Equifax Hard Inquiry Dispute Class Action Settlement
Equifax Hard Inquiry Dispute Class Action Settlement
Equifax Information Services LLC agreed to a $30 million settlement over allegations that it did not reasonably investigate consumer disputes of hard inquiries on their credit files. The class covers about 3 million people in the United States and its Territories whom Equifax's records show disputed a hard inquiry during set periods starting in 2016. Class Counsel estimates payments of about $100, $300, or $400 depending on group, and the claim deadline is November 29, 2026. You need the Claim Number and PIN from your notice to file.
Settlement fund
$30M
Common fund, pro rata distribution
Estimated payment
Est. $100 to $400
Class Counsel estimate, varies by group
Claim deadline
Nov 29, 2026
62 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Nov 29, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You reside in the United States or its Territories and Equifax's records show you disputed one or more hard inquiries during a covered period.
- Certified Group (about 1 million people): Equifax received a mailed letter from you disputing a hard inquiry between October 4, 2016 and March 27, 2026, coded "not mine" or "unauthorized," and sent you a response letter coded "Cons Comm 664."
- General Dispute Group: Equifax received one or more disputes of a hard inquiry from you between August 31, 2021 and March 27, 2026. The New York Subclass (about 35,000 people) covers Certified Group members with a New York address who received that response between November 27, 2017 and September 10, 2024.
- Excluded: Anyone Equifax's records do not show as having disputed a hard inquiry during a covered period.
- Excluded: Anyone who excludes themselves from the settlement by the November 20, 2026 deadline.
Not sure if you qualify? If you received a notice, Equifax's records show you are a class member, and you can log in with your Claim Number and PIN to see your group. You can also call the Settlement Administrator at (833) 244-4150, email questions@EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com, or visit EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com.
What happened
The lawsuits allege that when consumers disputed hard inquiries on their Equifax credit files, Equifax did not reasonably investigate, did not contact the companies that requested the inquiries, and did not remove the disputed inquiries. Instead, according to the plaintiffs, Equifax sent letters stating: "Inquiries are a factual record of file access. If you believe this was unauthorized, please contact the creditor." The claims were brought under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and New York and New Jersey credit reporting laws. The settlement resolves four cases: Hines in New York, Rivera and Neubauer in Georgia, and Oblack in New Jersey. Classes had been certified in the Hines and Rivera cases.
Equifax denies that it did anything wrong, and the Court has not decided who is right. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and delay of continued litigation. The settlement creates a $30 million fund that is distributed pro rata to class members who file valid claims.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
Class members were identified from Equifax's own records of hard inquiry disputes. If you received a notice, you are a class member according to those records. Your notice includes a Claim Number and PIN that you use to log in and see which group you are in.
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2. Know your group
Class Counsel estimates payments of about $100 for the General Dispute Group, about $300 for the Certified Group, and about $400 for the New York Subclass. These are estimates, not guaranteed amounts. Payments are made pro rata under the Distribution Plan, so actual amounts may be lower or higher depending on how many valid claims are filed and on the fees and costs the Court approves.
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3. File online with your Claim Number and PIN
You must submit a Claim Form to be paid. File online at equifaxdisputeclassaction.com by November 29, 2026, logging in with the Claim Number and PIN from your notice. The settlement FAQ does not list any receipts or documents you need to provide. You can choose payment by check or an electronic payment option. Notice documents and court filings are posted at EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com.
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4. Receive your payment
Payments are issued after the Court grants final approval at the December 10, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and after any appeals are resolved. No follow-up is required once your claim is submitted.
Key dates
- Nov 20, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Nov 29, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Dec 10, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (10:00 a.m. ET, may be virtual) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The hearing may be held virtually or moved without further notice. Exclusion requests and objections are due November 20, 2026, and a Notice of Intention to Appear must be received by November 26, 2026. The Court will also consider Class Counsel's request for up to $10,000,000 in attorneys' fees, up to $260,000 in litigation expenses, and service awards totaling up to $60,000, and the fee motion will be posted on the settlement website by October 20, 2026. Check EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com for updates before traveling.
Where the money is going
Equifax will pay $30 million into a settlement fund. Court-approved attorneys' fees and litigation expenses, service awards, and settlement administration costs are paid from the fund, and the rest is distributed pro rata to class members who file valid claims under the Distribution Plan.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Approval Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Per-claim figures are Class Counsel estimates, not guarantees, and payments are distributed on a pro rata basis.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Class Counsel estimates about $100 for the General Dispute Group, about $300 for the Certified Group, and about $400 for the New York Subclass. These are estimates only. Payments are pro rata, so actual amounts depend on how many valid claims are filed and on the fees and costs the Court approves, and they may be lower or higher.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
The settlement FAQ does not list any receipts or documentation requirement. You log in to the Claim Form with the Claim Number and PIN from your notice and complete and sign the form. Class membership is based on Equifax's own dispute records.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Class members were identified from Equifax's records, and the online Claim Form requires the Claim Number and PIN from the notice. If you disputed a hard inquiry with Equifax during a covered period and did not receive a notice, contact the Settlement Administrator at (833) 244-4150 or questions@EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com before the November 29, 2026 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If you stay in the settlement, you give up the right to sue Equifax over claims that were or could have been asserted relating to its handling of hard inquiry disputes, including claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and similar state laws, whether or not you file a claim. To keep those rights, you must exclude yourself by November 20, 2026 by writing to Hines v. Equifax, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 16, West Point, PA 19486, including the unique identifier from your notice.
When will payments be sent out?
Payments come after the Court grants final approval at the December 10, 2026 Final Approval Hearing and after any appeals are resolved. An appeal can add a year or more to that timeline.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Equifax Information Services LLC, the Settlement Administrator (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Class Counsel of Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C., Class Counsel of Robert S. Sola, P.C., Class Counsel of The Adkins Firm, P.C., and Class Counsel of Skaar & Feagle, LLP. The case is Hines v. Equifax Information Services LLC, Case No. 1:19-cv-06701, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York before Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo. Class representatives are Duane A. Hines, Francisco Joel Rivera, Brian Joseph Oblack, and Mark Neubauer. Equifax denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.