You May be Eligible for $20,000 Thanks to Credit Bureau Settlement.
Back in the summer of 2017, the credit reporting agency, Equifax announced that there has been a “cybersecurity incident” that resulted in over 145 million U.S consumers to have their information leaked. Names, Social Security Numbers, Addresses, Driver License numbers, and birth dates are among the information that has been leaked. According to the company, a website application vulnerability was exploited to gain information from files they Equifax had stored online. It is important to note that there has been no evidence of unauthorized use on their core database.
What Can You Do?
If you fear your information could have been leaked, it is recommended that you check your credit report. If you see any unusual activity, ask for a credit freeze. Equifax is providing free credit freezing and unfreezing for life for those affected. It is also recommended that you sign up for credit monitoring and identity theft insurance. Even if you have not been affected by this cyber attack, you should sign up for fraud alerts. You can contact any of the major credit reporting companies to get these fraud reports. The bonus is, you don’t have to contact the other bureaus. If you request this from one of them, they legally have to report your request to the other bureaus.
How will I know If I Was Affected?
Hearing about a giant data breach like this can be scary. Especially when you don’t know if you were affected or not. Luckily, Equifax is planning on mailing out notices to people who have been affected. If you don’t want to wait for mail notification, you can sign up here with the FTC for updates of when you can check online if you were affected. Soon, a web application will be made so you can quickly figure out if you were safe or not.
What Should I Do If I Was Affected?
If you were affected, you may be eligible for compensation. Once the claim process opens, you can request free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for up to 10 years or 18 years if you were a minor that was affected. If you already have a credit monitoring service, you can receive $125. The Identity theft insurance covers all 3 bureaus and allows for up to one million dollars in protection. In addition to free credit services, you may be eligible for up to $20,000. This will depend on several factors such as how much time you spent trying to fix your credit issues, attorney fees, postage, etc. You can learn more about it here.
Has a big corporation taken advantage of your trust?
If a major corporation has taken advantage of your trust, you need an attorney. Negligence is a serious matter and if you feel like you have been a victim of negligence, you should contact a law firm experienced in fighting for the people to protect them for big corporate interests. The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers is an experienced class action attorneys who will be able to fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact The Texas Law Giant for your free consultation at our office phone number or reach out to us online.