OFF-TOPIC Equifax is paying you $125 if you were affected by the 2017 breach

[ApparentHorizon]

Nearly half the US was affected by this. Check if your name, and friends and family is on there.

Check Your Eligibility

eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com

Takes less than 5 min to file a claim. If you need credit monitoring (a requirement to file the claim), credit karma is a good site to use.

 

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[Bishop]

Both me and my wife were affected. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

$125

Actually could be more...

Consumers could get up to $20,000 apiece in Equifax settlement — how to get your share

The claims process starts after a judge signs off on the settlement.

www.marketwatch.com

 

[ApparentHorizon]

Official guidelines and definitions:

Equifax Data Breach Settlement

www.ftc.gov

Up to 20k if you incurred fees or losses due to the breach.

$125 for just being on the list.

 

[ChrisV]

 

[Frank H.]

I know a lot of people that experienced emotional distress from this company. $125 is an insult. Very disappointing.

 

[ChrisV]

I know a lot of people that experienced emotional distress from this company. $125 is an insult. Very disappointing.

they could probably build a personal suit if that's really the case.. this is just the class action suit... not damages

 

[Kelvin Fernandez]

Bummer. I was affected by this. Thank you for the heads up. I had no idea I was affected. I guess that explains all the weird activity from my bank account and someone using my debit card in another city.

 

[ApparentHorizon]

I know a lot of people that experienced emotional distress from this company. $125 is an insult. Very disappointing.

Bummer. I was affected by this. Thank you for the heads up. I had no idea I was affected. I guess that explains all the weird activity from my bank account and someone using my debit card in another city.

Read the FTC doc above. If you were actually affected. IE. You have documents proving distress (like being notified someone opened a CC in your name), identity theft, and even just time on the phone with customer service to resolve the problem (You can bill them by the hour). You can claim much more.

A couple of months ago, I also froze all of my credits in each organization: Credit Freeze FAQs

​

Equifax​

Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services​

800-685-1111​

​

Experian​

Experian.com/help​

888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)​

​

Transunion​

TransUnion.com/credit-help​

888-909-8872​

​

If you need a new CC, loan, etc. You can place a temporary unfreeze just for when you apply. Then they refreeze. Each only takes a couple of minutes also.

 

[Kelvin Fernandez]

Read the FTC doc above. If you were actually affected. IE. You have documents proving distress (like being notified someone opened a CC in your name), identity theft, and even just time on the phone with customer service to resolve the problem (You can bill them by the hour). You can claim much more.

A couple of months ago, I also froze all of my credits in each organization: Credit Freeze FAQs

​

Equifax​

Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services​

800-685-1111​

​

Experian​

Experian.com/help​

888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)​

​

Transunion​

TransUnion.com/credit-help​

888-909-8872​

​

If you need a new CC, loan, etc. You can place a temporary unfreeze just for when you apply. Then they refreeze. Each only takes a couple of minutes also.

My bank froze my accounts when they try swiping my card in a gas station. Apparently they were testing the card in different stations to see if it worked. Once they hit gas station number 2 my account was frozen.

I already submitted my claim for the breach.

 

[KeepGoin]

Just as an aside, I've been meticulous with my SS number and personal information throughout my life. Last month I found out several accounts were opened in my name by junkies.

I've got no idea how they obtained the information and it's a really bad feeling. Have had to freeze all my accounts. I guess my point is, everyone should be monitoring their credit because companies are not taking care of your information properly even when they should.

 

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[eliquid]

I have not checked ( yet ) and I have had no issues with my SSN or fraud, but I went ahead the other day and froze my credit history/check w/e with all 3 companies.

I plan on only unfreezing when I need to.

In today's age, I would advice everyone to do this.

 

[ApparentHorizon]

Chances are, most of our SSNs and personal data are in the wild.

You have banks, lenders, car companies, terribly managed websites, and paper files with our info in all corners of the US. At this point it's better to have a "when" not "what if," plan.

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

I have not checked ( yet ) and I have had no issues with my SSN or fraud, but I went ahead the other day and froze my credit history/check w/e with all 3 companies.

I plan on only unfreezing when I need to.

In today's age, I would advice everyone to do this.

Did the same a few days after this huge breach took place, can save a ton of time and headaches in the future. It isn't difficult to unfreeze but you will need your PIN handy when you need a credit inquiry run or account opened (ex. for a car, credit card, house loan, etc)

 

[ChrisV]

Now you come to me and say "Don Equifax, give me justice"
But this is not justice, your accounts are still alive

 

[ChrisV]

I know a lot of people that experienced emotional distress from this company. $125 is an insult. Very disappointing.

Okay so if you use the tool, they compensate for more than that. They'll pay you $25/hr for any time you spent resolving issues caused by it, they'll reimburse you for any fees you incurred (including things like gas, notary, etc)

For stuff like emotional distress and loss of work you'll likely have to take more custom measures like calling them up and seeing if they'll settle or getting a lawyer.

