I have absolutely no idea when I decided to “opt in” the TransUnion Class Action Lawsuit, but a couple days ago I received my settlement.
TransUnion Class Action Lawsuit
Apparently, TransUnion was a bad credit monitoring agency and allegedly violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Specifically, Plaintiffs claimed that TransUnion sold private information which it wasn’t allowed to sell.
This suit was a Class Action, which, according to Class Action World is,
A Class Action is a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of many people who have been harmed in a similar manner. A class action cannot be prosecuted unless at least one person harmed by the conduct is willing to serve as a class representative (Lead Plaintiff).
There is a much better definition on Wikipedia, but it is technical and starts quoting Federal Procedure Code, so we will go with the one above.
As part of the Settlement I was given the following options:
- File an individual lawsuit against Defendant(s) for claims related to target marketing and prescreening: You can also signup for six months of credit monitoring.
- Sign up for six months of credit monitoring services: You can also register to receive a possible cash payment in the event of a cash distribution or file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
- Sign up for nine months of enhanced credit monitoring services: You will not receive any further benefits, including a cash payment, and you will not be able to file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
- Register to receive a possible cash payment: You can also sign up for six months of credit monitoring; however if you receive a cash payment, you cannot file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
- Do Nothing: You won’t get any benefits. You will keep your right to sue the Defendants individually (see the detailed notice and Settlement Agreement for more information).
I will be completely honest – I have no Idea which one I chose, but considering I received the below e-mail and I like to think I know myself, I chose some sort of monitoring option.
As part of the settlement I received the following e-mail:
Dear Class Member:
As part of the terms of your Class Action Settlement with TransUnion, you’ve received a nine month enhanced subscription to TransUnion Credit Monitoring, fulfilled by TrueCredit. Register now and start enjoying the benefits of credit monitoring right away! You’ll get:
The ability to lock your credit report so third parties, such as lenders or other companies, will not be able to access your credit report without your consent (unless allowed by law);
Unlimited daily access to your Trans Union credit report and credit score;
Credit monitoring with email notification of critical changes to your credit report;
A suite of insurance scores; and
A mortgage simulator service.
Ready to get started?
Your registration number is <XXXXXXXXX>. Be sure to enroll soon as your registration number is only available for a limited time.
Just click here and enter your registration number and you’ll be on your way to credit monitoring!
Sincerely,
TransUnion List Class Action
Settlement Administration
Do not respond directly to this e-mail, as this inbox is not monitored.
Well it was relatively simple to register for the class action settlement, and boom I had access to my credit score from TransUnion.
I was happily surprised when I finally got my credit score. While I routinely check out Credit Karma, and review my Free Annual Credit Reports, I never take advantage of the up sell on the score itself since it doesn’t matter right now (not moving anytime soon, have no CC debt and not buying a car).
Did you participate in the Class Action Suit? Have you received your settlement?
I esigned all the letters got on the website ontime and received a letter on august 5 saying a check had been mailed out to me well i live in north carolina i havent seen no check yet and it does not take 20 days for mail to come to north carolina from texas it only take 5 to 7 business days, i called the lawyers office and they reassured me that the check was on the way, well i didnt see anything in the second week, i called them again and they told me to give it 3 more days well i gave it three days and i still havent seen no check so some how right now i think all this transunion lawsuit and the feel so much like i been in a scam right now and i called the lawyers office and told then i feel like they scammed me out of my 443.00 they promised me that amount now why are they taking and handing me 200 to me they cashed out original check and put in in the bank to pay ther others on the lawsuit. As i recalled sigining the document they stated you will be getting 443.00. but any is better than none right now but to be told the check is in the mail and check the box and see nothing everyday for 20 days sounds like a bunch of bullcrap to me.
I have the same problem EXCEPT that payment has not been sent. the $443.00 is before the lawyers 40% fees. I also live in NC and when I emailed the law office, I was told that I was in the 2nd group and have to wait for appeals, even though the day I received my letter, email, and phone call about accepting the offer, I accepted the offer in JUNE and still haven’t received anything so please feel lucky that you got $200.00
I have been waiting and watching for any word from the law firm but have received nothing. What does that mean–I got dumped into group 2?
Is there a number I can call or is it hunting time for that number?
Like Kay, I hadn’t heard anything so I decided to give the law firm a call and was told I was dumped in group 2 due to TU’s criteria. Additionally I was told the firm did not know what the criteria was and I would have to wait until the courts settled sometime in September. So for those who have not heard anything assume your in group 2.
