. Can minor children make a claim for Credit Monitoring Services?

    Settlement Benefit: Credit Monitoring Services for Minor Children: A parent or legal guardian of a Settlement Class Member who is a minor (under the age of 18) had the option to submit a claim during the Initial Claims Period for Credit Monitoring Services on the child’s behalf under the Settlement. While the Settlement Class Member is under 18, they will receive minor monitoring services as follows: alerts when certain personal data appears on suspicious websites, including underground websites known as the “dark web;” alerts when the Social Security number is associated with new names or addresses or the creation of a consumer report at one or more of the three nationwide Consumer Reporting Agencies; and Identity Restoration Services in the event that a Settlement Class Member under the age of 18 has their identity compromised. Upon turning 18, the Settlement Class Member can enroll in the full Credit Monitoring Services. If a Settlement Class Member under the age of 18 has an Experian credit file with sufficient detail to permit authentication, a parent or guardian may enroll them in the full Credit Monitoring Services prior to their eighteenth birthday.

    Additionally, the parent or legal guardian had the option to enroll the minor in one-bureau credit monitoring services provided by Equifax that would begin after the Credit Monitoring Services expire for a period of up to 14 years. While the Settlement Class Member is under 18, they will receive minor monitoring services as follows: alerts when data elements such as a Social Security number submitted for monitoring appear on suspicious websites, including underground websites known as the “dark web;” for minors who do not have an Equifax credit file, a file is created, locked, and then monitored, and for minors with an Equifax credit file, their credit file is locked and then monitored. The Experian Credit Monitoring Services and the optional one-bureau credit monitoring provided by Equifax together will cover 18 years.

    The parent or legal guardian must have opted-in for the minor to receive the one-bureau services when submitting an Initial Claims Period claim for the Credit Monitoring Services, and the parent or legal guardian will be sent instructions for how to enroll in the one-bureau monitoring before the Credit Monitoring Services expire. The cost of these services will be paid separately by Equifax, not out of the Consumer Restitution Fund.

    (Video) $20,000 Equifax Data Breach Settlement Step By Step How To Get Approved 💰”ACT FAST 💨”

  • 10. What if I already have credit monitoring or identity protection services?

    Settlement Benefit: Cash Alternative Reimbursement Compensation: If you already have some other kind of credit monitoring or protection services, and did not claim the free Credit Monitoring Services available through the Settlement, Class Members had the option to file a claim during the Initial Claims Period for Alternative Reimbursement Compensation for up to $125. To claim Alternative Reimbursement Compensation you must have certified that you have some form of credit monitoring or protection services on the date you submitted your claim form, named the provider of those services, and certified that you will keep those services for a minimum of six (6) months. The amount that you receive may be substantially less than $125, depending on the number of claims that are filed.

    You should keep in mind that:

    • The deadline for all claims for Alternative Reimbursement Compensation was 1/22/2020.
    • If you claim Alternative Reimbursement Compensation, you could not claim free Credit Monitoring Services.
    • If you claim Alternative Reimbursement Compensation, you could not also seek reimbursement for purchasing credit monitoring or protection services covering the 6 month period after you make your claim. However, you can still make other claims for Time Spent or Out-of-Pocket Losses.
    • If there are more than $31 million claims for Alternative Reimbursement Compensation, all payments for Alternative Reimbursement Compensation will be lowered and distributed on a proportional basis.
    • Based on the number of potentially valid claims that have been submitted to date, payments of Alternative Reimbursement Compensation claims likely will be substantially lowered and will be distributed on a proportional basis if the Settlement becomes effective. Depending on the number of additional valid claims that are filed, the amount you receive may be a small percentage of your initial claim.
  • 11. How will the Settlement help me deal with identity theft or fraud if it happens?

    Settlement Benefit: Free Identity Restoration Services: All Settlement Class Members will receive access to Assisted Identity Restoration Services if they experience an identity theft event. These services will be provided by Experian for a period of seven (7) years. These services include:

    • Access to a U.S. based call center providing services relating to identity restoration.
    • Assignment of a certified Identity Theft Restoration Specialist to assist you in addressing an identity theft event.
    • Assistance with a step-by-step process to deal with companies, government agencies, and credit bureaus.

    All Settlement Class Members may access Identity Restoration Services after January 11, 2022, even if you never make a claim from the Settlement.

