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Thousands of consumers could receive approximately $1,100 from an $8.31 million TransUnion settlement over bankruptcy remarks that appeared on their credit reports.

Brooks v. Trans Union, LLC is a class action lawsuit that alleges TransUnion sold consumer credit reports with inaccurate bankruptcy information. The plaintiff in the case claims this violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act. TransUnion denies any wrongdoing.

But now a proposed settlement has been reached. To resolve the lawsuit, TransUnion has agreed to pay $8.31 million. The money will be used for class member payments, administrative costs, attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, and an individual settlement and service award to the plaintiff.

Who Qualifies for the TransUnion Settlement

You may be a member of the settlement class if, between Jan. 6, 2020, and Jan. 31, 2023, TransUnion sold your consumer credit report to a third party and the report included a bankruptcy remark on a tradeline but no bankruptcy record in its public-record section.

In addition, to be a member of the settlement class, you must not have a government-held public record of a bankruptcy filing within the 10 years before the date of the TransUnion credit report.

There are approximately 57,000 members in the settlement class. About 21,000 belong to the “No Bankruptcy Group,” meaning public-record searches found no locatable record that they had ever filed for bankruptcy.

Another 36,000 class members belong to the “Aged Bankruptcy Group.” Public-record searches found that they had filed for bankruptcy more than 10 years before the date of the TransUnion credit report.

You can find your assigned group on the settlement notice you received. You can also use the claim number and PIN included with the notice to log in to the settlement website.

How Much Class Members Could Receive

If you are in the No Bankruptcy Group, you do not need to submit a claim form to receive an automatic payment of $100. If the court approves the proposed settlement and it becomes final, a check will be mailed to the address TransUnion has on file for you.

You can also submit a claim to receive a higher payment in addition to the automatic $100. This additional payment is expected to be approximately $1,000, but you will need to complete a valid claim form to receive it.

How Much Class Members Could Receive

Source: Brooks v. Trans Union settlement notice

02004006008001K1.2K1,100No Bankruptcy Group350Aged Bankruptcy GroupSettlement groupApproximate payment ($)

If you are in the Aged Bankruptcy Group, you must submit a valid claim to receive a payment. These class members are expected to receive approximately $350 each.

The estimated $1,000 and $350 payments may be higher or lower depending on the number of valid claims submitted and other factors.

How to File a Claim by Oct. 30

Claim forms must be submitted by Oct. 30, 2026. Class members who file claims can choose to receive their payments through the settlement website or by paper check mailed to the address listed on the claim form.

Oct. 30 is also the deadline to opt out of or object to the proposed settlement. If you remain in the class, you will give up your right to bring a separate lawsuit against TransUnion over the bankruptcy-reporting claims covered by the settlement if it becomes final.

Settlement Deadline Timeline

Source: Brooks v. Trans Union settlement notice

Jan. 6, 2020
Settlement class reporting period begins
Jan. 31, 2023
Settlement class reporting period ends
Oct. 30, 2026
Deadline to file a claim opt out or object
Dec. 2, 2026
Final approval hearing

The court has currently scheduled a final approval hearing for the settlement on Dec. 2, 2026, at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The hearing may become virtual or move to another date or time.

Payments will not be distributed unless the court approves the settlement and any appeals are resolved.

To update or confirm your mailing address, contact the settlement administrator.

Senior Credit Writer

Lucy Lazarony is a veteran financial journalist with nearly 30 years of experience covering credit, credit cards, and consumer finance. Widely recognized for her ability to demystify complex financial topics, Lucy has established herself as a trusted authority in the credit space.

She previously served for seven years as a staff writer at Bankrate.com, where she contributed in-depth reporting, trend analysis, and consumer-focused guidance on credit cards and lending products. Her work has since appeared in top-tier publications, including Investopedia, Next Avenue, the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), and Credit.com, reinforcing her reputation as a leading voice in personal finance journalism.

Lucy holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida, where she developed the investigative and reporting skills that continue to shape her career. Her excellence in storytelling has been recognized by the Florida Press Club, earning awards for Education Reporting (2016) and Arts News Reporting (2015).

Across her career, Lucy has helped millions of readers make informed financial decisions, offering clarity on credit scoring, responsible credit card use, debt management, and consumer rights. Her work remains a cornerstone resource for individuals seeking transparent, accurate, and actionable financial information.

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