var lo = new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent); To provide additional payment choices, the settlement administrator also emails those eligible for a settlement payment. ins.style.display = 'block'; Due to the large number of claims, you will probably get much less money than the $125 maximum for individual cash payouts. How will the Settlement help me deal with identity theft or fraud if it happens? DiCELLO LEVITT GUTZLER LLC They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. You can fill out the form at EquifaxBreachSettlement.com. Our mission is protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); The Court has not decided in favor of Plaintiffs or Equifax. 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 settlement administrator begins to look over recent time and money-related damage claims. While the majority of the responsibility for preventing data breaches lies with the organizations that collect and store our data, taking the above precautions will help you protect your own information and, hopefully, keep you from becoming a victim of a data breach. Equifax denied any wrongdoing and no judgment or finding of wrongdoing was made. Federal protections for consumer data have largely not changed since the Equifax attack. 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. 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. Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. Start small, then add on. If you have questions about making a claim, please contact the Settlement Administrator. Note that claims for Time Spent likely will be lowered depending on how many valid claims are submitted by others. While there hasn't been any official confirmation of the total number of people who wanted their settlement, the small payouts suggest that far more than 248,000 people submitted claims to Equifax, resulting in smaller totals for each person. Equifax has also agreed to implement and maintain certain business practices relating to its information security program (see FAQ 14). Calling the Settlement Administrator toll-free at 1-833-759-2982. 10. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. Initial Claims Period claim Settlement payments issued by pre-paid card were sent by email from [email protected]. Since so many people submitted claims, its probable that youll get far less money than the $125 cap on individual cash payments. 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. 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. You can also request up to seven free reports per year through Equifax until 2026. That's because the settlement with Equifax was just approved by a court. Up to $425 million from the settlement would compensate anyone affected by the data leak. Up to $425 million of the settlement would be used to assist those impacted by the data leak. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); Please do not contact the Court or its Clerk. The email or letter tells you how. Initial Claims Period claims for time spent and out-of-pocket losses are under review. For more information, you may contact the Settlement Administrator by email at [email protected], by phone toll-free by calling 1-833-759-2982, or by mailing a letter to: Equifax Data Breach Settlement Administrator. How do I tell the Court that I like or don't like the settlement? 9. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. How do I check the status of my Equifax Settlement? It Is Operated By The Settlement Administrator, Not By Equifax. THE BARNES LAW GROUP, LLC Numerous lawsuits were brought on behalf of consumers whose personal information was impacted as a result of the Data Breach. How credit scores can both help and hurt Americans, Here what 'Secure 2.0' means for near retirees, 5 tips to tackle holiday-induced credit card debt, How to maximize tax breaks for charitable giving. Consumers must jump through some more hoops to get a cash payout from the huge Equifax data breach settlement. Settlement Benefit: Credit Monitoring Services: The Settlement provides a way to help protect yourself from unauthorized use of your personal information. The Court appointed the following attorneys to represent you and other Settlement Class Members as Class Counsel., Norman E. Siegel The deadline to apply for a settlement payout was in January 2020. Thats because the settlement with Equifax was just approved by a court. After January 22, 2020, you can still file a claim for expenses you incur between January 23, 2020, and January 22, 2024, as a result of identity theft or fraud related to the breach, such as: You also can file a claim for the time you spent recovering from identity theft or fraud between January 23, 2020, and January 22, 2024. But, as people quickly realized, the payments hitting bank accounts are far less than the initially expected $125 per customer. Settlement funds remain available to pay valid claims for out-of-pocket losses and time spent as a result of the breach during the extended claims period, which runs from January 23, 2020 through January 22, 2024. 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. Will the Class Representatives receive any additional money? 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, Pay attorneys fees, costs, and expenses, as approved by the Court (see. CyberAgent Dark Web Monitoring that monitors internet activity for the trading or selling of your personal information. Search the Legal Library instead. 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). What if I have questions for government regulators or state attorneys general? Equifax offers credit monitoring and fraud prevention services directly to individuals and provides businesses with demographic and credit data and services. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. 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. 23. I dont want Equifax to have my data. Your email address will not be published. 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. You cannot make any of the following claims during the Extended Claims Period: 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. Equifax to pay up to $700M to consumers and states in data breach settlement The compromised data included Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver's license numbers, credit. Settlement Benefit: Payment for Unreimbursed Out-of-Pocket Losses: 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). Im not sure I was affected by the data breach. 15. 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. ins.style.width = '100%'; Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. For cash payments, you will get the payment in the method you choseeither by check, prepaid card, or PayPal. 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). The Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and all 50 states and U.S. territories have reached a global settlement with Equifax. 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. 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. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Soon after, the settlement administrator began sending emails and letters to people who filed a valid claim and requested free credit monitoring.