Important Reminder from the ICFE
Consumers must sign up before September 24th, 2008 to be eligible for benefits.
Over 160 million Americans may be able to learn their all-important credit scores at no charge - and with no strings attached - under a settlement by credit reporting giant TransUnion Corp. of a long-running class-action lawsuit.
The agreement entitles consumers to at least six months of a TransUnion monitoring service, giving them access to the latest information in their credit reports as well as their current scores at any time.
Ken McEldowney, executive director of Consumer Action, a national advocacy group based in San Francisco, told the LA Times: "It's everything we tell consumers that they need to find out if they have problems with their credit," he said. "They are getting information on how to improve it and information about whether they are creditworthy. This is astonishing."
LEGAL NOTICE
In re Trans Union Corp. Privacy Litigation, Case No. 00-CV-4729, MDL Docket No. 1350, U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. Illinois, Eastern Division, Judge Robert W. Gettleman
If you had a credit card, loan or credit account, you could get benefits from a class action settlement.
A settlement worth at least $75 million has been reached with Trans Union LLC and Acxiom Corporation ("Defendants") in a class action lawsuit that claims the Defendants violated state laws and the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") when they sold lists containing personal and financial consumer information to third parties for marketing purposes. The settlement does not mean the Defendants violated any laws or did anything wrong. The Defendants deny any claims of wrongdoing in this case.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois will have a hearing to decide whether to give final approval to the settlement, so that benefits can be issued. Those included in the class action, together called a "Class," may object to the settlement or ask to speak at the hearing. Eligible Class members may also sign up for credit monitoring or other benefits from the settlement. For more information, including a detailed notice, go to www.ListClassAction.com or call, toll-free, 1-866-416-3470.
WHO'S INCLUDED?
The Court decided that the Class includes all consumers who had an open credit account or an open line of credit from a credit grantor (including, for instance automobile loans, bank credit cards, department store credit cards, other retail store credit cards, finance company loans, mortgage loans, and student loans) located in the United States anytime from January 1, 1987 to May 28, 2008.
WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?
The settlement will: (1) establish a $75 million Settlement Fund; (2) give Class members the option of selecting six or nine months of credit monitoring services; (3) donate $150,000 to non-profit organizations; (4) pay for settlements or judgments for damage claims related to lawsuits brought individually by Class members against the Defendants; (5) pay class counsels' attorneys' fees and their expenses; (6) pay the costs of notice and administering the settlement; and (7) distribute any money remaining (after deducting the costs for everything listed above) in the Settlement Fund to Class members who register for a payment or to non-profit organizations.
The six months of credit monitoring services (which retails for $59.75) include: (1) the ability to lock your credit report so third parties, such as lenders or other companies, will not be able to access your credit report without your consent (unless allowed by law); (2) unlimited daily access to your Trans Union credit report and credit score; and (3) credit monitoring with a 24-hour email credit notification service. The nine months of enhanced credit monitoring services (which retails for $115.50) includes all the services listed above, plus a suite of insurance scores and a mortgage simulator service. If you get the enhanced credit monitoring you will not be able to get a payment from the settlement or start an individual lawsuit. More details on all of the settlement benefits are available in the Settlement Agreement which can be obtained at www.ListClassAction.com or by calling, toll-free, 1-866-416-3470.
HOW DO YOU ASK FOR BENEFITS?
To receive credit monitoring from the settlement you must go to www.ListClassAction.com and register by September 24, 2008. If you register, you will have six months after the Court grants final approval to the settlement and all appeals are resolved to activate your credit monitoring benefit. You may also register at the website or by mail until September 24, 2008, to receive a possible cash payment.
YOUR OTHER RIGHTS.
Whether or not you seek any benefits being offered as part of this settlement, all Class members will not be able to participate in a class action or join multiple plaintiffs in a single action. You may object to the settlement by August 22, 2008. The detailed notice explains how to object. Your options for benefits provided by the settlement are as follow:
File an individual lawsuit against Defendant(s) for claims related to target marketing and prescreening: You can also sign up for six months of credit monitoring.
Sign up for six months of credit monitoring services: You can also register to receive a possible cash payment in the event of a cash distribution or file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
Sign up for nine months of enhanced credit monitoring services: You will not receive any further benefits, including a cash payment, and you will not be able to file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
Register to receive a possible cash payment: You can also sign up for six months of credit monitoring; however if you receive a cash payment, you cannot file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
Do Nothing: You won't get any benefits. You will keep your right to sue the Defendants individually (see the detailed notice and Settlement Agreement for more information).
The Court will hold a hearing in this case on September 10, 2008, at Courtroom 1703, Everett McKinley Dirksen Building, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604, to consider whether to approve the settlement, and set a date to consider a request by Class Counsel for attorneys' fees of up to 25% of the Settlement Fund, and reimbursement of costs and expenses. Class Counsel will also request a payment of up to $3,750 for each of the Class Representatives who helped the lawyers on behalf of the whole Class. Class members may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at their own cost, but they don't have to. For more information, call, toll-free, 1-866-416-3470 or go to the website www.ListClassAction.com
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Sent by:
Paul Richard, RFC (Registered Financial Consultant)
Executive Director
Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE)
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