I was told you get in group 2 by no filing in time. It would appear that it was first come, first serve and the first 13K or so got group 1. The rest got screwed, I mean, group 2.
The last word from the law firm (Watts, Guerra Craft) was that for group 2 people, they have to go back to court for a hearing on paying (if at all) those people. This court date won’t be until sometime this month.
Ann, I actually accepted the offer minutes after receiving the email. I’m sure it is possible that some people accepted the offer within seconds but I personally believe the law firm is giving different information to everyone to quickly get them out of their hair. I was personally told by someone handling the lawsuit;, that certain criteria placed me in group two and the criteria was set fourth from Trans Union. No where in the conversation did she mention anything about not filing in time. At this point I am expecting nothing.
Monique, like you, I filed when I got the email so there was no issue of not getting it in time. It was not filing in time, it was more the order processed on the other side…only the first 13250 got a check with no questions asked.
I think everyone is getting fed BS to go away; even their own paperwork says that if you got the second letter (settlement) you met the criteria set forth by TU. If you did not get a settlement letter at all, you didn’t.
If I had known I would have been stuck in the “no money” group I would have rejected the offer so I can pursue things with a private attorney. I am about to sue them for something else entirely anyways and will likely see way more than 209 bucks but this robbed me of my right to do that. Grrr.
I sent my acceptance in immediately after I got the letter.. how I got frakked into some group 2 bs, is bs…
Has many i was also told that i got placed into group 2 everyone should contact the federal court in which the so called settlement was reached maybe perhaps they will contact the law firm in which you filed,I also have the avandia claim its all BS the laywers recieve their payments,,I believe the federal court in Texas is where the settlement was reached
The same story here. Was promised 443.00. Replied within the same day as the email notice. Was not told anything until I complained. A Mr. Thompson told me I was now in Group 2 and he was working hard to get Group 2 paid. That was mos. ago. Never told what criteria was and filed on time.
Will now file a Complaint with the Federal Court where this Settlement for the plaintiffs (big winner Watts Guerra Craft) was reached and file a complaint against Mr. Thompson with the State Bar Association for misleading and deceptive practices and statements.
I’m surprised at the number of people bitching about money that you wouldn’t have had in the first place, and that you haven’t had to really DO anything to get “in line”. Everyone was “promised” $443, but that is BEFORE the fees; everyone that is selected will get the same amount. I also believe there was more to getting into Group 1 than just replying to the e-mail. I received a notice saying that I’d been “selected” as part of the Group 1 participants, indicating that there was more criteria than just e-signing that response. I’m glad I was selected, but again, it’s money I wasn’t counting on or budgeting in, so I didn’t stress as to getting it or not. I guess I was just lucky. Good luck to everyone, but it seems that spending time filing complants with the Federal Courts on something you don’t really have any control over is a waste of time and energy.
I also received the same letter which also said congratulations, on your settlement some time in May,2011. I have still not received anything.
I agree with Kenny. I was put in group 2 but I did not give my ss# a few months ago when asked. My dad was also put in group 2 and we didn’t share his either. Did anyone else in group 2 give theirs?
I talked to someone at the law office on Friday, they told me I was in group 2. I asked what the criteria was and they said it was a lottery conducted by TU, they had no say in what group a person was placed into.
She did say that they head back to court for group 2 disbursement later in September, so we should be hearing something by mid-October.
Sandy, yes I gave mine on the advice of my attorney. So it really makes no difference, apparently.
And it would not have been “money I did not know about” as I am suing them for other FCRA violations without a class action attached. If I had attached this to the other suit I may have had this money and then some…and not had to split it in half with the firm.
Hey, if it was a lottery that explains everything. I never play because I never win….
Kenny from group 1 tells group 2 to shut up.. nice frakkin BB, and nice people..
(not).
Steven, I didn’t tell anyone to shut up. I said I believed there was more to being picked than just replying with an e-signature. Did you even read my post? Try to retain a little dignity when you write a snotty reply. You didn’t then.
Got a new letter today. TU filed an appeal on the 22nd. If it is not denied in the next 30 days it could be a year before things are resolved. Next news update will be no later than December.
