CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – After a massive data breach exposed the personal data of millions, Equifax credit bureau will compensate those effected as part of a settlement.
Equifax was compromised in 2017, exposing the social security numbers of nearly 150 million people. The company has reached a $700 million dollar settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, approximately $425 million of which will directly benefit those effected by the incident.
Consumers whose data was compromised can choose between a one-time $125 payment or 10 years of free credit monitoring from Equifax. To claim one of these benefits, consumers must first find out if their information was compromised.
How to manage an Equifax claim:
- By providing your last name and the last six numbers of your social security number at this link, you can see if your data was compromised in the breach.
- If your data was compromised, a claim can be filed with the FTC. You will be offered the choice of $125 in the form of a check or pre-paid card or 10 years of free credit monitoring.
- If you spent money protecting or recovering your identity due to the breach, you may be entitled to reimbursement of up to $20,000. Supporting documents may be uploaded as part of the FTC claim process.
The deadline for claims is January 22, 2020. Claims must be filed before the deadline in order to receive compensation.
It is important to be aware of changes in credit. Consumers are legally entitled to one free credit report from each bureau annually. These reports can be obtained online.