How to claim your part of TransUnion’s $23 million class action settlement

TransUnion, one of the three largest credit bureaus in the U.S., has agreed to a $23 million class action settlement to resolve claims it failed to remove disputed hard inquiries from consumers' reports for nearly 10 years.

In February 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted preliminary approval for the deal, which could impact more than 485,000 consumers.

A final hearing is scheduled for July, after which eligible class members could receive as much as $160 each.

Along with Equifax and Experian, TransUnion collects information about consumers' financial behavior and tabulates credit scores used by lenders, businesses and others to determine creditworthiness for loans, credit cards, insurance, employment, leases and other uses.

A hard inquiry can lower your credit score, making you ineligible for certain products or preferred interest rates.

Originally filed in December 2018, the lawsuit claims that TransUnion failed to investigate or remove certain disputed hard inquiries that appeared on consumers' credit reports between 2016 and 2025. As a result, the plaintiffs alleged, TransUnion violated the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and unfairly lowered their credit scores.

According to court filings, consumers who challenged questionable inquiries were sent standard "502 Letters," which explained the nature of credit report inquiries and suggested they reach out to the inquirers themselves.

The plaintiffs maintain that TransUnion should have contacted the third parties directly and removed the inquiries.

TransUnion hasn't admitted any wrongdoing but a representative told CNBC Select that, moving forward, it was instituting changes "regarding consumer challenges to hard inquiries."

Credit checks fall into two categories, either soft or hard inquiries: A soft inquiry (or "soft pull”) may be triggered if you're prequalified for a credit card or a landlord runs a basic background check. It includes limited information and won't impact your credit score.

Financial institutions trigger a hard inquiry, or “hard pull," when they're making lending decisions, say, about your application for a mortgage, personal loan or credit card.

These are more in-depth and a single hard pull can ding your score by about five points, according to FICO, although if you have a shorter credit history or fewer accounts, it might have a more substantial impact.

Numerous hard inquiries in a short period can also take a greater toll.

Credit monitoring and identity theft protection services keep tabs on changes to your reports, including new credit inquiries and opened accounts, as well as your information appearing on the dark web.

You can dispute errors and fraud yourself, but many people find the process time-consuming, confusing or intimidating. A credit repair company will reach out to the three credit bureaus on your behalf and challenge any incorrect information.

Consumers who disputed a hard inquiry listed on their TransUnion credit report and received a “502 Letter” between December 5, 2016, and January 31, 2025, are eligible class members.

Under the terms of the settlement, consumers who received a “502 Letter” are entitled to a minimum cash payment of at least $20 to $30.

Class members who experienced certain financial harms as a result of TransUnion's alleged violation can file a claim for damages and a higher payment. The final amount will be based on how many valid claims are received but could be as much as $160.

To file a valid higher payment claim, you must attest at least one of the following:

• Your Trans Union credit score decreased due to the disputed inquiry.
• Trans Union sent a credit report containing the disputed inquiry to a third party.
• You were denied credit at least in part due to the disputed inquiry.

Class members do not have to do anything to receive a minimum payout, which will automatically be mailed to the address TransUnion used to send "502 Letters."

If your address has changed or you believe you suffered specific financial harm and wish to apply for additional damages, you must complete a claim form on the class action settlement website by June 24, 2025.

You may also mail your form to:

Norman v Trans Union, LLC
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 23489, Jacksonville, FL 32241

The deadline to object to the settlement or request to be excluded is also June 24, 2025.

Payments are expected to be distributed within 90 days of the final hearing on July 21, 2025. But appeals and injunctions may delay the process. 

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