DELAYS are currently facing T-Mobile customers awaiting their $25,000 payments as part of a $350 million data breach settlement.
There is no suggestion as to why this has happened, with the delays being dubbed “unexpected”.
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Payments of up to $25,000 were meant to start going out in early April as part of a data breach settlement facing T-Mobile.
The US Sun reported on the massive case facing the service provider at the time.
Despite not admitting to any wrongdoing, T-Mobile agreed to pay out the massive amount to settle claims it failed to protect customer information.
The suit was centered around the loss of such sensitive information as names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license information and Social Security numbers.
The leak implicated 76 million people in 2021.
T-Mobile acknowledged the attack in August 2021, announcing it would be providing impacted customers with two years of McAfee’s ID Theft Protection Service.
It would also give them Account Takeover Protection services and recommendations on best practices to mitigate personal security risk.
It is important to note that this suit is separate to another 2022 case facing T-Mobile, which The US Sun also covered at the time.
Then four years later after the incident., customers finally got the justice they were calling for.
Those who could present documented harm could earn payments of up to $25,000.
However, if you were unable to provide a documented loss, payments would be limited at up to $25.
Given that the $350 million settlement amount needed to be split between 76 million people, most payouts could have been considerably smaller, however.
Depending on how many applied, it could be closer to $4.50 per person before attorney fees are taken out.
Californian residents specially were eligible for up to $`100 in the settlement.
Those who were eligible would have received a notification at the time.
All court proceedings for the settlement have concluded, and the deadline for submitting a claim application is now closed.
UNFORSEEN DELAYS
Those who submitted a claim were patiently waiting for their money, but unknown problems have slowed that up.
USA Today reports that customers will have to wait longer for their cash.
Final approval for the class action was given in June 2023 and payments were scheduled for April 2025.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.
But “unexpected delays” has pushed it back to May 2025.
There is no set date yet for when customers can expect to get their cash.
It is also unknown what the delays were or why they happened.
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