Comcast has agreed to pay $117.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit stemming from a cybersecurity breach that occurred in October 2023 that exposed the personal information of millions of Xfinity customers.
The lawsuit alleges that Comcast "failed to properly protect personal information" and had "inadequate data security." The communications company has denied any wrongdoing. Comcast did tell customers in a notice that the personal information included in the data breach included usernames, passwords, contact information, dates of birth and last four digits of Social Security numbers.
According to the Comcast settlement website, the settlement is now open for claims, and current or former customers who received a breach notification from Comcast in December 2023 may be eligible for a payout.
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Here's what to know about settlement payments, including who was eligible, how much the payments are expected to be and when payments will be issued.
Who is eligible for a Comcast settlement payment?
Not every Comcast customer is automatically eligible to file a claim for a payout.
According to the settlement website, the money is reserved for people whose personal information was accessed during the 2023 data breach. Consumers who were notified about the breach in December 2023 are part of the settlement class.
How much are the Comcast settlement payments?
Those who qualify can submit a claim for reimbursement of documented out-of-pocket expenses or lost time because of the breach, with a maximum payment of up to $10,000.
This number is affected by the total pool of settlement money and the number of affected customers who file a claim. Valid claims for out-of-pocket losses must be filed by Aug. 14.
Affected consumers who choose not to go through the process of proving out-of-pocket losses or lost time can opt for an alternative cash payment of $50, however this amount is also subject to change depending on the total number of claimants.
The deadline to file a claim for the alternative cash payment is also Aug. 14.
When will settlement payments be issued?
A final approval hearing is scheduled for July 7, and payments will be issued after that.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Comcast offering payouts in $117.5M settlement. Are you eligible?
