Equifax 2017 Data Breach Settlement
In 2017, Equifax announced a breach that exposed the personal data of approximately 147 million people. Payments for claims filed for out-of-pocket losses, time spent, and other cash benefits are now being sent. If you filed a claim, keep an eye out for your payment.
Cash reimbursement requests for payment (to repay money you lost, or pay for time you spent recovering from the data breach) that were submitted before the deadline of January 22, 2022, are scheduled to be sent starting in mid-December 2022. 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 .
You can still request financial reimbursement.
If your data was part of the breach and you had to spend time or money recovering from it between January 23, 2020, and January 22, 2024, there is an extended period to claim reimbursement.
You can fill out the form at EquifaxBreachSettlement.com
You can request a reimbursement for money spent on things such as:
- Certain Equifax products purchased before the breach
- Freezing or unfreezing your credit
- Credit monitoring services
- Dealing with fraud or identity theft after the breach
You can also request payment if you spent time on things such as:
- Placing credit freezes
- Buying credit monitoring services
- Dealing with fraud or identity theft after the breach
No-cost help in case of identity theft
Everyone affected by the data breach can receive free identity restoration services from Experian if you discover your personal information was misused. You can use these services even if you never filed a claim for other benefits. To get started, use the look-up tool to confirm that you were affected by the breach. After you’ve entered your information, you’ll see the phone number to call Experian for help, and the engagement number to give them.
When you call, you’ll be assigned to a certified Identity Theft Restoration Specialist who can work with you. The specialist can help you with a step-by-step process to deal with companies, government agencies, and credit reporting companies.
Steps you can take to protect yourself
Check your credit reports on your own
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three nationwide credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion, are currently offering free weekly access to your credit reports online at annualcreditreport.com. You can also request up to seven free reports per year through Equifax until 2026.
Moms Justice
As we strive to keep our families safe and secure, but sometimes dangers can lurk in unexpected places. In September 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit bureaus in the United States, suffered a massive data breach that impacted 147 million people, including countless families. The breach exposed sensitive information such as names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses, leaving families at risk of identity theft and financial fraud.
