TransUnion ‘Alert List’ Class Action Settlement

TransUnion LLC and TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions Inc. have agreed to pay $8 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging they violated the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by disclosing “Alert List” information about consumers who had submitted rental applications to landlords.

If you were the subject of a TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions SmartMove report that contained “Alert List” information, you may be entitled to a cash payment from the TransUnion class action settlement.

Plaintiff Amit Patel asserts that the named TransUnion defendants operate as if they are a single consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA.

According to the FCRA class action lawsuit, TransUnion offers a tenant screening tool called SmartMove, which provides landlords with information about rental applicants, including a credit report and criminal history. Terrorist alert information may also be included in a consumer’s file and report.

Patel challenges TransUnion’s use of partial matching instead of full identifying information when they prepare consumer credit reports. He says that TransUnion had been specifically advised by the Third Circuit that terrorist alert information must meet the “maximum possible accuracy standard.”

“Despite the abundant notice they have regarding the unlawfulness of their practices, Defendants continue to use a ‘name only’ match in determining whether a given consumer will be reported on his/her Trans Union consumer credit report as an alleged criminal and/or terrorist,” the TransUnion class action lawsuit states.

“Thus, Defendants will place a terrorist alert on a consumer’s report based solely on a partial name match,” Patel alleges.

Patel says he applied to rent an apartment in Union City, Calif., and was subjected to the SmartMove screening.

“The report was grossly defamatory and inaccurate in many respects,” Patel says, including its statement that he was a “Terrorist” from North Carolina, a state he says he has never even visited. The report also allegedly falsely indicated that he had an extensive criminal record.

As a result of the information contained in the consumer report, Patel’s application was denied, the TransUnion class action lawsuit says. Patel was also allegedly told that he was not entitled to a copy of the report from the landlord, in violation of the FCRA.

The TransUnion defendants deny the allegations but agreed to settle the FCRA class action lawsuit to avoid the burden and expense of ongoing litigation.

Class Members who would like to object to the TransUnion FCRA settlement must do so no later than Jan. 22, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the TransUnion settlement include U.S. residents who, between February 2012 and December 2013, were the subject of a TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions SmartMove report containing “Alert List” information.

A judge also certified a subclass of Class Members who requested a file disclosure and were sent a disclosure by TransUnion.

Potential Award

$400 or more.

Class Members who do not opt out will automatically receive a payment of $400 if the settlement is finalized. If you incurred damages due to TransUnion’s alleged FCRA violations, you may file a claim for damages in addition to the $400 payment.

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM (PDF) »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

1/22/2018

Case Name

Amit Patel v. Trans Union LLC, et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-00522-LB, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Final Hearing

3/8/2018

UPDATE: The TransUnion ‘Alert List’ Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on March 11, 2018. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our  Facebook page.

Settlement Website

www.PatelTransUnionClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

Patel v. Trans Union LLC
c/o Settlement Administrator RSM US LLP
P.O. Box 1387
Blue Bell, PA 19422
1-800-222-2760
questions@PatelTransUnionClassAction.com

Class Counsel

FRANCIS & MAILMAN PC

Defense Counsel

REED SMITH LLP