American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Dinkel v. American Consumer Credit Counseling, No. 2581CV02933

September 16, 2026. That’s your deadline to claim money from the American Consumer Credit Counseling data breach settlement — and it’s closer than it sounds. ACCC is paying eligible class members up to $3,580 in cash, plus three years of credit monitoring, after a 2025 breach exposed Social Security numbers and other personal data. Filing takes about 10 minutes.

American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	UNVERIFIED — no total settlement fund is disclosed on the official settlement site; payments are capped per person instead (see below)
Claim Deadline	September 16, 2026
Who Qualifies	U.S. residents whose personal information was potentially exposed in ACCC’s January 2025 Data Incident, including anyone who received a notice
Estimated Payout	Up to $3,500 for documented losses, plus up to $80 for lost time — or a flat $45 with no proof required
Proof Required (Yes/No)	Yes, for the documented-loss and lost-time tier. No, for the $45 flat payment
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved May 6, 2026; final approval pending
Court & Case Number	Superior Court of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, No. 2581CV02933
Law Alleged	Negligence, breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment
Administrator	Simpluris
Official Claim Site	ACCCSettlement.com
Last Updated	August 28, 2026

Who Is American Consumer Credit Counseling and Why Are They Being Sued for a Data Breach?

ACCC is a nonprofit credit counseling agency that’s been signing people up for debt management plans since 1991 — which means its files hold exactly what identity thieves want: Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and financial account details collected during intake. That’s the trove a criminal reportedly got into when they broke into employee email accounts in early 2025. A company built around helping people already under financial stress becomes a bigger target the moment its email security has a gap.

What Did American Consumer Credit Counseling Do to Class Members Between January and February 2025?

In January 2025, ACCC discovered that a criminal third party had gained unauthorized access to several employee email accounts. According to the amended settlement agreement, the exposure window ran from January 27 to February 18, 2025. Those inboxes held names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, and payment card information — the kind of paperwork clients hand over when they’re trying to get out of debt.

The lawsuit, Dinkel, et al. v. American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc., filed in the Superior Court of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, didn’t allege a specific privacy statute violation. It made three claims instead: negligence, breach of implied contract, and unjust enrichment. In plain terms, the complaint argues ACCC didn’t keep its promise to protect the data it collected and didn’t take reasonable steps to secure it.

Massachusetts has seen this shape of case before. The Fidelity Investments data breach settlement came out of a similar email-based intrusion at a much larger financial firm, and it settled on nearly identical legal theories — negligence and failure to safeguard customer data.

ACCC isn’t admitting fault here. But it’s paying to make the exposure right, which is what actually matters if your information was in those inboxes.

Who Qualifies for the American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Anyone living in the United States whose personal information was potentially exposed in the January 2025 Data Incident
• Individuals who received a notice letter or email from ACCC about the breach
• Current and former ACCC clients whose intake records were stored in the affected email accounts

You do not qualify if you’re ACCC itself, an affiliate, officer, or director, or anyone a court has found criminally responsible for the breach.

American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Class Members Outside Massachusetts — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. The class isn’t limited to Massachusetts residents — the court defined it as “all individuals residing in the United States” whose PII was potentially compromised. Coverage is nationwide, regardless of which state you live in now or lived in when you used ACCC’s services.

That’s roughly 11,611 people nationwide, according to the settlement documents. If you got a notice, you’re almost certainly one of them — and proving eligibility takes nothing more than the login ID and PIN printed on that notice.

Not sure if you qualify for the American Consumer Credit Counseling data breach settlement? A free consultation with a data privacy attorney can help before the September 16, 2026 deadline.

How Much Can American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $3,580 Per Person

Every class member can enroll in three years of CyEx Financial Shield Complete credit monitoring, with $1 million in fraud insurance, no matter which cash option they pick. On top of that, choose one of two cash paths.

American Consumer Credit Counseling Payout With Proof — Up to $3,580

If you had real costs tied to the breach — fraud losses, credit monitoring fees, ID replacement, postage to your bank — claim up to $3,500 for documented out-of-pocket losses, plus up to $80 for time spent on the mess (four hours max, $20 an hour). Combined, that’s up to $3,580. You’ll need receipts or bank statements; notes you wrote yourself aren’t enough alone.

