It’s more dangerous than ever for digital services and personal data to be stolen. U-Haul, one of the biggest moving companies in the country, has been involved in the latest data breach scandal. Millions of people might be able to get paid back. U-Haul is giving $100 payments to customers who are qualified as part of a $5 million class-action settlement. No proof is needed.
There were two different incidents of the U-Haul data breach, one in 2022 and one in 2023. During these breaches, the company’s security was broken, letting people get to customer names and driver’s license numbers without permission. A hack was launched against U-Haul’s systems, revealing personal information of customers who used the company’s services during these years.
U-Haul hasn’t said they did anything wrong, but they have decided to pay $5.08 million to settle the lawsuit that started because of the breach. This means that customers who were harmed could get $100 or more without having to show a lot of proof.
Are You Eligible for the Settlement?
Your information may have been stolen if you lived in California and used U-Haul’s services between November 5, 2021, and April 5, 2022, or around December 2023. You must have gotten a letter from U-Haul called “Notice of Recent Security Incident” telling you that your information was part of the breach in order to get the $100 payment.
This may sound like a lot of work, but the good news is that you don’t need to show proof of damage to get your money back. In contrast to many other deals that need a lot of paperwork or proof of loss, this one is pretty easy to understand. You should be able to get paid as long as you meet the basic requirements.
How to File a Claim
It’s easy to file your claim, but time is running out. October 15, 2024, is the last day to send in your claim. You’ll be in line for your payment faster if you act quickly.
To make a claim, go to the website for the payout and fill out the form that is asked for. Do not forget that you do not need to include any extra paperwork or proof. To be qualified, you only need to meet the residency and time limits and receive the letter of notification.
After the deadline has passed, there will be a final approval meeting on October 23, 2024. The settlement will be confirmed at this meeting. After that, payments should begin to be made.
Members of a class are a big group of people who can file a lawsuit together and try to get justice. In situations like U-Haul’s data breach, where the personal information of millions of customers was made public, it would not be possible for each person to go to court on their own. Instead, the class-action case brings together all the people who were hurt under one legal roof, which makes it easier for them to get paid.
Customers usually give up their right to sue U-Haul in the future when they agree to the deal. But they don’t have to go through the trouble of going to court against the company separately, and they can still get paid.
Data Breaches Are a Growing Concern
This U-Haul breach is just one example of how data leaks are becoming more dangerous. There were more than 80% of data breaches in 2023 that involved data saved in the cloud. A lot of businesses aren’t ready for these types of cyberattacks, which leaves customer info open to risk. U-Haul isn’t the only business that has had this problem, but it’s a stark warning that no service is safe from cyberattacks.
The settlement by U-Haul is part of a growing trend of companies that settle data breach claims to avoid long court cases. Recently, companies like Cash App and Oracle have reached similar settlements. This shows how bad and broad the problem has become.
What’s Next for Affected U-Haul Customers?
Now is the time to take action if you think the U-Haul data breach touched you. You have until October 15, 2024 to make your claim on the settlement website. This deal gives you a way to get money for the trouble it caused, whether you were a victim of fraud or are just worried about the security of your personal information.
Do not miss the chance to get $100. Send in your form right now, and wait for the final hearing in October 2024 to find out when you’ll get your money.
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