AT&T is facing a critically important financial reckoning following a $177 million settlement related to considerable data breaches impacting millions of its United States customers. Individuals affected by thes security incidents may be entitled to receive compensation, potentially reaching up to $7,500. The settlement is currently awaiting final court approval, with a hearing scheduled for December 3, 2025, but potential claimants must submit their claims before this date.

Understanding the Breaches

The first confirmed breach, occurring in March 2024, compromised the personal data-including Social Security numbers-of approximately 7.6 million current account holders and a staggering 65.4 million former customers. This information surfaced on the dark web,raising serious concerns about identity theft and fraud. A second incident, revealed in July 2024, involved the illegal access and download of customer data from a third-party cloud platform.

According to AT&T, the July 2024 breach exposed call and text message records from May 1 to October 31, 2022, for nearly all cellular customers, with a smaller subset of customers affected by compromised records dating back to January 2, 2023. While the company asserts that sensitive information like Social Security numbers and dates of birth were not exposed in this second instance, phone numbers could potentially be linked to individuals publicly.

Who Qualifies for Compensation?

Eligible claimants should have received an email notification from “[email protected]” outlining their rights and options, according to Kroll Settlement Management, which is handling the claims process. AT&T has specified that United States citizens whose personal information – including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, account passcodes, billing account numbers, and Social Security numbers – was compromised in the March 2024 breach are eligible for a claim.

those who haven’t received notice but believe they were affected can contact Kroll at (833) 890-4930 for assistance. Individuals who were AT&T account owners or had active lines during the 2022-2023 breach,or whose phone numbers were connected to affected accounts,may also be eligible for compensation.

Notably, individuals impacted by both breaches-termed “overlap settlement class members”-may be entitled to claim compensation from both settlements, potentially receiving up to $7,500.

How to File a claim

Affected individuals must submit a claim form either online via the settlement website or by mail to AT&T, with the address available on the website. The deadline for submissions is November 18, 2025. Those wishing to exclude themselves from the settlement must submit a letter to Kroll by October 17,2025,with detailed instructions available on the settlement website’s FAQ section. Objections to the settlement or fee applications must also be filed by October 17, 2025, and specific details can be found on the FAQ page.

Here’s a fast reference table summarizing the key dates and potential compensation amounts:

Breach Date Maximum Compensation Per Claimant Claim Submission Deadline Exclusion Deadline
March 2024 $5,000 November 18, 2025 October 17, 2025
2022-2023 $2,500 November 18, 2025 October 17, 2025

Did You Know? data breaches are becoming increasingly common, with a 14% increase in data breaches reported in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to Statista.

When Can You Expect Payment?

The final approval hearing for the settlement is set for December 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. central Time. Following approval, and the resolution of any potential appeals, the distribution of settlement funds will commence.

Pro Tip: Regularly monitor your credit reports and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file to mitigate the risk of identity theft following a data breach.