  • 12. What if I have Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent because of the Equifax Data Breach in the future?

    All claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent that occurred through 1/22/2020 must have been submitted by 1/22/2020.

    As long as there is still money in the Consumer Restitution Fund, there will be an “Extended Claims Period” which will allow Class Members to make certain claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent that happen after the Initial Claims Deadline. All Extended Claims Period claims must be submitted by 1/22/2024and will be paid on a first-come-first-served basis.

    During the Extended Claims Period, you can seek reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent (but not losses of money and time associated with freezing or unfreezing credit reports or purchasing credit monitoring or protection services) if you certify that you have not already received reimbursement through other means for the claimed loss.

    Note that claims for Time Spent likely will be lowered depending on how many valid claims are submitted by others. (See FAQ 17)

  • 13. What claims can I make during the Extended Claims Period?

    During the Extended Claims Period as described in FAQ 12, Class Members can seek reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent incurred during the Extended Claims Period (excluding losses of money and time associated with freezing or unfreezing credit reports or purchasing credit monitoring or identity theft protection) if you certify that you have not already received reimbursement for the claimed loss through other means.

    You cannot make any of the following claims during the Extended Claims Period:

    • Claims for free Credit Monitoring Services (see FAQ 8).
    • Claims for cash Alternative Reimbursement Compensation for credit monitoring or protection (see FAQ 10).
    • Claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent associated with freezing or unfreezing credit reports or purchasing credit monitoring or protection services.
  • 14. Will the Settlement include changes to Equifax’s data security program?

    Settlement Benefit: Data Security Business Practices Commitments by Equifax: Equifax has agreed to adopt, pay for, implement, and maintain extensive Business Practices Commitments related to information security for a period of five (5) years. A detailed description of these Business Practices Commitments is available in the Settlement Agreement, which is available here. These commitments will be assessed by an independent third party and be enforceable in court. Equifax also will not seek to enforce any arbitration provision in any Equifax product that has been offered in response to the Data Breach as of the date of the settlement agreement or that is provided under the Settlement.

  • 15. What happens if there are leftover Settlement funds?

    The Consumer Restitution Fund will be used to pay initial claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses and Time Spent, for Credit Monitoring Services and Alternative Reimbursement Compensation, for Identity Restoration Services, for administrative and notice costs, and for class representative service awards and attorneys’ fees and expenses as approved by the Court.

    • Valid claims made during the Extended Claims Period will be paid on a first-come-first-served basis.
    • If Settlement funds remain, the monetary caps for Time Spent (see FAQ 7) and Alternative Reimbursement Compensation (see FAQ 10) will be lifted (if applicable) and those payments will be increased proportionally up to the full amount of approved claims for Time Spent and Alternative Reimbursement Compensation.
    • If Settlement funds still remain, up to three (3) additional years of Identity Restoration Services will be provided to all Settlement Class Members, regardless of whether they made a claim under the Settlement.
    • If Settlement funds still remain, additional Credit Monitoring Services (purchased in full month increments) will be provided to Settlement Class Members who claimed Credit Monitoring Services.
    • If any Settlement funds still remain, then those remaining funds will be distributed by the court for consumer restitution and redress, but no money will be returned to Equifax.
  • 16. What happens if the Consumer Restitution Fund runs out of money?

    If the payments described in FAQ 6 use up the Consumer Restitution Fund, Equifax will add up to $125,000,000 as needed to pay valid claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses.

  • How To Get Settlement Benefits

  • 17. Will my cash compensation be affected by the number of claims made by others?

    (Video) I Got My Equifax Class Action Settlement Check

    Yes. If you request or have requested a cash benefit for time spent and/or alternative reimbursement compensation, the amount you receive may be significantly reduced depending on the validity, number, and amount of claims filed. Based on the number of potentially valid claims for time and alternative compensation of up to $125 that have been submitted to date, payments of these benefits likely will be substantially lowered and will be distributed on a proportional basis if the Settlement becomes effective. Depending on the number of additional valid claims that are filed, the amount you receive for time or alternative compensation may be a small percentage of your initial claim.

  • 18. How do I file a claim for Credit Monitoring Services, Time Spent, or Out-of-Pocket Losses?

    The deadline to file a claim for Credit Monitoring Services passed on 1/22/2020.

