Avantus inaccurate credit reports $6.76M class action lawsuit settlement

Avantus agreed to pay $6.76 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming it violated federal law by including inaccurate information on mortgage borrowers’ credit reports.

The settlement benefits U.S. residents about whom Avantus sold a consumer report to a third party that included information from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list that did not match their birth date, address or Social Security number between July 6, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2023.

According to the class action lawsuit, Avantus included inaccurate information on consumer reports from the government’s OFAC list — a list used to coordinate sanctions against individuals associated with targeted countries. Information from this list was allegedly attached to consumer reports for mortgage applicants despite consumer birth dates, addresses and/or Social Security numbers not matching the OFAC list. The inclusion of this inaccurate information allegedly violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA.

Avantus LLC is a credit report provider that works with mortgage lenders.

Avantus hasn’t admitted wrongdoing but agreed to a $6.76 million settlement to resolve the FCRA class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive automatic payments of $100. 

Class members who file a claim with the settlement could receive larger payments. No payment estimates are available for claimants.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 10, 2024.

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2024.

No claim form is required to receive a $100 payment. However, to receive a higher settlement payment, class members must submit a valid claim form by Feb. 10, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

U.S. residents about whom Avantus sold a consumer report to a third party that included information from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list that did not match their birth date, address or Social Security number between July 6, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2023.

Potential Award

$100

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

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

02/10/2024

Case Name

Martinez v. Avantus LLC, et al., Case No. 3:20-cv-01772-JCH, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Final Hearing

02/27/2024

Settlement Website

MartinezOFACClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

Martinez v. Avantus LLC
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 16
West Point, PA 19486
questions@MartinezOFACclassaction.com
833-609-0397

Class Counsel

James A Francis
John Soumilas
Lauren KW Brennan
FRANCIS MAILMAN SOUMILAS PC 

Defense Counsel

David M Gettings
TROUTMAN PEPPER HAMILTON SANDERS LLP