If you had your personal information impacted by Equifax’s 2017 cybersecurity breach and filed a claim for $125, prepare to be disappointed. The shamed credit reporting agency only has $31 million set aside for cash restitution, which is not enough to cover each and every consumer who asked for money in return.
The FTC is advising folks to drop the cash option and go for the free credit monitoring service instead, which is “worth hundreds of dollars.” Otherwise, your reward could just be a couple of bucks.
For consumers who have already chosen the cash option, the settlement administrator will e-mail those consumers and provide them with the opportunity to either (1) submit additional information, or (2) switch to the free credit monitoring service. Consumers can also contact the settlement administrator directly.