    To fill out and submit a claim for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent (excluding losses of money and time associated with freezing or unfreezing credit reports or purchasing credit monitoring or identity theft protection) during the Extended Claims Period (between January 23, 2020 and January 22, 2024) (see FAQ 13), you will need to access and submit the Extended Claims Period Claim Form online; or contact the Settlement Administrator and request a hard copy of the Extended Claims Period Claim Form that can be filled out and returned by mail.

  • 19. When and how will I receive the benefits I claim from the Settlement?

    Credit Monitoring Services claimed by Settlement Class Members during the Initial Claims Period will begin, and payments for valid claims will be made, after January 11, 2022 (the Settlement Effective Date). You may review the Court's Final Approval Order and Final Order and Judgment by clicking here.

    If you made a valid claim for Credit Monitoring Services, the Settlement Administrator sent you information on how to activate your credit monitoring by email (or mail if you filed your claim by mail). The Settlement Administrator provided you with an activation code and link to the Experian website where you couldenroll and activate your Credit Monitoring Services.If you did not do so by the deadline provided in the email or letter, the time to activate ExperianCreditMonitoring Services has now passed.

    Checks or pre-paid cards for valid claims for Out-of-Pocket Losses, Time Spent, and Alternative Reimbursement Compensation will be mailed by the Settlement Administrator to the mailing address that you provide.

    Settlement benefits for eligible out-of-pocket losses and time spent will begin issuing in mid-December 2022.

  • Legal Rights Resolved Through the Settlement

  • 20. What am I giving up to stay in the Settlement class?

    If you make a claim under the Settlement, or if you do nothing, you will be releasing all of your legal claims relating to the Data Breach against Equifax when the Settlement becomes effective. By releasing your legal claims, you are giving up the right to file, or to continue to pursue, separate legal claims against or seek further compensation from Equifax for any harm related to the Data Breach—whether or not you are currently aware of those claims.

    Unless you validly excluded yourself from the Settlement (see FAQ 24), all of the decisions by the Court will bind you. That means you will be bound to the terms of the Settlement and accompanying court orders, and cannot bring a lawsuit or be part of another lawsuit against Equifax regarding the Data Breach.

    Paragraphs 6-7of the Settlement Agreement define the claims that will be released by Settlement Class Members who did not exclude themselves from the Settlement. You can access the Settlement Agreement and read the specific details of the legal claims being released here.

    If you have any questions, you can contact the Settlement Administrator.

  • The Lawyers Representing You

  • 21. Do I have a lawyer in this case?

    Yes. The Court appointed the following attorneys to represent you and other Settlement Class Members as “Class Counsel.”

    Norman E. Siegel
    STUEVE SIEGEL HANSON LLP
    460 Nichols Road, Suite 200
    Kansas City, MO 64112

    Roy E. Barnes
    THE BARNES LAW GROUP, LLC
    31 Atlanta Street
    Marietta, GA 30060

    Amy E. Keller
    DiCELLO LEVITT GUTZLER LLC
    Ten North Dearborn Street, 11th Floor
    Chicago, IL 60602

    Kenneth S. Canfield
    DOFFERMYRE SHIELDS CANFIELD & KNOWLES, LLC
    1355 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 1725
    Atlanta, GA 30309

    You will not be charged by these lawyers for their work on the case. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

    (Video) EXTENDED TILL 2024 Get Up To $20,000 from Equifax Data Breach || HOW TO FILE TO GET MONEY

    If you have questions about making a claim, please contact the Settlement Administrator.

  • 22. How will these lawyers be paid?

    Class Counsel have undertaken this case on a contingency-fee basis, meaning they have paid for all of the expenses in the case and had not been paid any money in relation to their work on this case. Accordingly, Class Counsel asked the Court to award them attorneys’ fees of up to $77,500,000 and reimbursement for costs and expenses up to $3,000,000 to be paid from the Consumer Restitution Fund. Class Members will not have to separately pay any portion of these fees themselves. Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs isavailable to view here. The Court granted Plaintiffs' request for attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses in its Final Approval Order available for review here.

  • 23. Will the Class Representatives receive any additional money?