And now the letter says “you were not among the 1st 13,250 of our clients selected by Trans Union (that is, our Group 1 folks), whom Trans Union paid without the Judge’s approval. Under the terms of the settlement, Trans Union had sole discretion to select our Group 1 folks, and Trans Union merely provided us a list of their selections; we were prohibited from participating in the selections.”
Had I known that they were going to pick the 13K people, I would have rejected it. The original mail I got indicated that you had to hurry because the first 13250 were going to get into group 1.
If you are in group 2, don’t bother anticipating a thing. We are not going to see a dime.
WHEREAS, Counsel have advised me that Trans Union has split Counsel’s qualified
clients into two groups; and, Trans Union intends to pay the first group without making Trans
Union’s payment conditioned upon the Chicago District Court’s approval of Trans Union’s
offers to such clients (“Group 1”), and Trans Union intends to pay the second group only upon
the Chicago District Court’s approval of Trans Union’s offers to such clients (“Group 2”);
WHEREAS, Counsel have advised me that the Chicago District Court may approve or
reject Trans Union’s Offer to me, if I am in Group 2;
WHEREAS, Counsel have advised me that Trans Union has determined that Group 1 will
be made up of THE FIRST 13,250 OF COUNSEL’S CLIENTS WHO ACCEPT TRANS
UNION’S OFFER AND SIGN AND SUBMIT THIS ELECTION TO COUNSEL, As it clearly says here, Transunion agreed to pay everyone in Group 2 upon approvement from the judge. Now they want to appeal what they already agreed too!!!! Something sounds really wrong here and I will be consulting a attorney about this fraud.
Seems that the lawfirm has spent a lot of money and time to keep us informed. Especially if this is in fact a fraud.I like everybody else do not know.
I think these credit bureaus are the fraud. They probably selected the groups vis “credit score” or something. Everybody else is using this bogus score for any way to increase fees and money for them. But I am remaining optomistic.
The bottom line is anyone in group 2 was told to hurry and accept Transunions offer to have a chance to be in group 1. No where in the settlement I signed does it say that there is a possibility that Transunion could appeal its own settlement offer after it was approved by the judge!! This does not sound right to me at all. Why would a credit score make a difference on what plantiff gets compensated first? Are we not all equal in a class action suit? Iam waiting to get the actual motion where the judge approved Group 2 and the motion for a appeal to read it myself.
The bottom line is anyone in group 2 was told to hurry and accept Transunions offer to have a chance to be in group 1. No where in the settlement I signed does it say that there is a possibility that Transunion could appeal its own settlement offer after it was approved by the judge!! This does not sound right to me at all. Why would a credit score make a difference on what plantiff gets compensated first? Are we not all equal in a class action suit? Iam waiting to get the actual motion where the judge approved Group 2 and the motion for a appeal to read it myself.
I don’t think the suit is a fraud, but on the same token it sure is not on the up and up either.
My beef is “hurry and accept, it is first come, first serve otherwise you have to wait” is WAY different than “Defendant will pick and choose who gets paid first and we are not privy to how and why, and the rest of you may not get squat.”
Of course if I don’t get paid, they don’t either. But they already made millions off Group 1.
I think I am just going to write this one off.
in 1999, hubby was involved in a different class action. he did nothing and got interest on his monetary award. for future reference of these sort of things. i called atty office in tx, was told call back, then busy # all day after. next time just get chk unexpected like hubby….
I also have been waiting and watching listclassaction where I filed. Their website and notification did not update since day one. I had am e-mail address to contact them and sent correspondence with them and was told that someone would contact me within 24 hours on numerous occasions but of course no one ever did. I complained asking if the attorneys had to wait 3 years to receive their millions in compensation as we do. I guess they did not like that and everytime we get jerked around asking to wait another year to be compensated. This is so frustrating and I dont think we are going to receive anything while the attorneys monitor the account and skim off of the top for monitoring fees.
I also got the email sometime over the summer and was placed in group 1. I just called because I have never gotten a check as it stated I would. I was just told many checks were sent back because the clients did not provide correct info. Well I know in my case that is untrue since I have lived in the same home for the past decade. I am waiting to hear back but plan to call every day twice a day until someone gives me an answer, or maybe we SHOULD look into suing these clowns because it sounds to me they kept a whole lotta money and are saying the clients did not give the right addies.
