About the 2019 Equifax Settlement with the FTC

Robert M. Ryerson

A Certified Financial Planner with more than 25 years of experience, Robert M. Ryerson began his career as a stockbroker at Shearson Lehman/American Express in 1984. Today, Robert M. Ryerson is focused on identity theft protection and has demonstrated his expertise in the field by becoming a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist.

Identity theft continues to plague modern consumers. In September 2017 hackers breached Equifax data on 147 million Americans. In its 2019 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Equifax offered consumers one of two choices, either free credit monitoring or a one-time cash settlement of up to $125 (for those who already have a credit monitoring service).

Identity theft experts urged consumers to pick the free credit monitoring option, noting that the cash value of the service (typically hundreds of dollars annually), far surpasses the short-term cash offer of $125. Moreover, credit monitoring will help affected consumers to keep track of their credit profile and head off any potential fraud in advance.