    The Class Representatives in this action are listed in the Settlement Agreement, which is available here. Class Counsel asked the Court to award these individuals “service awards” of $2,500 each for the time that they spent, and the risks that they undertook, in bringing this lawsuit on behalf of the Class. The Court granted Plaintiffs' request for attorneys' fees, reimbursement of expenses, and Class Representative service awards in its Final Approval Order available for review here. However, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals remanded this issue back to the U.S. District Court because recent Eleventh Circuit court rulings “prohibit the type of incentive award that the district court approved here—one that compensates a class representative for his time and rewards him for bringing a lawsuit.”You can see that opinion by clickinghere. Thereafter, the U.S. District Court vacated the approval ofClass Representative service awards and those incentive awards will not be paid.

  • Excluding Yourself From The Settlement

  • 24. How do I exclude myself from the settlement?

    The deadline to exclude yourself from the Settlement passed on November 19, 2019.

  • Objecting Or Commenting On the Settlement

  • 25. How do I tell the Court that I like or don't like the settlement?

    The deadline to object to the Settlement passed on November 19, 2019.

  • Getting More Information

  • 26. Where can I get more information?

    For more information, you may contact the Settlement Administrator by email at info@EquifaxBreachSettlement.com, by phone toll-free by calling 1-833-759-2982, or by mailing a letter to:

    Equifax Data Breach Settlement Administrator
    c/o JND Legal Administration
    PO Box 91318
    Seattle, WA 98111-9418

    If you wish to communicate directly with Class Counsel, you may contact them (see FAQ 21). You may also seek advice and guidance from your own private lawyer at your own expense, if you wish to do so.

    These answers are only a summary of the lawsuit and the Settlement. Other related documents can be accessed through the Settlement website. If you have questions about the Settlement, or wish to receive a copy of the Settlement Agreement but do not have access to the Internet to download a copy online, you may contact the Settlement Administrator. The Court cannot respond to any questions regarding the Notice, the lawsuit, or the Settlement.

    Please do not contact the Court or its Clerk.

  • 27. What if I have questions for government regulators or state attorneys general?

    If you have questions for government regulators or State attorneys general, please click here to find the contact information for your state, click here for the Federal Trade Commission’s website, and click here for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website.

  • 28. I received an email regarding free, three-bureau (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) credit monitoring from Experian for four years. Is this email legitimate?

    If you made a valid claim for Credit Monitoring Services, the Equifax Data Breach Settlement Administrator sent you an email (from the email address info@equifaxbreachsettlement.com) or letter by mail providing you with information on how to activate your credit monitoring. The Settlement Administrator provided you with an activation code and link to the Experian website where you couldenroll and activate your CreditMonitoring Services. If you did not do so by the deadline provided in the email or letter, the time to activate Experian CreditMonitoring Services has now passed.

  • 29. I received an email providing me the option of switching my claim payment selection from check to either PayPal or Pre-Paid card. Is this legitimate?

    If you received an email from info@equifaxbreachsettlement.com with an indication at the bottom of the email that the communication was from the Court-appointed Settlement Administrator (JND Legal Administration), the email is legitimate. If you didnot want to change your payment selection, you didnot need to do anything. The time to switch your claim payment selection has now passed.

FAQs

How much will I get paid from Equifax data breach settlement? ›

Amount you receive will likely be far less than $125

On Twitter, users have reported receiving small payments, with amounts ranging from $2.64 or $5.21 to $21.06 and $40.44.

How much does each person get in the Equifax lawsuit? ›

In 2019, a settlement over the breach — which revealed the private information of 147 million Americans — required the credit bureau to compensate each victim starting at $125 and up to $20,000, Insider previously reported.

How much compensation can you get for a data breach? ›

You can be compensated up to $25 per hour up to 20 hours.

Will I get money from Equifax settlement? ›

You'll receive the payment in the form you requested when you filed your claim—check, PayPal transfer to your account, or prepaid card. For more details and to check your claim status, visit EquifaxBreachSettlement.com .

How long does a data breach claim take to settle? ›

In reality, how long a data breach claim takes simply comes down to the circumstances of the case. Some cases could be resolved in a few months, whereas others may end up being pursued for several years.

How much will each person get in the Capital One data breach settlement? ›

If you spent money to deal with fraud or identity theft that you believe was fairly traceable to the Data Breach or to protect yourself from future harm as a result of the Data Breach, then you could have submitted a claim for reimbursement up to $25,000 (including your claim for Lost Time).

When should I expect my Equifax settlement check? ›

Settlement benefits for eligible out-of-pocket losses and time spent will begin issuing in mid-December 2022.

