1. Why was the Notice issued?

A Court authorized the Notice to inform you about the proposed Settlement and your rights. Before any final judgment is entered, the Court will have a hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement. The Notice is only a summary of the Settlement. More details about the proposed Settlement are in the Settlement Agreement available on the Important Documents page.

The lawsuit is known as Meeks v. Equifax Information Services LLC, No. 3:21-cv-07727-CRB (N.D. Cal.). Judge Charles R. Breyer of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California is overseeing the case. The people who sued Equifax are called “Plaintiffs” or “Settlement Class Representatives”; the company that they sued is called “Equifax” or the “Defendant.”

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2. What is this lawsuit about?

The lawsuit claims that Equifax violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and California law when it reported certain Great Plains Lending, Plain Green, and MobiLoans debts to creditors and allowed some debt collectors to improperly change the dates relating to some debts to make them seem more recent. Equifax denies these claims and that it did anything wrong.

The Court did not decide whether either side was right or wrong. Instead, both sides agreed to the Settlement to resolve the case and provide benefits to consumers.

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3. Why is this a class action?

A class action lawsuit tries to bring similar claims into one case in one court. In a class action, one or more people called “Settlement Class Representatives” (in this case, Elettra Meeks, Joseph Delacruz, Stephanie Laguna, and Amber Leonard) brought the case to court. They have their names listed in the title of the case. They sued on behalf of themselves and other people who have similar claims—called the Class or Settlement Class Members—which in this case may include you. One court resolves the issues for everyone in the Class. The Settlement Class Representatives filed this case as a proposed class action.

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4. Why is there a proposed Settlement?

The Court has not decided which side is right or wrong in this case. Instead, both sides agreed to a Settlement to avoid the costs and risks of further litigation. Settlement Class Members will receive the benefits described in the Notice. The parties think the proposed Settlement is a fair and reasonable resolution of the lawsuit.

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5. Are there different Settlements in this case?

There is only one Settlement in this case. The Court will hold a final hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement on April 26, 2024 May 31, 2024 (see Question 18).

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6. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement Class?

The Court has decided that the following consumers are in the Settlement Class: all U.S. consumers identified by Equifax as having (i) an account pertaining to a Tribal Loan (meaning a loan issued to a consumer by Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans), which was furnished to Equifax by Midwest Recovery Systems, LLC (“Midwest Recovery”) and/or Consumer Adjustment Company, Inc. (“CACi”), reporting on their Equifax credit file at any time during the Class Period and (ii) had a hard inquiry on their Equifax credit file by a third party during the Class Period and at a time when such an account was reporting on their Equifax credit file.

The complete criteria for who is included can be found in the Settlement Agreement, available on the Important Documents page.

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7. What benefits does the Settlement provide?

Equifax has agreed to pay $500 (the “Settlement Payment”) to each Settlement Class Member who timely submits a valid claim form. Payments will be made by check to each Settlement Class Member who is eligible for a payment (see Question 8).

Settlement Class Members and other consumers will also benefit from the changes Equifax will make to its business practices if the Settlement is approved. More details about those benefits are in the Settlement Agreement, available on the Important Documents page.

The Settlement will also require Equifax to delete any accounts currently reporting on U.S. consumers’ credit files that pertain to a Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans loan, which were furnished to Equifax by Midwest Recovery and/or CACi. Equifax will further take reasonable steps to implement internal procedures reasonably designed to prevent accounts that pertain to a Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans loan from being added to or reported on U.S. consumers’ Equifax credit files. Additionally, Equifax shall implement internal procedures reasonably designed to delete any account pertaining to a Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans loan on a U.S. consumer’s credit file upon receipt by Equifax of a dispute made by a consumer in accordance with the FCRA.

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8. How can I get a payment?

Settlement Class Members will only qualify to get a payment if they remain in the Settlement Class. Click here to file a claim.

You have to submit a valid claim form to receive your Settlement Payment. If you submit a valid claim form before the February 20, 2024 deadline and the Court approves the Settlement, after certain deadlines expire, a check will be mailed to the address on the Notice you received. If your address has changed or is changing, you should contact the Settlement Administrator at Meeks v. Equifax, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 16, West Point, PA 19486.

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9. If I am a member of the Settlement Class, when will I get my payment?

Payments will be made to Settlement Class Members after, and only if, the Court grants “final approval” to the Settlement and any appeals are resolved. It is always uncertain whether appeals will be filed and whether they can be resolved—and resolving them can take time. Please be patient. You can visit this website to check on the progress of the Court-approval process.

