By Ashley Robinson Equifax Information Services LLC has agreed to a proposed $2.2 million class-action settlement over allegations that it reported duplicate collection accounts on some consumer credit reports. The case, Bradberry v. Equifax Information Services LLC, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
The lawsuit claims Equifax may have listed the same collection account more than once, creating the appearance that a consumer owed more debt than was actually due. Plaintiffs argued that this could violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires accurate consumer reports.
Equifax denies wrongdoing, and the court has not made a final decision on the allegations. The company agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.
Who may be eligible?
The settlement is limited to consumers who received a “Duplicate Reporting Letter” from Equifax in August or September 2022. The letter informed recipients that their credit file may have shown a duplicate collection account at the same time a credit inquiry appeared on the file.
The proposed class includes approximately 37,651 people in the United States and its territories. An official notice contains a Notice ID and PIN used to access the settlement website and submit a claim. The administrator uses Equifax’s records to identify class members.
What benefits are available?
Eligible class members may receive a cash payment from the $2.2 million settlement fund. The payment is expected to be as high as $600, but the final amount may be lower. It will depend on the number of valid claims, administrative costs, attorneys’ fees, and other court-approved expenses.
To receive a cash payment, a class member must submit a claim and confirm that the duplicate reporting caused harm, such as appearing in a report sent to a third party or contributing to an adverse credit decision.
Every eligible class member is also expected to receive six months of free Equifax Complete credit monitoring, whether or not the person submits a cash claim. The service may include report and score monitoring, alerts, and identity-theft protection features.
How could duplicate reporting affect consumers?
A collection account appearing twice can make a credit file look worse than it really is. Lenders and other businesses reviewing a report may believe that a consumer has multiple unpaid debts or a larger outstanding balance. That could affect decisions involving credit cards, personal loans, auto financing, mortgages, housing, or other services that use consumer reports.
The effect will not be identical for every person because credit scores use different models. However, the lawsuit alleges that duplicate reporting could harm consumers’ creditworthiness or lead to unfavorable decisions.
How to file a claim
The claim deadline is September 1, 2026. Eligible consumers can submit a claim online through the official Bradberry v. Equifax settlement website or download a paper form and mail it to the settlement administrator. The Notice ID and PIN printed on the settlement notice are needed to access the claim system.
Claimants should read the form carefully and provide truthful information about the duplicate reporting and any harm experienced. They should keep a copy of the completed claim and confirmation number. Filing is free, and no third party can guarantee a payout.
Important court dates
The deadline to submit a claim, object to the settlement, or request exclusion is September 1, 2026. A person who wants to keep the right to pursue the same legal claims separately may need to opt out by that date. Anyone who wants to object must follow the instructions in the official notice.
The court has scheduled a final approval hearing for October 6, 2026, in the Northern District of Georgia. Payments are not guaranteed until final approval and resolution of any appeals or objections. If approved, cash payments will follow the claims process.
Equifax data breach settlement is different
This case should not be confused with the older Equifax data breach settlement involving the 2017 breach that exposed information connected to approximately 147 million people. That separate settlement had different claims and deadlines. The current $2.2 million case concerns alleged duplicate credit-account reporting, not the 2017 cybersecurity incident.
Consumers should use only the official settlement website named in their notice. They should be cautious of emails, calls, or text messages asking for upfront fees, bank passwords, gift cards, or sensitive information. A valid settlement claim does not require a payment to be released.