What is the most money awarded in a lawsuit? ›

Tobacco Settlement — $206 Billion

The lawsuit was brought by attorneys general from 46 states to get compensation for all the money tobacco illnesses cost the state healthcare system. The final settlement agreement required these companies to pay $206 billion dollars.

Does everyone get the same amount in a class action lawsuit? ›

Class action lawsuit settlements are not divided evenly. Some plaintiffs will be awarded a larger percent while others receive smaller settlements. There are legitimate reasons for class members receiving smaller payouts.

How are settlement checks mailed? ›

Receive Your Settlement Check

After your attorney clears all your liens, legal fees, and applicable case costs, the firm will write you a check for the remaining amount of your settlement. Your attorney will send you the check and forward it to the address he or she has on file for you.

Can I ask for compensation for a data breach? ›

The GDPR gives you a right to claim compensation from an organisation if you have suffered damage as a result of it breaking data protection law. This includes both “material damage” (e.g. you have lost money) or “non-material damage” (e.g. you have suffered distress).

What are the damages that can be claimed in case of breach? ›

There are many types of damages for breach of contract that you may receive should a breach occur.
  • Compensatory Damages.
  • Liquidation Damages.
  • Punitive Damages.
  • Nominal Damages.
  • Ordinary or General Damages.
  • Equitable Remedies.

Will Equifax pay $125? ›

If you requested compensation of up to $125 or reimbursement for time spent recovering from fraud or ID theft, a check or debit card will be mailed to the address you used when submitting your claim. Be prepared for compensation that is much less than you requested.

How long does it take to get a check from a class action settlement? ›

The average time it takes to process a settlement check is between one and six weeks. However, it can take several months for you to receive just compensation. If you hire one of the experienced attorneys from Morgan & Morgan, you should not have to wait six weeks to receive your settlement check.

Should I cash a class action settlement check? ›

People have mixed feelings about class-action suits, and whether you cash class-action refund checks is up to you. Generally, if you get one, you probably paid a lot more in wrongful fees than you're getting back in the settlement. If you don't cash the check, the money may go back to the company.

How fast is a settlement? ›

On average, the typical settlement can take up to six weeks for processing after the case is settled. This is due to a number of factors and may vary from one case to another. This is just an average on how long it will take to get paid after your case is finished but varies depending on a number of factors.

How long does it take to investigate a data breach? ›

The cost of a breach goes beyond the amount of data lost or disclosed depending on the time it takes to find it. On average, companies take about 197 days to identify and 69 days to contain a breach according to IBM.

What is the first step you should take after a data breach occurs? ›

Contain the Cybersecurity Breach

The first step you should take after a data breach is to determine which servers have been compromised and contain them as quickly as possible to ensure that other servers or devices won't also be infected.

How much will each person get from Wells Fargo settlement? ›

According to a report from CNBC, damages for customers with Wells Fargo bank accounts average around $100 per claim, and mortgage holders who were unable to modify their mortgages to avoid foreclosure are seeing an average of $24,215 per claim.

How much is Facebook settlement check? ›

Facebook parent Meta has agreed to pay $725 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed the social media giant gave third parties access to user data without their consent.

How do I claim money from Capital One's $190 million data breach settlement? ›

Contact the Settlement Administrator at info@CapitalOneSettlement.com or 1-855-604-1811 (Toll-Free).

How much did Experian pay in lawsuit 2022? ›

Experian agreed to pay $22.45 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims it incorrectly reported residential information as high risk.

How much will class action lawsuits pay in 2022? ›

The total value of the settlements exceded $63 billion. In 2022, class action lawsuits, which can create crises for companies and organizations, set new records for the amount of settlements in product liability, consumer fraud, antitrust, and other cases. The total value of the settlements exceded $63 billion.

How much did Experian pay for the breach? ›

Experian will contribute $13.67 million, while T-Mobile will pay $2.5 million. Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive free credit-monitoring services.

What is the usual result of a settlement? ›

Generally, when a settlement agreement is reached, the responsible party pays an amount to compensate for the “damages,” or losses, their negligence caused the victim.

How is settlement amount calculated? ›

The general formula most insurers use to measure settlement worth is the following: (Special damages x multiplier reflecting general damages) + lost wages = settlement amount.

How is settlement money divided? ›

A California jury will determine the nature of each surviving relative's losses and damages at trial and make an effort to distribute the award among them equally. The payments would be distributed proportionately to the settlement amounts in cases when the decedent's insurance policy has limited coverage.