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10. How does the Settlement affect my rights?

If the Court approves the Settlement and you do not timely and validly exclude yourself (see Question 11), you will give up the right to sue Equifax for any “Released Claims” as described in the Settlement Agreement. This is called “releasing” your claims.

The Court’s decisions in this case will apply to you even if you object to this Settlement or have any other claim, lawsuit, or proceeding pending against Equifax relating to the same claims. If you have any questions about the release, you should visit the Settlement website for more information or consult with a lawyer (see Question 14).

“Released Claims” includes claims of each member of the Settlement Class that relate to Equifax’s inclusion of allegedly inaccurate information concerning Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans debts in their Equifax credit file; Equifax’s alleged inaccurate reporting of Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans debts to third parties; and the facts alleged in the lawsuit. These Released Claims do not include claims separate and unrelated to the conduct that is the subject of the claims brought by the Settlement Class Representatives in this lawsuit. For example, this release does not include any claims that Settlement Class Members may have against any consumer reporting agency besides Equifax, any debt collector, or any future owner of the Great Plain Lending, Plain Green, or MobiLoans debts. Please carefully review the Settlement Agreement, which is available on the Important Documents page, for more information regarding the claims released under the Settlement.

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11. Can I choose not to be in the Settlement Class?

Yes, you may exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. If you do not want to remain a member of the Settlement Class and want to keep your right to sue or continue to sue Equifax for actual damages on your own, you must take steps to exclude yourself. This is sometimes referred to as “opting out” of the Settlement Class. Opting out gives you the right to bring your own lawsuit but does not guarantee that your own lawsuit will be successful.

To exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must send a written request for exclusion to the Settlement Administrator, at the address below:

Meeks v. Equifax
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 16
West Point, PA 19486

To be valid, the proposed exclusion request must:

Your exclusion request must be postmarked no later than March 25, 2024.

You cannot exclude yourself by telephone or by email. You also cannot exclude yourself by mailing a request to any location other than the address specified above or by mailing a request after the deadline. You also cannot exclude yourself as part of a group or class involving more than one consumer.

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12. If I do not exclude myself from the Settlement Class, can I sue Equifax for the same thing later?

No. Unless you exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be able to sue Equifax for any “Released Claims” under the Settlement, including any claims related to Equifax’s allegedly inaccurate reporting of the Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, or MobiLoans debts that occurred before the Effective Date of the Settlement. If you have a pending lawsuit, speak to your lawyer in that lawsuit immediately. You may need to exclude yourself from this Settlement to continue your own lawsuit. Remember, your exclusion request must be postmarked by March 25, 2024.

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13. If I exclude myself from the Settlement Class, can I get a payment?

No. If you exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be eligible to receive a Settlement Payment. However, because the injunctive relief will be applied uniformly across all Settlement Class Members through practice changes at Equifax, you may still benefit from the injunctive relief provided under the Settlement even if you exclude yourself.

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14. Do I have a lawyer in this case?

Yes. The Court approved the following lawyers as “Class Counsel” to represent you and other Settlement Class Members:

• Leonard A. Bennett and Craig Marchiando, of Consumer Litigation Associates, P.C., in Newport News, Virginia and San Francisco, California; and
• Kristi Kelly and Andrew Guzzo, of Kelly Guzzo PLC, in Fairfax, Virginia.

You will not be charged for these lawyers. You may hire your own attorney, if you so choose, but you will be responsible for paying your attorney’s fees and expenses.

You may contact the attorneys representing you for further information or assistance at: (757) 930-3660 or write to: Consumer Litigation Associates, P.C., 763 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 1-A, Newport News, VA 23601.

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15. How will the lawyers be paid? What will the Settlement Class Representatives receive?

Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve attorneys’ fees and expenses in an amount up to 33.33% of the total of $500 Settlement Payments made to Settlement Class Members. They will also ask the Court for approval of Equifax to separately pay them $300,000 in attorneys’ fees for obtaining injunctive relief in the form of Equifax agreeing to change its practices with respect to reporting of certain Plain Green, Great Plains Lending, and MobiLoans debts.

Class Counsel will also ask the Court to approve service payments to each of the Settlement Class Representatives for up to $5,000 each. If the Court approves these amounts, they will be paid separately by Equifax and will not reduce the amount Settlement Class Members receive.

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16. How do I tell the Court if I do not agree with the proposed Settlement?

