If you’re a present or former AT&T customer, there’s cold hard cash up for grabs — possibly as much as $125 from a $177 million class-action settlement linked to the carrier’s big data breaches.
The claims period is open but closing soon, and those who make valid claims as early as possible could be eligible for up to $7,500 depending on the individual situation and documentation.
The settlement is being overseen by Kroll Settlement Administration and resolves one incident that involved exposure of personal information and a second incident associated with the disclosure of call and text logs related to a third-party cloud services provider. Email and postal notices have been sent to those who appear to be affected, according to people briefed on the plans.
Who Is Eligible And How Much You Could Get
There are two settlement funds. One fund, totaling $149 million, is meant for customers whose personal information was reached — including Social Security numbers, names, addresses, dates of birth and account details. The other $28 million fund is for customers affected by the separate incident that was widely reported to involve a Snowflake environment, which also saw call and text records exposed.
If your claim is valid, you can get a share of up to $5,000 from the first fund and up to $2,500 from the second. Those affected by both can make claims under both, for a total possible payout of $7,500. Final totals will be pro rata, based on the number of claims received and amounts of documented loss approved.
What to Have Ready Before You File a Claim
More money is available for customers with out-of-pocket losses that can be fairly traced to the breaches. Think receipts and records like:
- Bank or credit card statements with unauthorized charges or gaps in a reimbursement.
- Bills for credit monitoring or identity restoration services.
- Anything involved in replacing an ID, notary fees and postage, or professional assistance.
- Proof of time spent fixing identity theft, if the program refunds time.
If you cannot document such losses, you can still receive a cash payment from money left in the residue of each fund after claims on documented losses are paid. Keep digital copies of everything you send; claims administrators and courts frequently ask for clarification during a review.
How to File a Claim Online Without the Hassle
Most class members will file online using the official settlement website referred to in the notice. You will need your Class Member ID (found in the email or mailed notice), your AT&T account number or full name, and an email address. If you prefer paper, go to the website and download the claim forms for your applicable incident(s), fill them out and sign them, then mail the documents to the administrator.
Mailing address: AT&T Data Incident Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324. If you did not get such a notice but think you were affected, contact the administrator at 833-890-4930. Official email notices are coming from attsettlement@e.emailksa.com — be sure to check your spam folder, and watch out for lookalike phishing emails.
Key Settlement Milestones And What To Expect
Claims must be filed by the date on your notice. If you want to opt out and keep the right to sue AT&T alone, that request is due sooner. A court will have a final approval hearing after the filing deadlines, and payments generally don’t start until after final approval of the settlement and any appeals have been resolved.
Anticipate payments to arrive via electronic funds transfer or by paper check, based on what you choose in your claim. Processing times may vary; complicated claims supplemented with documents can take more time to verify.
Why It Matters And What You Can Do To Protect Yourself
Breaches that compromise identity data and telecom metadata are particularly sensitive. Call and text logs can create patterns of life; Social Security numbers and birth dates can be used to take over accounts or commit synthetic identity fraud. Consumer protection experts at the Federal Trade Commission and the Identity Theft Resource Center suggest that to reduce the risk of new-account fraud, consumers should monitor credit reports weekly and place a security freeze with all three leading credit bureaus.
For mobile accounts, use a strong account passcode and a port-out or transfer PIN that isn’t the same as the last four digits of your Social Security number to help safeguard against SIM swap attacks. Look out for unknown logins or password reset messages, and use two-factor authentication wherever possible on important accounts linked to your phone number and email.
The settlement is real money designed to counteract real harm. Submit strong documentation if you have it, and make your filing before the deadline. To miss the window is to leave money on the table.
