Anyone have a good source for an unbiased (i.e. not trying to sell me something) "what exactly should I do" now? File for the class action? Freeze my accounts? Get identity protection?
Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
11–20 of 670 posts
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#12>In the complaint filed in Portland, Ore., federal court, users alleged Equifax was negligent in failing to protect consumer data, choosing to save money instead of spending on technical safeguards that could have stopped the attack. Doesn't "users" imply that we had a choice in the matter? As if we're Equifax's customers? I feel more like we're victims in this case.
One thing I'm not sure about is how this breaks down as to people who paid Equifax or signed up for some service through them compared with people who involuntarily had their credit tracked through Equifax.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#13The super fucked up part is that it automatically signs you up for their "Credit protection" if you use their site to see if you were impacted. Doesn't ask if you'd like to, just says "Thanks for signing up, your year starts now!"
From my reading of ToS it also apparently waives your right to be a part of a class action lawsuit against Equifax...
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#14The super fucked up part is that it automatically signs you up for their "Credit protection" if you use their site to see if you were impacted. Doesn't ask if you'd like to, just says "Thanks for signing up, your year starts now!"
Even worse, you agree to arbitration in case of disputes waiving your rights to sue..not sure if even enforceable.
You can check if you're impacted then just not proceed to click "enroll" and be able to check without auto-enrolling and agreeing to their 1yr protection + arbitration agreement.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#15I'm not excited about this class action; If they win, the individual payout will be almost nothing ($10?). The lawyers are the only ones who will really "make out" with 10's of millions in fees. There is also a disproportionate effect in that a small portion of the 143 million affected will have a large impact, i.e., "identity theft" while most will be unaffected. I think a fund setup to help those who are directly a…
I think a fund is a good idea, but how do you verify that the people claiming from the fund are the people who were affected? :)
Keeping my identity/online data safe just seems so hopeless that I don't think about it anymore.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#16The super fucked up part is that it automatically signs you up for their "Credit protection" if you use their site to see if you were impacted. Doesn't ask if you'd like to, just says "Thanks for signing up, your year starts now!"
do the TOS require one to only go through mediation as a part of this, so by signing up you waive your right to sue?
Yes, the TOS does require arbitration (including for actions that occurred before signing the TOS), but it's not clear if it applies to just the child company that is providing the credit monitoring service or if it applies to the actions of the parent company, too.
I am not a lawyer.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#17I'd love to see the $70B number pan out (though $500 per person is less than the damages, I think) -- Equifax is a $17B company, and would presumably stop existing if that happened.
On the other hand, these things always settle out of court, and Equifax certainly won't settle the suit for more than they're worth.
I said it elsewhere, but I think the right response is to opt out of the class, and sue for $1000 in small claims court. If ~15% of the class does this, they are out of business, and lawyers don't get a dime of the $1000.
Also, I'd love to see a new non-profit website that automated the paperwork.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#18I'm not excited about this class action; If they win, the individual payout will be almost nothing ($10?). The lawyers are the only ones who will really "make out" with 10's of millions in fees. There is also a disproportionate effect in that a small portion of the 143 million affected will have a large impact, i.e., "identity theft" while most will be unaffected. I think a fund setup to help those who are directly a…
IMO, the best outcome would be to put Equifax out of business. I have had my identity stolen and they were complicit in enabling the fraud against me. Once you tell them you're NPI has been compromised, they get incredibly passive aggressive against you and refuse to allow you to manage the situation (i.e. they won't let you unlock your credit to apply for a mortgage).
In short, this breach of public "trust" is only the smoking gun that proves how horrible Equifax is. But, they have a long history of being a parasitic organization that will hopefully die soon.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#19Good. I hope they get sued into the stone age.
And then, I hope all of the other agencies take note, and start deleting their data.
Re: Equifax Faces Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit Over Hack
#20I'm not excited about this class action; If they win, the individual payout will be almost nothing ($10?). The lawyers are the only ones who will really "make out" with 10's of millions in fees. There is also a disproportionate effect in that a small portion of the 143 million affected will have a large impact, i.e., "identity theft" while most will be unaffected. I think a fund setup to help those who are directly a…
I think this comment is missing the fact that Equifax will be financially punished as a result, possibly resulting in better systemic security overall.