In 2017, 147 million people had their personal information stolen during the Equifax Data Breach. This one of the largest cybersecurity incidences in history. In July 2019, the Federal Trade Commission ordered Equifax – one of the three major credit reporting agencies – to pay a settlement of $700 million to state and federal regulators for individual claims and civil penalties. You could be eligible for up to a $20,000 portion of this settlement. What Can You Get from the Equifax Data Breach? If you were one of the 147 million consumers affected by this credit monitoring system breach, you may be entitled to reimbursement, including:
In order to take advantage of this major settlement, you must first find out if the 2017 Equifax Data Breach affected you. Identity theft can cost you – the average amount a victim loses is more than $1,300 a year. Keep reading to see if you qualify.
Although you may be entitled to a settlement, the negative effects on your credit history may not be so easy to resolve. If you need help navigating the settlement process, checking or improving your credit, reach out to expert credit counselors for guidance on how to take control of your financial well-being. Get Started. It’s Free.
Learn More: What is a Good Credit Score?
After submitting your claim, it’s in your best interest to talk to a credit coach to discuss your options moving forward. If your information was leaked, there’s a possibility you could become a target for successful credit scams. In order to avoid any further damage to your credit, talk to a professional and get the credit advice you need.
To find out if you’ve been affected by this breach, you can visit the Equifax data breach checker at https://www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/, a site operated by a settlement administrator.