Equifax has agreed to settle a $2.2 million class action lawsuit alleging the credit reporting agency negligently listed duplicate negative items on tens of thousands of consumer credit reports, artificially lowering their credit scores. The settlement in Bradberry v. Equifax Information Services LLC resolves claims that the company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by reporting the same collection accounts multiple times on individual reports.
Approximately 37,651 consumers have been identified as having duplicate items on their Equifax credit reports. Eligible claimants can receive up to $600 in cash compensation and six months of free Equifax Complete credit monitoring, which includes identity theft insurance coverage of up to $500,000. The deadline to submit a claim is September 1, 2026, with a final fairness hearing scheduled for October 6, 2026.
The lawsuit stems from reporting inaccuracies that appeared on credit reports issued in August and September 2022. Lead plaintiff Charmayne Bradberry discovered a $305 collection account appearing more than once on her Equifax credit report, which she claimed caused her credit score to drop severely and led to her being denied a mortgage. The complaint alleges Equifax “negligently and recklessly” included false and damaging information on reports without following reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy.
Equifax denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation. The company identified affected consumers through a “Duplicate Reporting Letter” mailed in 2022 and has directed them to a dedicated settlement website to check eligibility and file claims.
Pattern of Equifax Credit Reporting Failures
The settlement comes less than two years after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Equifax to pay $15 million in January 2025 for failing to conduct adequate investigations of consumer disputes over credit report errors. The CFPB found that Equifax violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s requirements for investigating and processing consumer disputes and ensuring maximum possible accuracy on credit reports. Under that settlement, Equifax agreed to pay the $15 million into the CFPB’s victim relief fund and overhaul its dispute resolution processes.
The duplicate reporting issue is not unique to Equifax. In October 2023, the FTC and CFPB reached a $23 million settlement with TransUnion, another major credit reporting agency, after the company failed to ensure accuracy of tenant screening reports and inaccurate eviction records appeared on background checks. That settlement required TransUnion to pay $11 million to affected consumers and $4 million in civil penalties.
To file a claim in the Equifax settlement, consumers who received a duplicate reporting notification letter between August and September 2022 can submit a claim online through the settlement website or mail a paper claim to the settlement administrator. Payouts can be directed to PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or received as a paper check or virtual prepaid debit card. The actual amount each claimant receives will depend on how many valid claims are filed and how much of the $2.2 million is allocated to attorney and administrative fees.
Consumers who believe they have errors on any of their three credit reports—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion—can dispute inaccuracies directly with the relevant agency. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires credit bureaus to investigate disputes within 30 days and remove unverified information.
Sources
- CNBC Select — Equifax settlement details, claim amounts, deadlines, and plaintiff Charmayne Bradberry’s mortgage denial claim
- Reuters — CFPB and TransUnion settlement details from October 2023
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — January 2025 enforcement action against Equifax for improper dispute investigations
