Eligible consumers may receive payments after duplicate credit reporting claims settlement approval.
Equifax has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that claimed the credit reporting company mistakenly listed the same collection account more than once on certain consumers’ credit reports. The proposed agreement creates a $2.2 million settlement fund that could provide cash payments and free credit monitoring for thousands of affected people if it receives final court approval. The lawsuit centers on claims that duplicate collection accounts appeared on some Equifax credit reports, making it seem as though consumers owed more money or had more unpaid debts than they actually did. According to the complaint, those errors had the potential to affect lending decisions when people applied for loans, credit cards, or other forms of financing.
The case, known as Bradberry v. Equifax Information Services LLC, was filed in federal court in Georgia. The lawsuit accused Equifax of violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a federal law that requires credit reporting agencies to take reasonable steps to keep consumer credit reports accurate. Equifax denied the allegations and said it did not violate the law. The company also denied any wrongdoing. Even so, both sides agreed to settle the dispute rather than continue through a lengthy court process. The proposed settlement does not mean the court determined either side was right or wrong.
The agreement applies to approximately 37,000 consumers across the United States. According to court records, Equifax mailed what it called a “Duplicate Reporting Letter” to about 37,651 people during August and September 2022. Those letters informed recipients that a duplicate collection account may have appeared on their Equifax credit file when another party requested a copy of their report. Consumers who received one of those letters are likely included in the settlement class. Many eligible people have also received settlement notices by mail or email containing a Notice ID and PIN needed to submit an online claim.
Eligible class members may receive a cash payment of up to $600. To qualify, a person must submit a valid claim and certify under penalty of perjury that at least one of two situations occurred. One option is confirming that Equifax provided a credit report to another party showing the duplicate collection account. The second option is confirming that credit was denied, and the duplicate account was one reason for that decision. The final payment amount may be less than the advertised maximum. Like many class-action settlements, payments will depend on how many eligible people submit claims. Attorney fees, court costs, and settlement administration expenses will also be paid from the settlement fund before individual payments are calculated.
In addition to possible cash payments, every settlement class member who remains part of the agreement will be eligible for six months of Equifax Complete credit monitoring. That benefit will be available even for those who choose not to file a cash claim. The service includes credit monitoring, alerts about changes made to credit files, and identity theft protection with certain covered expenses up to $500,000.
The settlement also requires Equifax to address the reporting issue connected to the lawsuit. Under the proposed agreement, the company has agreed to remove duplicate collection accounts associated with the identified problem and continue temporary measures intended to reduce the chance of the same account appearing more than once on a consumer’s credit report.
Consumers who wish to request a payment must submit a claim by September 1, 2026. Claims may be filed online using the Notice ID and PIN listed in the settlement notice or by mailing a completed paper claim form to the settlement administrator. Those receiving payments may choose from several options, including paper check, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a virtual prepaid card.
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Equifax agrees to $2.2 million settlement over duplicate collection accounts
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