Do filing class action settlements have a downside? ›

Some of the common disadvantages of class action lawsuits include: Lack of decision making control. Class action lawsuits are, by definition, representative rather than group litigation. That means that representatives of the affected class make the important litigation decisions – including when to settle.

What happens to leftover money from a class action lawsuit? ›

What If Money Is Leftover After a Class Action? If a common fund isn't used up after a certain amount of time, the remaining money might be returned to the defendant. Sometimes, leftover money might be distributed among class members or donated as a cy-pres award.

What is the highest payout of a class action lawsuit? ›

Number 1: The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement

At USD246 billion, it is unlikely to be beaten any time soon. The case was brought against all the major tobacco companies by more than 40 US states.

How much are Experian settlement checks? ›

According to the settlement website, payments could be between $300 and $900. The Policy Change Class cannot receive settlement payments, but both classes will benefit from Experian's proposed business changes.

How much are the target data breach settlement checks? ›

Target will pay $18.5 million to 47 states and the District of Columbia as part of a settlement with state attorneys general over a huge security breach that compromised the data of millions of customers.

What is a good Equifax credit score out of 1000? ›

Equifax provide credit scores out of 1000, and define a good credit score as anything that's 420 or above.

How long does it take for settlement to show on credit report? ›

The status of a settled debt stays on the CIBIL credit report for as long as 7 years. During these 7 years, whenever you will apply for a new loan, credit card, or any other form of debt, the lender will consider the “loan settlement” status to make their decision.

Do settlements negatively affect credit? ›

Why Debt Settlement Can Ding Your Credit Score. Debt settlement will have a negative impact on your credit score, even though you are reducing your debt obligations. High credit scores are designed to reward those accounts that have been paid on time according to the original credit agreement before they're closed.

Does settlement affect credit score? ›

When a loan is termed settled, it is viewed as a negative credit behaviour and the borrower's credit score drops by 75-100 points. The CIBIL holds this record for over 7 years.

Are class action settlements worth it? ›

In general, yes – class action lawsuits are worth it. For Class Members who are able to recover benefits from a class action settlement, all it takes is filling out a claim form and potentially providing documentation. This can allow them to recover up to thousands of dollars in compensation.

How much is the Target settlement? ›

Target Corp. has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a California lawsuit alleging the retail chain changed prices on its mobile app after customers entered stores and charged them more than advertised.

What is the average total cost of a data breach in the US? ›

These breaches had an average cost of US$ 4.50 million, and the longest lifecycle — 243 days to identify the breach, and another 84 days to contain the breach. The second most common cause of a data breach is phishing, accounting for 16%. It is also the costliest, averaging US$ 4.91 million in breach costs.

Why did my credit score drop after settlement? ›

Creditors like to see that you're able to manage various types of debt. Ideally, your debts should be a mix of installment debts like loans and revolving debts like credit cards. If eliminating a particular debt makes your credit report less diverse, it can negatively affect your score.

Will Experian give me a refund? ›

If you cancel a paid for Service during the Cooling Off Period you may be entitled to receive a refund in accordance with the refund information that was provided to you before your signed up and can be found in your Experian account.

Will Experian refund my money? ›

Yes, you can cancel your Experian membership at any time. For some Experian memberships, you may receive a prorated refund.

Videos

1. Understanding the Equifax Data Breach Settlement
(Nightly Business Report)
2. 🗣️ EQUIFAX Lawsuit! GET PAID For Their MISTAKES!
(Designer Soapbox)
3. How to claim money from Equifax data breach settlement
(ABC Action News)
4. Update on Equifax data breach settlement in 2023. 🙋🏻‍♂️
(Mrohanacredit)
5. Free Money? | Equifax Data Breach Settlement Check | How You Can Get One Too
(Finance and Technology Insights by Brian & Eric)
6. Equifax is paying you up to $20,000!
(Leveled Up Credit Services)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Last Updated: 02/23/2023

Views: 5339

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Wyatt Volkman LLD

Birthday: 1992-02-16

Address: Suite 851 78549 Lubowitz Well, Wardside, TX 98080-8615

Phone: +67618977178100

Job: Manufacturing Director

Hobby: Running, Mountaineering, Inline skating, Writing, Baton twirling, Computer programming, Stone skipping

Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.