AT&T customers in the US could be eligible to receive up to $7,500 after the telecom company reaches a $177 million settlement within two serious data leaks.
The settlement is still awaiting the final green light after initial decision from a federal judge in June, with an approval hearing set for Dec. 3. But eligible customers must submit any claims before this date.
Here's everything you need to know about violations and settlements, and how to file a claim.
When did the AT&T data breach happen?
One violation occurred in March 2024during which personal information, including social security numbers, is approximately 7.6 million checking account holders and 65.4 million former customers hit the dark web.
Another violation was confirmed in July 2024 when AT&T said that it became known that hackers illegally downloaded customer data from a third-party cloud platform.
The telecommunications company said that records of calls and text messages that took place between May 1 and October 31, 2022, were compromised due to “almost all” cellular communications clients. Additionally, records from January 2, 2023, were compromised by “a very small number of customers.”
As for the breaches that occurred in 2022 and 2023, “the data does not contain the content of calls or text messages, personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personal information,” according to AT&T. However, it is believed that telephone numbers can be linked to customers based on publicly available information.
In a statement to TIME, AT&T said: “While we deny the allegations in these lawsuits that we are responsible for these criminal acts, we agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty associated with protracted litigation. We remain committed to protecting our customers' data and ensuring their continued trust in us.”
Who is eligible to claim part of the AT&T compensation?
Persons Eligible to File a Claim for One or Both Data Breaches should receive an email from the address “[email protected]” with detailed information about the rights and options of the plaintiffs, according to the Kroll Settlement Administration, responsible for the settlement.
AT&T said that customers can seek compensation for the March 2024 breach if they are U.S. citizens and their personal information, including “names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, account passwords, billing account numbers and social security numbers,” was disclosed.
Claimants should receive notification that they may be eligible for a settlement payment, however, if people have not been contacted and believe they are still eligible for a payment, they can call Kroll – (833) 890-4930 – for further assistance.
As for the 2022 and 2023 breaches, plaintiffs are eligible if they were “AT&T account holders or line/end users.” Compensation may also be available to those who have “phone numbers with which these customers interacted.”
Some claimants may also have the right to file a claim against both data breaches, this is known as “overlap settlement class members.”
Read more: AT&T Named One of the 2021 TIME100 Most Influential Companies
How can you file a claim? for part of the AT&T settlement
Applicants must submit the form via payment site or by mail to AT&T, whose address is available on the above website.
Applications must be submitted by November 18, 2025.
Individuals eligible for compensation who wish to be waived must submit a letter to Kroll requesting the exclusion by October 17, 2025. Detailed information about the postal address can be found on the page FAQ page on the website in the section “How to exclude yourself from a settlement agreement?”
Plaintiffs may also file an objection if they object to the settlement agreement and/or “claims for fees, costs and attorney's fees” associated with the settlement agreement. This must also be done before October 17th.
Contact details are available on the website Frequently asked questions page under the heading “How do I object to the Settlement?”
When can plaintiffs expect to receive compensation from AT&T and how much can they receive?
A final hearing to approve the settlement is scheduled for December 3, 2025, 9:00 am Central time. If approved, there may be appeals from AT&T or other parties, which will likely delay the payment process.
Reimbursement payments will begin once the amounts have been approved and the appeal period has expired.
Plaintiffs in the March 2024 data breach case have the right up to 5000 dollars. Meanwhile, up to $2,500 is available for those affected by data breaches that occurred in 2022 and 2023. Some claimants are eligible for both and could receive up to $7,500 if their data was compromised as a result of both breaches.
