(WDNews) — AT&T customers affected by two major data breaches in 2024 may qualify for settlement payments of up to $7,500 as part of a $177 million class-action settlement.
The breaches, announced in March and July of last year, exposed personal information from more than 73 million current and former customers. Lawsuits followed, leading to a settlement that includes $149 million in cash for the March breach and $28 million for the July breach.
According to settlement documents, customers impacted by the March 2024 breach may claim up to $5,000 with proof of financial losses tied to the incident. Those affected by the July breach may claim up to $2,500. Customers affected by both could be eligible for as much as $7,500, provided they submit unique documentation for each loss.
AT&T said notices are being sent by Kroll Settlement Administration to eligible customers, who will have until Nov. 18 to file claims. A final approval hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3, though appeals could delay payments.
Alternatively, customers may qualify for tiered cash payments based on the type of information exposed. For example, those whose Social Security numbers were compromised in the March breach would receive higher payments than customers who only had other data leaked.
AT&T denied wrongdoing in the breaches but said it agreed to settle to avoid the costs and uncertainty of extended litigation.
“We remain committed to protecting our customers’ data and ensuring their continued trust in us,” the company said in a statement.