If you are a Settlement Class Member, you can object to this Settlement if you do not like any part of it. You can give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it. The Court will consider your views before deciding whether to approve this Settlement.

You can ask the Court to deny approval by filing an objection. You can’t ask the Court to order a different settlement; the Court can only approve or reject the Settlement. If the Court denies approval, no injunctive relief changes will be implemented, and the lawsuit will continue. If that is what you want to happen, you should object.

All objections must contain the following information:

1. The case name and number of the lawsuit (Meeks v. Equifax Information Services LLC, No. 3:21-cv-07727-CRB (N.D. Cal.));
2. The name, address, and telephone number of the objecting Settlement Class Member;
3. If the objecting Settlement Class Member is represented by an attorney, or received assistance from an attorney in drafting his or her objection, the name, address, and telephone number of the attorney;
4. A statement of whether the objection applies only to the objector, to a specific subset of the Settlement Class, or to the entire Settlement Class;
5. A statement of the specific grounds for the objection; and
6. A statement of whether the objecting Settlement Class Member intends to appear at the Final Approval Hearing, and if so, whether personally or through counsel.

If you file a timely written objection, you may, but are not required to, appear at the Final Approval Hearing, either in person or through your own attorney. If you appear through your own attorney, you are responsible for hiring and paying that attorney. Additionally, if you are represented by an attorney and such attorney intends to speak at the Final Approval Hearing, the written objection must include the identity of any witnesses whom the objecting Settlement Class Member intends to call to testify at the Final Approval Hearing and a detailed description of any evidence the objecting Settlement Class Member may offer at the Final Approval Hearing, as well as copies of any exhibits the objecting Settlement Class Member may introduce at the Final Approval Hearing.

All written objections and supporting papers must be submitted to the Clerk of Court at Phillip Burton Federal Building & United States Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, and be filed or postmarked on or before March 25, 2024.

For more information about the Final Approval Hearing, see Questions 18-20 below.

The Court requires substantial compliance with the process outlined above, meaning if you do not substantially comply you may not be allowed to object, appear at the Final Approval Hearing, or appeal the final approval of the proposed Settlement or the dismissal of the case.

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17. What is the difference between objecting and opting out?

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. Opting out, or excluding yourself, means that you will not be included in the Settlement.

You can object or opt-out of the Settlement Class but you cannot do both. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object to the Settlement because it will no longer affect you.

If you do object, you remain a Settlement Class Member and you will be bound by the Settlement if the Court approves it.

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18. When and where will the Court decide whether to finally approve the proposed Settlement?

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing to decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement. You may attend and you may ask to speak at the hearing, but you do not have to.

The hearing will be on April 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. May 31, 2024 at 10:30 a.m., before Judge Breyer by Zoom. The credentials to access Judge Breyer’s online courtroom are: https://cand-uscourts.zoomgov.com/j/1611472837?pwd=cy81NUdINWZmeEpFUjlHRXM3djZ5QT09. You will also need to enter Webinar ID: 161 147 2837, and Password: 785243.

At the hearing, the Court will consider whether the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court will consider all timely and proper objections. The Court will listen to people who have asked for permission to speak at the hearing.

After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement. There may be appeals. We do not know how long these decisions will take.

The Court may change the date of the Final Approval Hearing without further notice to the Class. Please check this website for updates on the hearing date, the court-approval process, and the Effective Date.

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19. Do I have to come to the hearing?

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. However, you are welcome to come to the hearing at your own expense. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.

If you send an objection, you do not have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you filed your written objection on time and it includes the required information, the Court will consider it.

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20. May I speak at the hearing?

You or your lawyer may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Final Approval Hearing. To do so, you must tell the Court in your objection letter that you or your lawyer would like to speak at the hearing. You must also follow the process outlined in Question 16. You cannot speak at the hearing if you do not follow this procedure.

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21. What happens if I do nothing at all?

If you do nothing, you will not receive a cash payment if you are eligible for one. If the Court approves the proposed Settlement, you will be bound by the Court’s final judgment and the Released Claims explained in the Settlement Agreement, available on the Important Documents page.

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22. How do I get more information?

The Notice is only a summary of the Settlement. More details about this Settlement, relevant dates, and your rights are available in a longer document called the Settlement Agreement, available on the Important Documents page.

You also may write with questions to the Settlement Administrator at Meeks v. Equifax, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 16, West Point, PA 19486, email questions@tribalreportingsettlement.com, or call the toll-free number, (833) 537-1794.

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