Centerville, Georgia Credit Rating Downgrade Settlement: It Is the $100 Million Equifax Case
Questions about this case?
AI Legal Assistant · free · answers in seconds · general information, not legal advice
If you searched “centerville georgia credit rating downgrade lawsuit settlement 2025 2026,” the case in the news is not a Centerville case. It is the $100 million Equifax settlement over credit scores that were allegedly reported too low between March 17 and April 8, 2022 — about 4 million people nationwide, Georgia included. Claims close December 28, 2026. You need the notice Equifax’s administrator sent you.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuit Says Happened
We could not find any lawsuit or settlement over a credit rating downgrade involving Centerville, Georgia, as a party. The search lands on a federal case filed in Atlanta, where Equifax is based.
The lawsuit alleges that a coding error on one of Equifax’s servers — the settlement calls it the “OMS Issue” — caused Equifax to report inaccurate credit information to lenders, insurers and others between March 17 and April 8, 2022. According to news coverage of the complaint, the bureau reported lower scores for about 4 million people, potentially affecting applications for mortgages, car loans and credit cards. The plaintiffs claim this violated the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. Equifax denies that it violated the law.
Case Details
In re Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation, No. 1:22-cv-3072-LMM-CCB, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, before Judge Leigh Martin May. The docket opened on August 3, 2022. The settling plaintiffs are Sarah Hunter, Maurice Moore and Michael Rodela; the defendants are Equifax Information Services LLC and Equifax, Inc. The motion for preliminary approval was filed on August 12, 2026, after nearly four years of litigation. Official site: equifaxfaircreditreportingsettlement.com. Our full guide is the Equifax Fair Credit Reporting settlement page.
Status: Settlement Open for Claims Until December 28, 2026
If your search also pulled up an auto-loan story, that is a different case: see our note on the Credit Acceptance settlement.
Don't miss the claim deadline
Claims are due by December 28, 2026. We'll email you 7 days and 1 day before the deadline.
Who Is in the Settlement Class
The class covers people in the United States for whom Equifax reported a credit score or credit attribute to a third party that differed from what it would have been without the OMS Issue, according to Equifax’s own analysis. Living in Centerville or elsewhere in Georgia does not, by itself, make you a member.
The practical test is your inbox and mailbox. Class members were sent an email or a physical notice built from Equifax’s records. If you have that notice, it carries the details you need to file. If you have no notice, you were most likely not identified as affected. Our notice explainer covers how to check it.
How Much the Settlement Pays
The settlement pays for being in the class, not for a specific loss. It does not reimburse higher mortgage or car-loan interest. If you want to pursue that kind of claim yourself, you have to opt out by November 27, 2026.
How cases like this one end
Our copy of the federal courts’ own case database covers 112,484 federal civil cases of this typeclosed in U.S. federal district courts between 2015 and 2026, 10.6% of them filed as class actions:
- 46.9% ended in a settlement recorded by the court. Another 27.2% were dismissed voluntarily, which often follows a private settlement — so the real settlement share sits between 46.9% and 74.1%.
- 3.8% were decided on a motion before any trial.
- 1 in 760 reached a trial (0.1%), after a median of 21.2 months.
- Median time from filing to the end of the case: 4.8 months.
- Only 1,167 of them (1%) record a money award at all; the median of those is $10,000.
These are base rates for this type of case (federal consumer credit cases) — not a prediction about this lawsuit, and not legal advice. Source: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (civil), analysed by Settlement Insight. Cases heard in state courts are not included.
Equifax Credit Score Case Timeline
- 1
March 17 – April 8, 2022 — The Coding Error
Per the lawsuit, the “OMS Issue” on an Equifax server distorts credit scores and attributes sent to lenders, insurers and others.
- 2
August 3, 2022 — Case Filed in Atlanta
The case that becomes In re Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation opens in the Northern District of Georgia, No. 1:22-cv-3072.
- 3
June 30, 2026 — Settlement Announced to the Court
The parties file a joint notice of settlement. On July 1, 2026, the court stays the case pending finalization of the settlement.
- 4
August 12, 2026 — $100 Million Deal Filed
Plaintiffs file an unopposed motion for preliminary approval with the settlement agreement: a $100 million fund divided pro rata.
- 5
November 27 and December 28, 2026 — Deadlines
November 27, 2026 is the reported opt-out deadline. December 28, 2026 is the reported claim deadline.
- 6
January 22, 2027 — Final Approval Hearing
The court decides whether to grant final approval. Payments follow only after final approval and any appeals.
Three Things to Watch For
A search for a “Centerville, Georgia” settlement that does not exist is an opening for imposters:
“Centerville credit rating settlement” claim pages
There is no Centerville-specific fund. A site promising a local payout and asking for your Social Security number or bank login is collecting data, not filing a claim. File only through the official Equifax settlement site.
Fees to “release” your $280
The $95 to $280 range is only an estimate, and filing is free. Anyone who asks for a processing fee or a gift card to speed up your payment is not the administrator.
“Credit repair” offers tied to the case
The settlement does not change or restore your credit score. Companies that say they can “remove the Equifax downgrade” for a fee are selling something the settlement does not provide.
Centerville, Georgia Credit Rating Settlement — Questions People Ask
Is there a Centerville, Georgia credit rating downgrade lawsuit settlement?
Not under that name. We found no case involving Centerville, Georgia, as a party. The settlement behind this search is the $100 million Equifax credit score settlement, In re Equifax Fair Credit Reporting Act Litigation, pending in federal court in Atlanta.
What is the amount of the Equifax class action settlement for 2026?
$100 million. After fees and costs, the rest is split equally among valid claimants. Coverage of the settlement estimates $95 to $280 per person, depending on how many claims are filed.
Was Equifax sued?
Yes. The lawsuit alleges that a coding error caused Equifax to report inaccurate credit information between March 17 and April 8, 2022, in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Equifax denies wrongdoing and agreed to settle.
What is the deadline, and do I need to file?
Yes, you must file a claim to be paid. The reported claim deadline is December 28, 2026. The reported opt-out deadline is November 27, 2026. If you do nothing, you get no payment but are still bound by the settlement.
When is the Equifax settlement payout date?
There is no payout date yet. The final approval hearing is scheduled for January 22, 2027. Payments go out only after final approval and after any appeals are resolved.
How do I know whether I am in the class?
Equifax’s records decide. Class members were sent an email or a postal notice. If you received one, use it to file on the official site. If you did not, living in Georgia alone does not make you a member.
What big class action lawsuits are going on right now?
This page covers only the Equifax credit score case. For other settlements currently accepting claims, with deadlines, see our open class action settlements list.
Will the settlement fix my credit score?
No. It pays cash and does not change any credit file. If you think your current Equifax report is wrong, dispute it directly with Equifax. That is a separate process from this settlement.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
Related Consumer Brand Lawsuits
Equifax FCRA Settlement Guide
The full guide to the 100 million dollar credit score case
Equifax Credit Score Error
What the 2022 coding error did and who it hit
Open Class Action Settlements
Settlements currently accepting claims, with deadlines
Settlement Payout Calculator
Estimate a pro rata share from fund size and claim rates