Last opportunity to claim
AT&T customers can receive up to thousands of dollars in compensation after two major data breaches in 2024. The firm will pay up to $7,500 per person, but only if they apply before November 18.
The company had set up the settlement to help individuals who might have been injured by the violations of private data. Customers of AT&T should act quickly because after the deadline has passed, the money will be gone forever.
What was wrong with the data breaches?
AT&T experienced two significant security violations in 2024.
- March 2024 attack: The attackers obtained personal customer data such as names, billing addresses, and addresses.
- July 2024 attack: The other attack exposed even more sensitive information, raising further questions about whether AT&T’s security procedures were in good shape to protect clients.
The pairing of the breaches had exposed millions of people to identity theft, fraud, and scams. AT&T users accused the carrier of moving too slowly and not being adequately protected.
Why is there a settlement?
After the violations, AT&T was sued. Customers accused the company of failing to protect their information. To avoid a time-consuming and costly court battle, AT&T decided to settle on a strategy of up-front payments to violated customers.
The settlement never admits that AT&T was in the wrong but allows individuals to receive compensation for the inconvenience and aggravation the breaches may have caused.
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Who is eligible for the $7,500?
Not everyone who’s an AT&T customer. Customers must:
- Check eligibility – Make sure their AT&T account was impacted by the March or July 2024 events.
- File a claim form – Complete the official form no later than November 18.
- Submit evidence – Send proof that confirms this, like invoices, emails, or notices received from AT&T concerning the events.
If all these steps are followed to the letter, professional people can get up to $7,500. Payments can be lower based on the number of claims.
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Why it is wise to act now
The cutoff is absolute. Clients who do not claim within the November 18 cutoff date risk losing their entitlement to be paid. There are no late claims, and anything left in cash can be refunded or lost.
Clients are thus urged not to wait until the eleventh hour. Prepayment also leaves room to get it right or fill in missing details.
What this means for customers
For the affected customers, the settlement is a respite and a lesson. The compensation is some financial relief after the ordeal of the data breaches. It also serves as a reminder to individuals that personal information can be compromised even with large and well-known companies.
Security experts indicate people need to stay aware. Cyber intrusions are increasingly prevalent today, and safeguarding individual data is more vital than ever.
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Protective steps for the future
Even with compensation, identity fraud or theft can still occur. Experts recommend consumers:
- Regularly check account statements to spot suspect charges in advance.
- Re-rotate and re-check passwords, creating solid, different codes for every account.
- Use two-factor authentication if available as a means to add an added layer of protection.
- Utilize credit monitoring and be alerted if personal information is being used.
- Organize documents so that if there is another breach, it will be easy to make claims.
