Quick Answer: Two separate Equifax settlements are open for claims in 2026. A $30 million settlement covers customers who disputed hard inquiries on their credit reports (deadline November 29, 2026, at EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com). A separate $100 million settlement covers about 4 million people whose credit scores were incorrectly reported in 2022 (deadline December 28, 2026, at equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com). Payments range from $95 to $400 depending on which case you qualify for.
Key Takeaways
- Two separate Equifax class action settlements are open simultaneously in 2026
- Settlement 1 ($30M): Covers credit report inquiry disputes; payments estimated at $100 to $400; deadline November 29, 2026
- Settlement 2 ($100M): Covers people whose credit scores were wrongly lowered in 2022; payments estimated at $95 to $280; deadline December 28, 2026
- Both settlements have no-proof-required options if you received a notice with a claim number
- You could potentially qualify for both, they cover different conduct and different time periods
- File Settlement 1 at EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com and Settlement 2 at equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com
Settlement 1: $30 Million Equifax Inquiry Dispute Settlement
What This Lawsuit Was About
The first settlement resolves four class action lawsuits, Hines et al. v. Equifax Information Services LLC (No. 1:19-cv-06701) and three related cases, alleging that Equifax failed to properly investigate when consumers disputed hard inquiries on their credit reports.
A hard inquiry appears on your credit report when a lender checks your credit score, typically when you apply for a credit card, mortgage, or car loan. Each inquiry can temporarily lower your credit score, so when an inquiry shows up that you didn’t authorize, disputing it matters.
The lawsuits alleged that Equifax ignored its legal obligation to reinvestigate those disputes. Instead of actually looking into the disputed inquiry, Equifax allegedly told consumers to contact the company that pulled their report, which is not what the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires. The FCRA obligates credit bureaus to conduct their own reasonable reinvestigation when a consumer submits a dispute.
One plaintiff described disputing a 2016 inquiry from Hughes Network Systems, a company he had never dealt with. He disputed it three separate times over six months. Each time, Equifax said it had contacted the company, which the plaintiff says was false. The inquiry remained on his report.
Who Is Eligible: Three Groups
Certified Group (estimated payout: ~$300) U.S. residents who mailed a dispute of one or more hard inquiries to Equifax between October 4, 2016 and March 27, 2026, where Equifax coded the dispute as “not mine” (dispute code 001) or “unauthorized” (dispute code 383) and sent back a document containing the phrase “Cons Comm 664.”
New York Subclass (estimated payout: ~$400) People with a New York address who received a “Cons Comm 664” document in response to a hard-inquiry dispute between November 27, 2017 and September 10, 2024.
General Dispute Group (estimated payout: ~$100) U.S. residents who disputed any hard inquiry with Equifax between August 31, 2021 and March 27, 2026, regardless of dispute code or response received.
These are estimated payments. Actual amounts depend on how many valid claims are filed. About 3 million people are potentially eligible across all three groups.
Key Dates and How to File
Claim deadline: November 29, 2026 Official website: EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com Preliminary approval: August 5, 2026 Final approval hearing: December 10, 2026
To file: visit EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com and enter the claim number and PIN from your settlement notice. If you didn’t receive a notice, the website allows you to self-identify using your contact and dispute information. You can also download a PDF claim form and mail it before the deadline.
Settlement 2: $100 Million Equifax Credit Score Error Settlement
What This Lawsuit Was About
A separate Equifax class action addressed a very different problem. In March and April 2022, a software error at Equifax caused the credit scores of roughly 4 million consumers to be calculated incorrectly. In many cases, the error lowered scores by a significant amount.
Those incorrect scores were then reported to lenders during a two-month window. Consumers who applied for credit during that period, a mortgage, a car loan, a credit card, may have been denied, received worse terms, or paid higher interest rates based on a score that was inaccurate.
The lawsuit alleged Equifax violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by reporting inaccurate credit scores without reasonable procedures in place to ensure accuracy. Equifax denied wrongdoing but agreed to a $100 million settlement.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible people received either a mailed notice or an email notice from the settlement administrator. The notice includes a claim number and PIN needed to file.