American Consumer Credit Counseling Payout Without Proof — $45 Flat

Prefer not to dig up paperwork? Take a flat $45 cash payment instead, no documentation required. You can’t claim both — it’s one path or the other.

Payments over $600 may show up on a 1099. Nothing goes out until after the October 8, 2026 final approval hearing, plus whatever time any appeals take.

Here’s something worth knowing: Class Counsel is asking the court for $225,000 in fees and up to $8,000 in service awards for the two class representatives. That money comes directly from ACCC — separately from what class members claim. Unlike settlements where legal fees get carved out of one shared fund, a bigger fee request here doesn’t shrink your check.

How to File Your American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to ACCCSettlement.com and click “Submit a Claim.”
2. Enter the login ID and PIN from your settlement notice, or your name and address if you didn’t get one.
3. Choose your cash benefit: the $45 flat payment, or the documented-loss and lost-time tier.
4. If you’re claiming documented losses, upload proof — bank statements, receipts, or records tied to the breach.
5. Opt in to the free three-year credit monitoring if you want it.
6. Submit the form and save your confirmation number.

Takes about 10 minutes.

⚠️ 19 days left — file now at ACCCSettlement.com.

Should You Object to the American Consumer Credit Counseling Settlement?

The Objection Window Already Closed

If you wanted to formally object to this settlement’s terms, that deadline was August 17, 2026. It’s passed. You can still file a claim or do nothing — but the court will no longer accept new written objections in this case.

There’s No Opt-Out Option in This Settlement

Some class actions let you exclude yourself and keep your right to sue separately. This one doesn’t. The official notice lays out exactly three choices: submit a claim, object (window closed), or do nothing. If you do nothing, you stay bound by the settlement and give up your right to sue ACCC over this breach — without getting any of the benefits.

American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Preliminary Approval	May 6, 2026
Notification Mailing	June 18, 2026
Objection Deadline	August 17, 2026 (passed)
Claim Filing Deadline	September 16, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	Not offered in this settlement
Final Approval Hearing	October 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — administrator states payments go out no later than 75 days after final approval, but the exact date depends on whether the settlement is appealed

American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 2581CV02933

Do I need a lawyer to file an American Consumer Credit Counseling data breach settlement claim? 

No. The online form at ACCCSettlement.com takes about 10 minutes, and Class Counsel Casondra Turner of Milberg PLLC already represents the class.

Is the American Consumer Credit Counseling settlement legitimate? 

Yes. It received preliminary approval from the Superior Court of Middlesex County, Massachusetts on May 6, 2026, and it’s run by Simpluris, an independent administrator — not ACCC itself.

When will American Consumer Credit Counseling settlement payments be sent?

 Not before the October 8, 2026 final approval hearing. Simpluris says payments go out no later than 75 days after that, though appeals could delay it further.

What if I missed the American Consumer Credit Counseling claim deadline? 

Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by September 16, 2026. Miss it, and you’re still bound by the settlement but forfeit any payment or credit monitoring.

Will my American Consumer Credit Counseling settlement payment go on a 1099?

 Payments over $600 may be reported on a 1099. Check with a tax professional about your specific payout.

How many people are covered by the American Consumer Credit Counseling settlement?

 Court documents put the class at approximately 11,611 people whose information was potentially exposed in the January 2025 Data Incident.

Can I claim both the documented-loss payment and the lost-time payment? 

Yes, if you pick that tier instead of the flat payment. Documented losses cap at $3,500 and lost time at $80, for a combined maximum of $3,580.

Is there an opt-out option for the American Consumer Credit Counseling settlement?

 No. The settlement offers three choices only: file a claim, object (window closed August 17, 2026), or do nothing.

Sources Used in This American Consumer Credit Counseling Data Breach Article

• Official Settlement Website — Home: ACCCSettlement.com
• Official Settlement Website — FAQ: acccsettlement.com/faq
• Official Settlement Website — Important Dates: acccsettlement.com/dates
• Amended Settlement Agreement (court filing), accessed via the official settlement Documents page: acccsettlement.com/documents

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement website (ACCCSettlement.com) and the Amended Settlement Agreement on August 28, 2026. Last Updated: August 28, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.