$30M Equifax Hard Inquiry Dispute Class Action Settlement

Equifax, one of the major U.S. credit reporting agencies, reached a settlement to resolve class action lawsuits. The allegations centered on the company's failure to adequately investigate disputes made by consumers regarding hard inquiries listed on their credit reports. This settlement was reached to resolve four class action lawsuits filed against Equifax in New York, Georgia, New Jersey, and Oregon.

Plaintiffs alleged that Equifax violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and similar state laws by not contacting the companies that requested the credit reports and by failing to remove hard inquiries that consumers disputed as unauthorized. Instead, Equifax reportedly sent some consumers letters stating that inquiries are merely a factual record of file access.

The settlement benefits individuals in the United States and its territories who fall into specific groups, including the Certified Group, the General Dispute Group, and a New York subclass. Class members who submit a valid claim are entitled to a pro rata share of the settlement fund, with estimated payments ranging from $100 to $400 depending on the group. The deadline to submit a valid claim form is November 29, 2026.