PSA: Equifax data breach settlement live (free $)
Chances are you were affected by the Equifax data breach and the FTC just opened the claims process. You can either get free credit monitoring or $125 if you already have it (military folks probably do have it due to the OPM breach a few years back). Just go to the FTC website, check your eligibility and file your claim.
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement
Thanks, followed the link. Since I cannot attest that I have credit monitoring for 6 months, I took the free monitoring. I'll probably miss the $125, but you never know when the monitoring will be useful.
Yeah. The monitoring will just tell me I got screwed after I'm screwed. So I'll take the $125.
Link in easy click format;
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement
Thanks buddy ?
Apparently I wasn’t one of the 147MM affected consumers. I wasn’t able to easily good what percentage of files 147MM equates represents.
You can get free credit monitoring through Credit Karma (no, I'm not affiliated with them). I have been pleased with them so far, but I may be a sucker, who knows? All that is required to receive cash is that you intend to be covered for the next six months. Also,when completing the form you can find out if you have been affected by the breach by entering your last name and last six of your SSN. It was very fast and simple.
Thanks OP!
Was just coming here to post this. CK rocks in my book and I recommend it all the time to folks.
So just to confirm you guys really typed you social security number into this link: https://eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/eligibility ???
I find it kind of funny that in order to check if your info was stolen you must type your soc into rando website
It's not your full number.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/attorneys-secure-preliminary-approval-historic-181700057.html
“We knew that we wanted to resolve the case as soon as possible for the highest possible consumer relief,” said Norman Siegel of Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP in Kansas City, who served as chair of the settlement committee and was appointed by the court to lead the class action along with Ken Canfield of Doffermyre Shields Canfield & Knowles LLP in Atlanta and Amy Keller of DiCello Levitt Gutzler LLC in Chicago.
[snip]
“The regulators were helpful in the process and secured additional relief for consumers—such as an additional year of credit monitoring and up to $195 million more in the settlement fund,” said Keller, who at 34 became the youngest woman to ever lead a nationwide multidistrict litigation when she was appointed co-lead counsel in this case. “We are grateful that they worked with us to ensure the best possible outcome for consumers.”
To make this on-topic, Keller is a Michigan alum and former RHA president. Way to go, Amy!
So let me get this straight. In order to claim money from a company that leaked my personal information, I now need to give that company my personal information?
Technically you need to provide it to the FTC, but I'm not sure that's any better. I figure it's compromised anyway so I'll take the $125.
Good point!
Actually, if you do this you are handing all your personal information over to a 3rd party that has given neither you nor the judge any indication that they will not sell your information.
The company handling this settlement payout isn't Equifax but a third party, JND Legal Administration.
The company describes its work as "providing the most responsive, trustworthy, and comprehensive legal administrative service in the country."
So, there's that.
Then there's the media hype machine describing this as a "moral obligation" on your part, and that "147m Americans are going to get at least $125 each (that's $18B being majiked out of thin air). I generally only see this much hype for something if there's a cahots and people are being played for suckers. Then, there's the six month wait for people to forget and then maybe get a $3 payout.
Right, better than read carefully, press hard, three copies...
Right. For a $125 refund, all you have to do is provide the same information to the company that leaked that same information in the first place.
The company in question is a credit monitoring service. They already have your information. Literally all of it. You don't get to choose on that part.
This is the best post ever. I just got approved for the $125 and it took about five minutes to file.
Thanks OP!
Five minutes? You type slow. Took me about 90 seconds. But for real though great post by OP. Thanks for the heads up.
Well, his username is MGrowOld...just sayin lol
Did you actually spend time or lose money because of the breach? The way I read it is I had to account for each hour spent trying to recover lost funds or buy credit reports to get the claim.
That would be to get additional funds. The base is $125 and if you spent time dealing with or had an identifiable cost then the way I interpreted is that the base would be increased based on hours spent or actual costs. I didn't have either so I'm not exactly sure how that part works.
Hmm, I wasn't sure how to interpret it so was just going to do a bit of research but it was pretty easy to get to that point.
No - you only have to do that if you want to claim for more than the $125 or free credit reporting. Per this settlement they'll pay up to 20K per individual for losses pursuant to the breech if you can document them.
Sounds good to me, just filed for my wife and I.
Sign your wife up too! Turn that $125 into $250!
Thanks, easily requested. Appreciate the heads up.
If I have credit monitoring through a Capitol One credit card through their CreditWise program that alerts me if there's a change on my TransUnion report, does that mean I'm covered and can request the $125?
I'd say it definitely counts and I used that same rationale to claim $125
Even if you aren't covered, you can still just request the cash instead. There's a question that asks about signing up for a service within 6 months, but that's about it.
Accidentally double-posted
Same here; seems plenty rational to me. :D
Thanks for the heads-up, USAFA007!!!
See my first post for context:
If I had that service I would definitely count it and take the $125.
Upvoted for getting me a free $125
Much appreciated OP! Great post!
Thank you for sharing!!!!!
OP, you are a boss.
Wait, no. You are a dude.
OP is the boss of all dudes.
First post in the history of MgoBlog that i actually made money by reading. The bar has been sent people. The bar has been sent.
Where did you send it?
Right back to Equifax.
Best thread of the year!
Thank you USAFA007 and MGoBlog. When that check comes in, I shall be sure to hit up Beveled Guilt (or "$upport (lol)" as it's now called).
Not eligible. I guess that's a good thing :)
I do already have the full identity monitoring package from the OPM breach, as I was a government contractor whose data was compromised.
It's bad, but I admit to being disappointed that my wife's data wasn't compromised...
I wasn't affected either
I knew my obsession with Michigan sports would pay off someday
I love OT season!
Sweet! $125 big ones for me. MGoWife not eligible - bummer.
doesn't most banks provide monthly credit scores for clients? i asked for $125.
Yeah, many banks and most credit card companies provide some form of credit monitoring so it should be pretty easy to qualify for already having a monitoring service.