I’m sorry to hear about so many people getting screwed by this lawsuit…however, i accepted the settlement offer within minutes of receiving the email and i did receive a check in the mail about 3 or so weeks later..after lawyer fees it came to 209 dollars and change…on the other hand, a friend of mine in WV filed as quickly as i did and they are giving him the run around…maybe they are trying to get group 2 paid…who knows….hoping for the best….
yep, thos eof us that replied immediately and signed the eletronic documents immediately afte roepning the email way basck then,, saying they settleled and we would get the check fore the amoutn after lawyer fees.. here it is almost 2012, and nothing but excuses…… who made one group more special over the screwed over group? thew screweed over group should not have to pay lawyer fees…. we should get the whole amount as damges for getting screwed by all of the bastages…
merry xmas to the bastages who screwed us..
September 8, 2011 – The Federal Court Grants Release of Funds
The Federal District Court in Illinois granted TransUnion’s request to receive monies from the settlement fund to pay the remaining claims to all of our qualified clients and approved our settlement.
September 14, 2011 – Class Counsel Files an Appeal
On or about September 14, 2011 class counsel filed an appeal of the Court’s September 8, 2011 Order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, Illinois. Class counsel has been opposed to our settlement with TransUnion from the time we filed your claim. At various times, they argued that our settlement should not be reimbursed from the settlement fund. The court categorically rejected that argument. Class counsel also opposed our settlement arguing that they should recover additional attorney fees from the settlement fund in excess of the $18.5 million they have already received. The court also rejected that argument.
September 30, 2011 – We Are Pushing to Have the Appeal Denied Quickly
At this time, we are trying to get the appeals expedited to speed the time for a ruling from the Court of Appeals. While we can never give a guarantee of victory, we are confident that the law is on our side and the Court of Appeals will uphold the District Court’s rulings in our favor. We are doing everything to speed up the appeals process. However, until then the court will not release the settlement funds to pay the remaining claims.
October 20, 2001 – A Briefing Schedule Has Been Set
An expedited briefing schedule has been set for the Appeals case. Appellant’s brief is due November 2, 2011; Appellees brief is due December 2, 2011; and Appellant’s reply brief is due December 16, 2011. After the briefs are submitted, a date will be set to present oral arguments to the court.
Further, updates will be posted as more information becomes available
Something needs to get settled soon. It is not right leaving people hanging. I have not even received any emails explaining anything. They need to let people know what is going on through the email or mail. This is not right for the class members. There is no reason for something to take this long and it does not need to drag out and give all the attorneys more money. Please do not let the people keep hanging. Transunion has screwed millions of people and their lives they need to pay and get this settle for once.
Im in the same position, I have not had any correspondence since the settlement offer and then I initiated an email that took over a week to get a reply and that was in October.
I also was told I should be receiving a check within so many weeks. Never received anything as of yet. That was four months ago. I think this is so much BS..
I also immediately responded to the offer with my acceptance, four months ago to the day on 11/29/11 and have received nothing.
I’m going to give them another call this week, and then it’s time to start a
WATTS GUERRA CRAFT LLC SUCK! page on Facebook. I’ll let them know that, and I’ll come back to invite all other screwed parties to come and “like” the FB page.
how do we start “WATTS GUERRA CRAFT LLC SUCK! page on Facebook” ?
Go to your Facebook page. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and look over toward your right. You will find a heading (in blue ink) that says Create a Page. Click on it and follow the directions, step by step.
You might want to first read the post, above, by “a,” which gives some information. According to that information, I’ll be waiting until after Dec. 16, for the update, before starting a FB page lambasting Watts Guerra.
Correction: FIVE months ago!
The writing is on the wall folks and it’s time to move on. Congrats to those who received theirs but the chance for the rest of us is minimal and I am not going to expend anymore energy on this. If I receive something, someday great, but it’s time to put this behind me.
I wrote it off back in September when they made it clear how badly they misrepresented who got money and who got the shaft. It was definitely not the “first come first served” that they stated.
This was an eye opener…I will never settle in a class action again. A private lawyer could have gotten me far more than 200 bucks anyways, even after he or she took their cut.
I feel as though I have been yanked around..they have called me back when I call them. All i want is whats been told I am entilted to. If they could not get me anything then all they shoudl do is just tell me. I will move on.
I got a new email. As of today the schedule for the appeal has not even been set. If you are in group 2, there will be another update in the spring with settlement expected anywhere between 9 to 18 months from now.
Of course they say they don’t get paid till we do, so we are all in this together…but they made millions off group 1.
I suspect I am correct in just writing this one off, and never agreeing to a class action again.
