AT&T customers in the United States could be entitled to up to $7,500 after the telecommunications company reached a $177 million settlement over two major data breaches.
The settlement is still awaiting a final green light, following the initial ruling from a federal judge in June, with an approval hearing set for Dec. 3. But eligible customers need to submit any claims ahead of that date.
Here is everything you need to know about the breaches and the settlement, plus how you can file a claim.
When did the AT&T data breaches occur?
One breach occurred in March 2024, during which the personal information—including Social Security numbers—of around 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former customers was leaked onto the dark web.
Another breach was confirmed in July 2024, when AT&T said that it had become aware that hackers illegally downloaded customer data from a third-party cloud platform.
The telecommunications firm said that calls and text message records that took place between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2022 were compromised for “nearly all” cellular customers. Additionally, records from Jan. 2 2023 were compromised for a “very small number of customers.”
Regarding the breach dating back to 2022 and 2023, “the data does not contain the content of calls or texts, personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information,” according to AT&T. However, it’s thought phone numbers could be linked to customers based on public information.
Who is eligible to make a claim for a portion of the AT&T settlement?
Those eligible to make a claim for one or both of the data breaches should receive an email from the address “[email protected]” with details on claimants’ rights and options, according to Kroll Settlement Administration, the handlers of the settlement.
AT&T has said that customers can claim compensation in relation to the March 2024 breach if they are a United States citizen and their personal information, including “names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, account passcodes, billing account numbers, and Social Security numbers,” was leaked.
Claimants should receive notice that they could be entitled to a settlement payment, however, if people have not been contacted but think they may still be eligible, they can call Kroll—(833) 890-4930—for further assistance.
Regarding the 2022 and 2023 breach, claimants are eligible if they were an “AT&T account owner or line/end user.” Compensation could also be available to those with “telephone numbers with which those customers interacted.”
Some claimants may also be eligible to claim against both data breaches, this is known as “overlap settlement class members.”
Read More: AT&T Recognized as One of the 2021 TIME100 Most Influential Companies
How you can make a claim for a portion of the AT&T settlement
Claimants must submit a form via the settlement website or by mail to AT&T, whose address is available on the aforementioned website.
Submissions must be made by Nov. 18, 2025.
Those eligible for compensation that want to be exempt from the settlement must send a letter to Kroll requesting exclusion by Oct. 17, 2025. Details for the postal address can be found on the website’s FAQ page under the section “How do I exclude myself from the settlement?”
Claimants can also file an objection if they object to the settlement and or “the application/s for attorneys’ fees, costs, and service awards” relating to the settlement. This must also be done by Oct. 17.
Contact details are available on the FAQ page under the title “How do I object to the Settlement?”
When can claimants expect to receive compensation from AT&T and how much could they receive?
The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. If approved, there could still be appeals from AT&T or other parties, which would likely delay the payment process.
The roll-out of settlement payments will begin once the amounts have been approved and all appeal deadlines have expired.
Claimants for the March 2024 data breach are entitled to up to $5,000. Meanwhile, up to $2,500 is available for those impacted by the data breach that took place in 2022 and 2023. Some claimants are entitled to both, and could receive up to $7,500 if their data was compromised in both breaches.
The post AT&T Customers Could Be Entitled to Portion of $177 Million Settlement. Here’s How You Can File a Claim appeared first on TIME.
