No single deadline applies to data-breach class-action claim forms, which are the forms class members submit to request payment from a settlement. Each court-approved settlement sets its own bar date, so you must follow the date in your notice.
Recording Law reports in its AT&T settlement guide that AT&T closed December 18, 2025 while 2026 cases use December 2026 to January 2027 dates. That spread is normal because the court sets the cutoff for each case. Your notice controls your case.
Official resources:
- Explore the official data from Recordinglaw — Use this primary source to review the underlying data.
- Explore the official data from Prnewswire — Use this primary source to review the underlying data.
Table of Contents
- Why does each case set its own date?
- Which current cutoffs should you track?
- How do you file before the cutoff?
- Do opt-out and objection dates match the claim date?
- What happens after you file?
Why does each case set its own date?
A judge approves the settlement schedule, including the last day to claim. The administrator then enforces that bar date for that group only. Another breach settlement cannot extend it.
This structure limits late claims and lets the court calculate payments. It also means prior deadlines do not predict your deadline. Read the notice tied to your incident.
Which current cutoffs should you track?
Money reports in its Equifax settlement claim guide that the current $100 million Equifax FCRA settlement requires a valid claim submitted online or postmarked by December 28, 2026 for an estimated $95 to $280 payment. The court-authorized class notice distributed via PR Newswire Telmate settlement announcement requires Telmate/ViaPath Claim Forms filed online or postmarked by mail by December 21, 2026.
AT&T shows the other side of a cutoff. The 2-Spyware editorial team reports in its AT&T settlement payment update that customers who did not file by December 18, 2025 can no longer file and only timely filers can be paid. A closed date does not reopen because a newer case is accepting claims.
How do you file before the cutoff?
Recording Law describes the common same-day two-channel rule. Online claims are due by 11:59 p.m. in the stated time zone.
Paper claims must be postmarked by that date and mailed to the named administrator. File only through the official settlement site and administrator. For AT&T, the 2-Spyware editorial team identifies telecomdatasettlement.com via Kroll Settlement Administration at 833-890-4930, with official email only from [email protected].
- File online before 11:59 p.m. in the stated time zone.
- Mail paper forms early enough for a timely postmark.
- Send the mailing to the administrator named in your notice.
- Keep proof of online submission or mailing.
Do opt-out and objection dates match the claim date?
No. Opt-out and objection deadlines are separate and often earlier than the claim deadline. Money reports November 27, 2026 for Equifax FCRA opt-outs and objections, versus December 28, 2026 for claims.
That gap matters when you are deciding what to do. An objection challenges the settlement terms. An opt-out removes you from the settlement group. A claim requests payment under the settlement.
What happens after you file?
Payment occurs only after final court approval and resolution of appeals. Recording Law reports final AT&T approval on October 2, 2026, after the December 2025 claim cutoff, before distributions.
A timely claim therefore waits in line for court action. Missing the claim deadline generally means no payment under that settlement. For AT&T, use only telecomdatasettlement.com via Kroll Settlement Administration if you need records or payment-status help.