Affected by Equifax data breach? How to claim $125 settlement (I just did)

[Dennis Donovan]

On edit: Caveat; they say you have to have credit monitoring in order for you to receive the cash settlement. I use Credit Karma, not equifax's credit monitoring service, so I hope that qualifies.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/07/25/equifax-settlement-how-file-claim-125-credit-reporting/1822919001/

If you were affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach, you can now file a claim for a piece of the settlement.

The credit-reporting company has agreed to pay between $575 million and $700 million to settle state and federal investigations related to a massive security incident that exposed the personal information of more than 147 million Americans two years ago.

The settlement, which was announced Monday and is considered the largest ever for a data breach, has preliminary court approval.

The official settlement website, www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com, has been posted and is accepting claims.

To confirm you're eligible to file a claim, enter your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number on the site or call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-759-2982.

[Zorro]

1. Apparently you can also claim up to 10 hours @$25/hr for time

dealing with data breach issues without providing evidentiary documentation, or get a credit monitoring service for 4 years instead of the $125.

I already have 2 credit monitoring services from the OPM and Anthem data breaches, so I'll take the cash.

[PA Democrat]

2. My husband was affected.

We have spent countless hours dealing with the aftermath- proving that HE did not open the fraudulent credit card accounts, that he was not in California buying computers, that he did not order Apple watches online (I could go on). It took MONTHS to get these fraudulent charges removed and now we have to constantly monitor his credit accounts. We placed a credit freeze on his information with all three credit bureaus and STILL have had problems.

The amount of this settlement is a joke.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Yup it was a constant mess

First my Credit Card was stolen 3 times, then my Netflix account was moved to Russia and then my e-mail was hacked. All just required a phone call and/or password changes. But it never occurred to me it was due to that data breach. I was caught in the VA data breach and the AOL data breach so, how do you tell which breach caused the problems?

I must have a good bank though, because they never give me a hassle when I find a fraudulent charge. I even caught a double posting and they researched it and corrected it. I check all my accounts regularly because I'm not a trusting person. Even when things are going well, I check and double check. Just to be safe.

[zackymilly]

3. The lawyers are the big winners. n/t

[bearfan454]

4. Always

in almost every situation.

[JudyM]

7. The lawyers managed and settled a massive class action negotiation that's getting $ to the public.

[zackymilly]

10. So how much of the money should THEY get?

[JudyM]

11. Did you ever read or see Erin Brokovich? The lawyers take 100% of the risk. It's the plaintiffs'

choice whether to use them or go with another firm. If the court doesn’t go along with the lawyers’ argument, they have to eat the whole thing. The plaintiffs, meanwhile, choose the best lawyers so that they can get the most money. Pissing on lawyers is the sick deflective “look over there” tactic of big industries like the insurance industry.

Sure, there are charlatans out there, as with any business, but a blanket assumption that lawyers are paid more than they’re worth isn’t fair to those who work hard for clients. Consumers’ plaintiffs’ lawyers go through plenty of famine times, often trying to help right industry wrongs.

How much should they get? Like any other business, they should get what the customer thinks their work is worth. These plaintiffs were well informed about lawyer fees when they decided to proceed. The court in this case will ultimately determine the firm’s fees.

[wishstar]

6. Thanks-I just submitted mine

I spent quite a bit of time after notice of breach to check my credit activities and lock all of the 3 credit companies and then there were 2 different instances of fraudulent charges on credit cards that I had to deal with and check credit monitoring reports

[meow2u3]

8. Thank you. I just submitted mine

I found out I was affected by the breach, but now I have identity recovery insurance under my renter's plan.

I don't think I need credit monitoring; I don't have much for them to steal.

[LAS14]

9. Thanks! Can't hurt to try.

[shanti]

12. Just filed mine

and since I didn't have any credit monitoring, it required me to take this option instead of cash.

[Dennis Donovan]

13. Yeah, it's like Ford forcing you to buy another Pinto...

...after your grandma burnt up in the last one you owned.

[lpbk2713]

14. Bookmarking for later.

Thanks.