How some Americans claim a one-time payment of $5,150
Some Americans may be eligible to claim a one-time payment of up to $5,150. This one-time payment is due to a suspected data leak at First Financial Credit Union (FFCU). FFCU reportedly agreed to a $1.6 million settlement.
Who can claim a one-time payment?
Last month, a Top Class Action (TCA) report said New Mexico-based FFCU agreed to a $1.6 million settlement. The agreement is a response to criticism that the union failed to stop a data leak that compromised member data.
The union did not admit any wrongdoing, but agreed to settle the case through a class action lawsuit. According to the class action lawsuit, the union’s negligence allowed hackers to access members’ sensitive information.
FFCU said the data breach “gave unauthorized individuals access to FFCU network systems containing personally identifiable information (“PII”) of current and former FFCU members (“Data Incident”).
The settlement will only be disclosed to current and former FFCU members who have been notified that their data may have been affected by the data breach. Additionally, only members affected by a data breach between January 17, 2022 and February 6, 2022 will be able to claim a one-time payment.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for a settlement, you may email your inquiry to: (email protected)Or, write to FFCU Data Incident Claims Manager, PO Box 2258, Portland, OR 97208-2258.
How much to charge and how
Claimants can claim up to $150 for typical data breach costs, including bank fees, credit costs and other similar costs. Eligible individuals may also claim compensation for up to four and a half hours of lost time at a rate of $25 per hour. Claimants who suffer catastrophic losses as a result of a data breach can seek up to $5,000.
In addition to financial benefits, claimants can receive free credit monitoring and insurance services, including credit monitoring in three bureaus, access to a fraud resolution agent, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.
Settlement Class Members who do not wish to receive credit monitoring benefits or repayment may elect to receive a one-time cash payment. However, this one-time payment will vary depending on the number of claims filed and the remaining settlement amount after payment.
Claimants can file a claim online or submit a claim by mail, according to FFCU’s claims page. Claimants must provide appropriate documentation to support their claim. The last date to submit a claim is May 2, 2024, and claims submitted after the deadline will be considered “untimely and may not be accepted.”
If the settlement is approved, eligible claimants will receive money via check. A final settlement hearing is scheduled for April 25, 2024. For more information about the claims process, eligibility, and more, visit FFCU’s claims page.
