If you're an AT&T customer who was impacted by the company's data breaches in 2019 and/or 2024, then you still have time to file a claim in the $177 million class action settlement. In October, the deadline to file was extended to Dec. 18, so you have a little less than a week.
The first of the two large-scale breaches was discovered in March 2024, after customer data appeared on the dark web. AT&T later explained in a statement that the breach compromised the addresses, social security numbers, and passcodes of users in a database dating back to 2019. An even larger data breach was uncovered in late 2024. This second breach exposed the telephone numbers and records of calls and texts of nearly every AT&T customer, and took place between approximately May 1 and Oct. 31, 2022, and on Jan. 3, 2023.
Following a class action lawsuit, courts ruled in June that the company would dole out $177 million to affected AT&T customers who had accounts between 2019 and 2024. Claimants were divided into two classes: account holders affected by the March 2024 breach would split $149 million, while customers whose communications were downloaded in the July incident would share $28 million. Direct payments to users who suffered financial losses were paid first — up to $5,000 for the first class or $2,500 for the second — according to the company.
Now, everyone else whose data was exposed is splitting the pile.
How much money is available in the AT&T settlement?
Technically, an AT&T customer who suffered proven financial losses because of both incidents could be eligible to receive up to $7,500. However, those larger payments were paid early. AT&T should have contacted you directly if you qualified, so if you think you were impacted by the breach but haven't been notified, you'll want to check your spam folder. Per our colleagues at PCMag, look for emails from Kroll Settlement Administration LLC or the email address attsettlement@e.emailksa.com.
As is usually the case in these class action settlements, manage your expectations. After those initial payments to customers who experienced financial losses, the remaining $177 million will be divided among a much larger pool of customers.
Often, the final payment amount in big tech settlements like this is under $30.
How to claim your AT&T settlement money
According to the settlement website, affected customers have until Dec. 18 to claim their cut, and impacted users should have already received a settlement notice containing a Class Member ID. If you would like to opt out of the settlement, or want to object to your classification under the settlement, you were required to physically mail in a request by Nov. 17.
The settlement's final approval hearing will be held on Jan. 15.
To be paid, you must fill out the settlement claim form. You will need your Class Member ID, as well as an email address, AT&T account number, or full name. Be prepared to fill out payment information, such as a direct deposit or checking information.
Who is eligible for the AT&T settlement?
There are different eligibility requirements for the two settlement classes in the case:
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For Class 1: eligibility extends to any living person whose personal identification information was exposed by the March incident
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For Class 2: eligibility extends to AT&T account owners or "line or end users" whose numbers or direct communications were downloaded by bad actors
How much money will I get in AT&T settlement?
We can't provide an exact dollar amount. In a much larger Amazon settlement, affected customers were expected to receive up to $42.86 per person. And in the YouTube privacy settlement, affected customers are expected to get between $30 to $60.
Customers will be paid based on the severity of the data breach.
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For Class 1: Individuals who had their Social Security Numbers exposed (Tier 1) will receive five times more money than those who did not (Tier 2)
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For Class 2: Individuals who did not prove a documented financial loss will receive a share of the remaining settlement funds (Tier 3)
Have questions? You can call the settlement hotline (833) 890-4930 to get answers or visit the settlement website.
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