The settlement covers U.S. consumers whose credit scores were incorrectly reported by Equifax during the affected March to April 2022 window.
Payment and Key Dates
Estimated payment: $95 to $280, depending on the number of valid claims filed Claim deadline: December 28, 2026 Opt-out deadline: November 27, 2026 Final approval hearing: January 22, 2027 Official website: equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com
To file: visit the official settlement website, enter your claim number and PIN from your notice, and submit your claim online. Paper forms can also be mailed to the administrator before the December 28 deadline.
Can You Qualify for Both Equifax Settlements?
Yes. The two settlements address different conduct and different time periods. Someone who disputed a hard inquiry between 2021 and 2026 (Settlement 1) and also had an active credit application in March or April 2022 (Settlement 2) may be eligible for both.
Check each settlement website separately. Your eligibility for one does not affect your eligibility for the other.
Equifax’s History of Settlements
These two 2026 settlements come on top of Equifax’s largest payout to date. The credit bureau agreed to a massive FTC settlement in 2019 following its 2017 data breach that exposed the personal information of about 147 million Americans. That settlement included up to $425 million in consumer relief.
Equifax has faced ongoing litigation for a range of credit reporting practices, making it one of the most-sued credit bureaus in the U.S.
Common Questions About the 2026 Equifax Settlements
How do I know which Equifax settlement I’m eligible for?
Check both settlement websites. EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com covers the credit inquiry dispute settlement and includes anyone who disputed a hard inquiry between 2021 and 2026. EquifaxFairCreditReportingSettlement.com covers the 2022 credit score error settlement. Eligibility for each is based on different criteria.
I disputed an inquiry but never got a code or “Cons Comm 664” response. Can I still file?
Yes. The General Dispute Group in the $30 million settlement is the broadest category, it covers anyone who disputed a hard inquiry between August 31, 2021 and March 27, 2026, regardless of what response you received. Estimated payment for this group is around $100.
What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act and how does it protect me?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that governs how credit reporting agencies collect, maintain, and report consumer credit information. Under the FCRA, when you dispute something on your credit report, the credit bureau must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, they cannot simply tell you to resolve it yourself. Both of these Equifax settlements allege violations of the FCRA.
What if I never received a settlement notice?
Both settlement websites allow you to self-identify and file a claim even if you did not receive a mailed or email notice. Go directly to the official websites and look for a “file a claim” option that does not require a pre-assigned PIN.
What is a hard inquiry vs. a soft inquiry?
A hard inquiry occurs when a lender or financial institution checks your credit report as part of a credit application — for a mortgage, car loan, or credit card. It can temporarily lower your score by a few points and remains on your report for two years. A soft inquiry occurs when you check your own credit, or when a company does a background check without your credit application. Soft inquiries don’t affect your score. The $30 million settlement covers disputes about unauthorized hard inquiries.
I have an active Equifax dispute right now. Does this settlement affect it?
No. These settlements cover past disputes that fell within specific date ranges. If you have an active dispute today, continue pursuing it through Equifax’s standard dispute process. You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if you feel your dispute is not being properly handled.
Is it safe to file on the settlement websites?
Both EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com and equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com are the official administrator-run settlement websites. Use only these sites to file. Do not provide your information to third parties claiming to help you submit your claim for a fee, you can file for free.
Summary
If you’ve ever had an issue with Equifax, whether it was an unauthorized inquiry on your report or a period when your credit score seemed off, 2026 is the year to check if you’re owed money. Two separate settlements are running simultaneously:
- $30 million dispute settlement: claim by November 29, 2026, at EquifaxDisputeClassAction.com
- $100 million credit score error settlement: claim by December 28, 2026, at equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com
You can qualify for both. With payments ranging from $95 to $400, and minimal effort required to file, both deadlines are worth meeting.
This page will be updated when final payment details are confirmed.
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