U-Haul will pay Americans $100 from $5 million data breach settlement – but you need to check the dates

AMERICANS can get up to $100 from a major settlement by moving and storage company U-Haul.

The company will pay out $5,085,000 to customers in one state after claims it failed to adequately protect data.

A pair of breaches in California led to a class action lawsuit by some customers.

Now, the company and the plaintiffs have reached a settlement to avoid the costs of more litigation.

It applies to two data incidents — one from September 2022, the other from December 2023.

During those breaches, an unauthorized party may have accessed personal info like customer names and drivers license numbers.

U-Haul denied any wrongdoing in the case.

The deadline to file a claim in the case is October 15, 2024.

WHO QUALIFIES?

Not every customer can qualify for the settlement.

To get cash, you must live in California.

Your information must have been potentially accessed in either the 2022 or 2023 data breach.

That includes many who were notified by U-Haul with a letter in the mail.

The payments are estimated to be around $100, but they could be increased or decreased depending on how many claims are filed.

There are roughly 259,300 people eligible for the payouts.

About 2,458 people were impacted by both data breaches, and these individuals may file two claims.

More details are available on the settlement website.

What's a class-action settlement?

Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or 'classes,' a way to band together in court.

These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.

When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all "class members," or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.

Companies often settle class actions - offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.

These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.

Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company's doorstep.

Cybersecurity issues have cost companies millions in hefty payouts.

A Georgia-based broadband company is paying out thousands to resolve claims it failed to protect consumer data.

In April, a major background check company was hit by one of the largest cybersecurity breaches in history, a suit alleged.

Nearly three billion people may have had data exposed in the case, and now the company may now have to pay up.

A dental care hack has resulted in a $2.7 million settlement.

Bank of America customers could get checks from a $21 million settlement.