AT&T has agreed to pay $177 million in a data breach settlement, meaning that eligible Ohio customers can receive up to $7,500 from the telecommunications company.
Two separate alleged data breaches last year led to a lawsuit that claims AT&T failed to protect customers’ vulnerable data.
In the first incident on March 30, 2024, AT&T announced that customer information (including addresses, Social Security numbers and passwords) was released on the dark web, according to the settlement website. Months later, on July 12, 2024, AT&T announced a second incident where customers’ call and text records had been illegally downloaded.
AT&T does not dispute that the data breaches happened, but has since denied any mishandling of data or wrongdoing, according to a news release from Kroll Settlement Administration. AT&T notes in a statement to USA TODAY that “while we deny the allegations in these lawsuits that we were responsible for these criminal acts, we have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation.”
Here’s what to know about the settlement and how to make a claim.
How Ohioans can file a claim in the $177 million AT&T settlement
AT&T account owners who are eligible for the settlement can file a claim online at www.telecomdatasettlement.com.
Claims can also be sent by mail to AT&T Data Incident Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.
When is the deadline to file a claim?
The deadline to submit a claim is Nov. 18, 2025. You must submit your Claim Form online at the Settlement Website or by mail with a postmark by November 18, 2025.
Who is eligible to file a claim in AT&T data breach settlement?
There are two settlement classes, or groups of eligible customers, who can file a claim.
The first class of eligible claimants includes AT&T customers who were impacted in the March 30, 2024, data breach. The second class includes those who were included in the incident announced on July 12, 2024. Some customers may be included in both classes of eligible members.
According to the lawsuit and a 2024 statement from AT&T, the breaches are believed to have affected more than seven million people who had AT&T accounts in 2024 and more than 65 million people who had AT&T accounts between 2019 and 2024.
Customers who are not sure if they are included in the settlement can call 833-890-4930 with questions.
How much money can claimants get in Ohio?
Eligible claimants can receive up to $7,500, depending on which settlement class they are part of.
Customers affected by the first data incident can claim up to $5,000 through a documented loss cash payment option, meaning claimants must present documentation of the losses.
Alternatively, members of the first settlement class can opt for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 cash payment. Those whose Social Security numbers were included in the March 30 data breach can file a claim for Tier 1; customers whose data )but not Social Security numbers) were included in that breach can file for Tier 2. Tier 1 payments are five times the amount of Tier 2.
For customers affected by the second data breach, there is also a documented loss cash payment option of up to $2,500. They can also opt for the Tier 3 cash payment option, which will be a share of the settlement after administration costs and claims are issued.
Customers impacted by both data breaches could receive up to $7,500, according to the settlement website.
Contributing: Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Do you qualify for $7,500 in AT&T data breach settlement? How to claim