⚑ You might be owedNovember 17, 2026
Equifax has agreed to a $100 million settlement over a 2022 coding error that affected some people's credit scores, according to ClassAction.org. Equifax did not admit wrongdoing, and the claim deadline is December 28, 2026.
The short version
Who's paying: Equifax
Total fund: $100,000,000
Who can claim: U.S. residents whose score or credit attribute was reported to a third party March 17 to April 8, 2022, and differed from what it would have been without the coding issue
Payment per person: Estimated $95 to $280, could be higher or lower
Claim deadline: December 28, 2026
What the case was about
The lawsuit centers on a coding issue at Equifax in spring 2022. According to the settlement terms described by ClassAction.org, credit scores or credit attributes reported to third parties during a window in March and April 2022 may have differed from what they would have been without the issue. Lenders and others use those scores. Top Class Actions reports that Equifax denies it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Yahoo Finance reported in August that Equifax did not admit wrongdoing. The court gave preliminary approval to the settlement on August 17, 2026.
The settlement covers U.S. residents whose credit score or credit attribute was reported to a third party between March 17 and April 8, 2022, and differed from what it would have been without the coding issue, according to ClassAction.org and Claim Depot. It is limited to transactions Equifax flagged in its own analysis. People who qualify should have received a notice with a Claim ID and PIN. Online claims need both, and mail-in claims need the Claim ID. ClassAction.org and Claim Depot say no proof is required.
The money and the dates
The fund totals $100,000,000. The settlement website says the estimated payment is $95 to $280, but the actual amount may be higher or lower, according to ClassAction.org. Claim Depot lists administration costs of at least $1.5 million, attorneys' fees of up to $33,333,333 and expenses of up to $500,000. The opt-out deadline is November 27, 2026, and the claim deadline is December 28, 2026. The final approval hearing is January 22, 2027. Payments come only after final approval and any appeals, per ClassAction.org.
How to file a claim
Claim Depot lists the online claim form at veritaconnect.com/EquifaxFairCreditReportingSettlement/Claimant. The settlement website is named as EquifaxFairCreditReportingSettlement.com.
Deadline: December 28, 2026, online or postmarked. You need the Claim ID and PIN from your notice for an online claim.
Proof of purchase is not required, per ClassAction.org and Claim Depot.
Claims are handled by the settlement administrator. Caught Red-Handed isn't affiliated with the settlement.
The final approval hearing is set for January 22, 2027, and no payments go out until after it and any appeals.
Sources
Claim Depot: Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Settlement, November 2, 2026
This story is based on the records and reports linked above. Charges, lawsuits, and other accusations are claims, not findings of guilt or liability, unless the story says a court has ruled.
