An Equifax data breach settlement has been reached in the US that will see up to $425m available for those affected by the cyberattack that was identified in 2017.
The settlement has taken place in the US which means that it is a separate matter to the legal action being taken in the UK, but this development is positive news in respect of the wider fight for justice. At the time of the posting of this article, you may still have time to join the group action case for compensation as long as you speak to the team as a matter of urgency.
About the Equifax data breach settlement
The Equifax data breach settlement involves some 50 territories and states in the US, so it is not designed to be for those UK victims who are pursuing their separate data breach compensation claims. The UK and the US operate in separate legal jurisdictions, so anyone affected here in the UK will need to pursue their own case.
We can represent those affected who are based in England and Wales. This is limited to exclude Scotland and Northern Ireland as they also operate in their own legal jurisdiction.
The Equifax data breach settlement in the US is reportedly to the tune of up to $425m, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The settlement was reached earlier this year in January, and those affected are set to be contacted to find out how they can receive their damages.
As part of the settlement scheme, there are offers of free credit monitoring as well.
Key differences between the UK and the US
It is not surprising for the US Equifax data breach settlement to have been achieved before any settlement here in the UK. The legal system for class actions in the US can be a lot more efficient and a lot more effective than they are here, where things can be very slow. The US also typically operates an “opt-out” system, whereby a settlement can be reached and then anyone affected can claim unless they choose not to do so. Here in the UK, for cases like this, victims must usually “opt-in” by specifically joining a legal action for compensation to sign up to be a part of it.
Anyone who has not signed up to be a part of a formal group action by the time a settlement is reached is then usually unable to benefit from the settlement attained. This is why we often press the importance of making sure that anyone eligible to join a group action signs up for a claim as soon as they possibly can to avoid missing out.
Over the many years we have been working in group action law, we have had to sadly turn away a lot of people who have asked for our help after court deadlines for joining an action have passed. Some have missed out on the opportunity to claim tens of thousands of pounds when all they needed to do was sign up for a No Win, No Fee legal case.
Still time to join the claim in England and Wales
At the time of this article being posted, there is still time to pursue a claim for data breach compensation if you are a victim who has been affected in England or Wales. Unfortunately, some key dates have already passed, and we are now close to the six-year anniversary of the breach. There are no guarantees, but you should speak to the team as a matter of urgency.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for free, no-obligation legal advice here now.