On September 13, 2024, a jury returned a verdict in litigation concerning credit reports accessed during an online CenturyLink ordering process. The case involved consumers who completed four of five steps but did not place an order.
About the credit reporting case
On September 13, 2024, a jury returned a verdict in litigation concerning credit reports accessed during an online CenturyLink ordering process. The case involved consumers who completed four of five steps but did not place an order.
What the jury determined
According to the firm’s published case update, the jury found that CenturyLink obtained class members’ credit reports without a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and that the failure to comply was willful.
The reported verdict
The firm reported an award of $500 in statutory damages and $2,000 in punitive damages per person. With approximately 56,075 class members, that represented a jury award exceeding $140 million. Jury verdicts may be subject to subsequent rulings or appeals and should not be described as money already paid to members.
Why permissible purpose matters
The FCRA places limits on who may access a consumer report and for what reasons. A company’s access to sensitive financial information should comply with the law, even when an online transaction is never completed.
What consumers can do
Request and examine your consumer reports, including the inquiries section, and preserve records of unexpected inquiries. A lawyer can review whether an inquiry was authorized and what remedies may be available.