Communications Data Group Data Breach Class Action Settlement

Individuals who received a notice about a data incident from Communications Data Group Inc. or Home Wireless Inc. may be eligible to claim up to $5,000 and/or other benefits from a class action settlement.

Communications Data Group agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it discovered a ransomware attack in February 2025. The lawsuit claimed an unauthorized third party accessed the company’s systems, potentially exposing the personal information of approximately 137,059 individuals, including customers of Duo County Telephone Cooperative Corp. Inc., Cumberland Cellular LLC and Home Wireless. The potentially compromised information includes names, addresses, dates of birth, driver’s license details, bank account information and Social Security numbers.

Who can file a claim?

Class members are individuals residing in the United State whose private information the February 2025 Communications Data Group cyber incident potentially impacted and who received a notification by or on behalf of Communications Data Group, Duo County Telephone Cooperative, Cumberland Cellular or Home Wireless regarding the data incident.

How much are settlement payments?

Class members have the following options:

• Documented loss reimbursement: Up to $5,000 for documented, unreimbursed monetary losses that are more likely than not caused by the data breach. Eligible expenses include:
• Fraud or identity theft losses
• Professional fees (attorneys, accountants, credit repair, etc.)
• Costs for freezing or unfreezing credit
• Credit monitoring costs incurred after the breach notification
• Miscellaneous expenses (notary, fax, postage, copying, mileage, long-distance calls, etc.)

• Alternative cash payment: A one-time cash payment of $45 in lieu of documented loss reimbursement and/or credit monitoring
• Credit monitoring: Three years of credit monitoring with CyEx, including identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000 with no deductible through one major credit bureau (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion)

Class members who claim reimbursement for documented losses may also claim the credit monitoring benefit. However those who choose the alternative cash payment cannot claim the other benefits.

How to claim a settlement payment

Class members can file a claim online or print and complete the PDF claim form and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Communications Data Group Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 25226, Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958

The claim deadline is Nov. 10, 2026.

Required proof and documentation

• To submit a claim online, class members must provide the login ID and PIN from the settlement notice they received.
• To submit a documented losses claim, class members must provide reasonable documentation, such as receipts, account statements, correspondence or other official documents, showing unreimbursed expenses related to the data incident.
• No documentation is required to claim the alternative cash payment.
• No documentation is required to claim credit monitoring, but claimants must certify their eligibility and provide their class member ID.

Payout options

• Paper check mailed to the address provided for documented losses and the alternative cash payment
• Credit monitoring activation instructions for credit monitoring benefit

Settlement fund breakdown

The $500,000 settlement fund includes:

• Settlement administration costs: Amount not specified
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $500,000
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $2,500 each ($17,500)
• Credit monitoring: Cost determined by number of valid claims filed
• Payments to eligible class members: Total determined by number or valid claims filed

Important dates

• Deadline to opt out: Oct. 26, 2026
• Deadline to file a claim: Nov. 10, 2026
• Final approval hearing: Nov. 16, 2026

When is the Communications Data Group settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments and provide activation instructions for credit monitoring to eligible class members after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval of the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleged Communications Data Group and its codefendants failed to adequately protect customers' sensitive personal information during the 2025 data breach, leading to potential risks of identity theft and fraud.

The defendants denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of further litigation.

Sources

1. Claim form
2. Class notice
3. Settlement agreement
4. Settlement website FAQ page