Mussman Urges Residents to Check Equifax Settlement Website to File Claims and Monitor Credit

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to a recent settlement over the 2017 Equifax security breach, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, is encouraging residents to see if they have been affected and file a claim.

“I’m urging residents who believe they may have been affected by the breach to check their eligibility for a claim on the Equifax settlement website,” Mussman said. “It is evident that even the entities we trust to protect our personal information can be compromised, so it is critical that consumers continue to monitor their credit and file a claim if they have been affected by the breach.”

On Monday, Equifax filed a settlement for $600 million, including a Consumer Restitution Fund of up to $425 million. More than 147 million Americans had personal data of some kind stolen from Equifax including credit card numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal information. Equifax will pay those affected by the breach depending on the severity of how their data was compromised. Those who wish to file a claim or see if they are eligible to do so can visit www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com or visit https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement for additional details on the settlement. Consumers have until Jan. 1, 2020 to file an initial claim.

“People are entitled to compensation from this lapse in security, and it is important to take the steps needed to find out if one’s personal information has been compromised and if they are eligible for a settlement,” Mussman said. “Those affected by the breach can receive free credit monitoring for up to ten years or a cash payout. I encourage all residents to visit the settlement website for more information.”