Equifax Agrees to $2.2 Million Settlement Over Duplicate Collection Accounts

Consumers notified of reporting errors may claim payments and receive credit‑monitoring services.

By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer

A national class‑action settlement involving Equifax will provide payments and credit‑monitoring services to thousands of consumers after the credit reporting company agreed to resolve claims that it displayed duplicate collection accounts on certain credit files.

The settlement, totaling approximately $2.2 million, was filed in federal court in Georgia and covers reporting activity that occurred during August and September 2022.

According to case documents, the lawsuit alleged that some consumers saw the same collection account appear more than once on their Equifax credit reports.

Duplicate entries can artificially lower a credit score, and the complaint stated that the error contributed to higher interest rates, credit denials, and delays in loan approvals. The plaintiff argued that Equifax failed to follow reasonable accuracy procedures required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Equifax denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation.

Approximately 37,000 people are included in the settlement class.

Individuals are eligible only if they received a mailed or emailed notice containing a Notice ID and PIN indicating that their credit file showed a duplicate collection account during the affected period. Those who submit a valid claim may receive up to $600, though the final amount will depend on how many claims are filed. All class members will also receive six months of Equifax Complete credit monitoring, which includes alerts and identity‑theft expense coverage.

As part of the settlement terms, Equifax will remove duplicate collection accounts from affected consumer files and maintain procedures to prevent similar duplicate reporting for at least six months. The settlement administrator has opened an online claims portal, and forms may also be submitted by mail. The claim deadline is September 1, 2026.1

The court‑approved settlement website is, DuplicateAccountFCRASettlement.comConsumers can enter their Notice ID and PIN to confirm eligibility and file a claim.