Consumers affected by Equifax’s spring 2022 credit score coding error may qualify for cash from a $100 million class action settlement. Final approval is pending, and an official claim portal has not yet been verified.
Current Status
Equifax has agreed to a $100 million settlement over inaccurate credit scores caused by a 2022 coding error. Plaintiffs’ counsel reports that Judge Leigh Martin May granted preliminary approval on August 17, 2026, with a final fairness hearing scheduled for January 22, 2027. Read counsel’s announcement.
An official settlement notice, claim deadline and working claim portal have not yet been verified. No individual payment amount or payment date is confirmed.
What Changed Recently?
Equifax’s second-quarter 2026 filing disclosed a June agreement in principle to resolve the consolidated coding-issue cases for $100 million, subject to court approval. Caplan Cobb then announced the filing of the approval motion in August. The subsequent preliminary approval moves the agreement toward a final court decision; it does not mean payments have been sent.
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Who May Qualify?
Counsel estimates approximately four million class members. The litigation concerns consumers whose credit scores were misreported in spring 2022 while they were seeking mortgages, auto loans or credit cards. The formal settlement notice will control the exact eligibility dates and exclusions. Having an Equifax credit report alone does not establish eligibility.
What Was the Lawsuit About?
The plaintiffs allege that Equifax’s coding error produced incorrectly lowered scores and that inadequate systems and testing violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act. These are the allegations being resolved through a settlement, rather than a trial finding of liability.
How Much Can You Get?
The announced fund is $100 million. Counsel describes it as non-reversionary, meaning leftover funds do not return to Equifax. A verified allocation formula, deductions and individual payment estimate are not available here. Dividing the headline fund by the estimated class size would not establish anyone’s payment.
What Proof and Deadlines Apply?
The claim form and notice must be checked before identifying any required Claim ID, PIN or supporting documents. Proof status remains unverified. January 22, 2027 is the announced final approval hearing, not a claim deadline. A hearing date also is not a promised payment date.
What Can Consumers Do Now?
Keep any notice about the 2022 coding-error litigation and records of affected credit applications. Use an administrator’s court-approved notice to confirm eligibility and filing instructions when available. An OCA newsletter signup does not submit a settlement claim.
Is This the Equifax Data Breach Settlement?
No. The Equifax data breach settlement addresses a different event. OCA also covers a separate Equifax duplicate-reporting settlement. A notice or payment in either of those matters does not establish membership in the coding-error settlement.
Sources and Verification
- DiCello Levitt — August 19 settlement announcement
- Equifax — second-quarter 2026 litigation disclosure
- Caplan Cobb — motion seeking settlement approval
Questions
Does every Equifax customer qualify?
No. The case concerns the 2022 coding error, not every Equifax customer. The official settlement notice must be checked for the exact class definition.
Is the $100 million an individual payment amount?
No. It is the announced total settlement fund. An individual payment estimate has not been verified.
Can the final approval hearing be used as the claim deadline?
No. The January 22, 2027 hearing is a court milestone. The claim deadline has not yet been verified.