All I know is that it is fucked up and they have fucked people. I have not gotten an email been waiting for years and I am mad as hell. Transunion did not have any of my information right on my credit report, they had double debt from the same creditor. So it fucked up my credit. I want to sue them for that. I am sick of waiting for my money and the email. They need to be sued for more and give us our money because they are messing with peoples lives when they screw up the report not to mention giving out our name.
This settlement case is full of shit. I gave this law office my damn social security numbers, and all my information, and never received a damn thing. This country is so damn corrupt, and the fuc..@#%^ end of the world is coming soon. Nobody is for real these days, and because of the recession, people are always scamming people.
I also received that email notice sometime last year. I was afraid of what everyone is complaining about happening, so I rejected the settlement. Shortly after, I received a new email requesting my reasons for rejecting the claim.
I listed several reasons, but one was because I think these class action suits need several people to gain momentum and start up, but then they want to weed out as many people as they can so they don’t have as many people to split a settlement with. The offer of $443 is tremendous, considering most settlements I’ve ever seen or received (which, by the way did not require any answering emails or providing so much information to them) have only been about $2-3 and some change. However, if I remained in the class without the settlement, I stand to possibly get much more. Of course, I also risk getting nothing.
I was concerned that even if I did respond immediately, out of the possible millions of clients represented, I may not be one of the Group 1 people, and I did not want to end up in Group 2 and get nothing but a thank you for being on our list to get this suit started.
Those of you who received $200 or so should feel lucky you got anything at all, but you were screwed because as I remember reading the email, it was supposed to be a $443 minus their cost to file on your behalf (about $31). So you should have received $412.
Anyway, after submitting my reasons for my rejection, I have heard nothing at all. I expect the lawyers and about the initial six or so people who started the suit will split millions. Most of us were just names on a list to allow the action to happen and will not see a penny. As I said, if you’ve received a couple of hundred bucks, you should feel d— lucky about it.
Found something very interesting concerning the “hold up” for those in group 2. When they said they were waiting on court approval, they weren’t exactly lying, but they weren’t telling the whole truth. As it turns out, the defense, the ones supposedly representing OUR best interests, are the ones causing the delay. They want more money for themselves. On top of the millions in legal fees they have already been awarded AND the 45% of they are taking from participants, they are requesting millions more to be awarded directly to them. The MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER explaining everything can be found here:
http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/illinois/ilndce/1:2000cv04729/98269/873/0.pdf
I think it’s time to figure out how to start a class action suit against the class action attorneys, the biggest obstacle will be filing the suit without the aid of a class action lawyer.
On 12/28/11 I rcvd an e-update from Ryan Thompson. I’m not permitted to reprint the letter, so here’s the gist of its message in my own words:
Update re Group 2 of the TU Litigation
1. On 9/8/11, the judge approved the Grp 2 settlements for payment
2. Then on 9/22/11, a grp of lawyers filed an appeal in connection with the judge’s order and, as a result, thus causing an appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals defending the judge’s order
3. To date [12/28/11]the Seventh Circuit had not issued a briefing schedule in connection with the appeal, so case is on hold, awaiting a briefing schedule
4. When the Seventh Circuit issues a briefing schedule, we could have a decision in 9 to 18 months
5. The wide time frame depends on which judges hear the appeal and the time required for them to issue an opinion
6. The firm will vigorously defend the Judge’s order approving the Grp 2 settlements for payment. They say they will not get paid until we get paid, so “we’re all in this together”
7. The federal courts can be slow to grind out justice, and the firm is powerless to push them; of course, the firm appreciates our patience, they’ve spent thousands of hours and millions of dollars on the case, so they’re committed to victory
8. They will provide you another update in the spring, as the appeal gets underway
The group of attorneys that filed the appeals are the lawyers that are supposed to be representing US. The problem I have with their appeal is that it in no way, whatsoever, helps any of the class members. They are asking the judge to give THEM more money for legal fees on top of the $75 million AND the 45% they are taking from us. We’re not getting our money now because our attorneys are being greedy.
Well Now! after reading all these e.mails I’m glad to know I’m not the only one with a sore ass!
I have a high chance of dying soon from an ongoing severe illness that has no cure… so the waiting is meaningless to me…. the lawyers can suck on my corpse..
I haven’t heard anything since I signed the papers and sent them back. Does anyone know where I can send a change of address in case I ever get a check from the settlement.
Thanks