But depending on the circumstances, can be more than $125

Equifax Data Breach Settlement

www.ftc.gov

 

[Frank H.]

Good posts! I was not personally affected by this, however, I would definitely assist in organizing a class action lawsuit if this impacted me. It is unfortunate that we have so many crooked judges and attornies though, we all know they are puppets of the big companies.

@ApparentHorizon It is difficult for many people to get documents proving their distress. Also, many of them are doubted, ridiculed or bullied when they do provide the documents. Also, many of them cannot afford a note from an "authority figure" such as a psychiatrist or psychologist.

 

[ApparentHorizon]

Good posts! I was not personally affected by this, however, I would definitely assist in organizing a class action lawsuit if this impacted me. It is unfortunate that we have so many crooked judges and attornies though, we all know they are puppets of the big companies.

@ApparentHorizon It is difficult for many people to get documents proving their distress. Also, many of them are doubted, ridiculed or bullied when they do provide the documents. Also, many of them cannot afford a note from an "authority figure" such as a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Looks like it's more for hard evidence, with a paper trail. Like a bill from your attorney or accountant. Or anything you paid to the credit agencies themselves for freezes, lookups, etc.

As @ChrisV mentioned, you'd need to go for a personal suit to claim psychological impacts.

 

[ChrisV]

There was a weird charge for Frontier Communications, and I've never used Frontier in my life. I'm thinking someone used my info to get free cable (talk about thinking small.)

I highly suggest checking freecreditreport.com or whatever to see if there was any strange activity.

 

[GrayCode]

I really want to submit that form and find out. But giving up the last 6 of SSN doesn't seem like a good idea to me. SSNs are 9 digits. They can easily brute force the other 3.

 

[eliquid]

Check this:

Capital One says that about 140,000 Social Security numbers and 80,000 linked bank accounts were compromised “in one of the biggest-ever data breaches,” affecting some 100 million individuals in the U.S. and six million in Canada.

Capital One announces massive data breach; lone suspect arrested in Seattle

Capital One announced a large data breach Monday, with the company saying that one person accessed personal information on up to 100 million people.

www.cyberscoop.com

Freeze those reports guys. This is only going to get worse as time goes by

 

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[struka]

From what I read, you will get years of free credit monitoring but if you already have that then you will get $125 instead.
I heard that with so many affected that the payout will not be $125 but more like cents.
I have fraud insurance and monthly monitoring but I ended up freezing all of my accounts immediately after.

 

[Bekit]

I know a lot of people that experienced emotional distress from this company. $125 is an insult. Very disappointing.

they could probably build a personal suit if that's really the case.. this is just the class action suit... not damages

Just FYI, if you submit the claim, or even if you do nothing, you give up the legal right to sue Equifax separately. You have to specifically opt OUT of the class action suit if you want to have the option to sue them for damages.

From the website:

Exclude yourself from the settlement
You can exclude yourself from the settlement by informing the Settlement Administrator that you want to “opt-out” of the settlement. If the settlement becomes final, this is the only option that allows you to retain your rights to separately sue Equifax for claims related to the Data Breach. If you opt-out, you may not make a claim for benefits under the settlement. For more detailed information, see FAQ 23.

Do nothing
If you do nothing, you can still access Identity Restoration Services, but will not be entitled to any other benefits provided under the settlement. If the settlement becomes final, you will give up your rights to sue Equifax separately for claims relating to the Data Breach or to continue to pursue any such claims you have already filed.

(Source)
The deadline to exclude yourself from the settlement is Nov. 19, 2019.

 

[404profound]

Equifax just paid for my insiders subscription. Nice.

 

[WJK]

Nearly half the US was affected by this. Check if your name, and friends and family is on there.

Check Your Eligibility

eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com

Takes less than 5 min to file a claim. If you need credit monitoring (a requirement to file the claim), credit karma is a good site to use.

So, if you take their money, are they off the hook legally? Is it a waiver of your right?

 

[NewManRising]

So we need to register for credit monitoring? Almost seems like a scam to get people to use this service and hand over data. I'm not sure $125 is worth it to me. Seem's like a sucker's deal.

 

[TylerJW]

My bank froze my accounts when they try swiping my card in a gas station. Apparently they were testing the card in different stations to see if it worked. Once they hit gas station number 2 my account was frozen.

I already submitted my claim for the breach.

Dude! The exact same thing happened to me a couple months back. They actually called me posing as my bank and tried using my information in Miami (I'm in Seattle). I spent hours on the phone dealing with this BS, and thankfully it was all blocked before they could do any damage.

Looks like I could get the $125 + 250, but it might be more important to get the credit monitoring...

 

[ApparentHorizon]

Looks like too many people claiming the cash option, and they don't have enough money for it. lol

 

[struka]

Looks like too many people claiming the cash option, and they don't have enough money for it. lol

Yup, that is exactly what I read last weekend especially after AOC tweeted for everyone to get their free cash.