How to File Your Capital One Data Breach Settlement Claim (Step-by-Step Guide)
What Is the Capital One Data Breach Settlement?
In July 2019, Capital One disclosed one of the largest financial data breaches in U.S. history. A hacker exploited a misconfigured firewall to access the personal information of approximately 100 million U.S. and 6 million Canadian credit card customers and applicants. Exposed data included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, self-reported income — and for some, Social Security numbers, linked bank account numbers, and credit scores.
Capital One agreed to pay $190 million to settle class action lawsuits arising from the breach. If you applied for or held a Capital One credit card between 2005 and 2019, you may be entitled to compensation.
Who Is Eligible?
- Anyone who applied for a Capital One credit card between January 1, 2005, and April 1, 2021
- Anyone who held a Capital One credit card during the same period
- U.S. residents who received a data breach notification from Capital One in 2019 or after
- People whose Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or credit information were specifically compromised
This is one of the largest eligible populations of any data breach settlement in history — if you ever had a Capital One credit card or applied for one, you likely qualify.
What Proof Do You Need?
Proof requirements depend on the type of claim you file:
- Basic claim (no proof required): Confirm you were an eligible cardholder or applicant. Receive a share of the settlement fund distributed to all basic claimants.
- Out-of-pocket losses claim (documentation required): If you spent money dealing with the breach — credit monitoring services, identity theft insurance, fraud resolution fees, time spent at $25/hour — you can claim up to $25,000 with supporting documentation.
If you don't have documentation, you can still file a basic claim and receive a payment.
Step-by-Step: How to File
Step 1: Visit the Official Settlement Site
Go to capitalonesettlement.com. This is the court-approved settlement administrator's website. Do not use any third-party site that claims to file on your behalf for free — those are often data collection scams.
Step 2: Check Your Eligibility
Click "File a Claim" and confirm whether you held or applied for a Capital One credit card between 2005 and 2019. You can also check whether you received a data breach notification directly from Capital One — this is strong confirmation of your eligibility.
Step 3: Choose Your Claim Type
You'll be asked to select from two tracks:
- Track 1 — Identity Defense Services: Free identity protection and monitoring services (no documentation needed)
- Track 2 — Out-of-Pocket Losses: Cash reimbursement for actual losses with documentation — up to $25,000
- Track 3 — Lost Time: Compensation for time spent dealing with fraud at $25/hour, up to 15 hours, with a brief written description
Step 4: Complete the Claim Form
Provide your name, current address, and the last 4 digits of the Capital One card or account number (if you remember it — it's not required). For out-of-pocket loss claims, attach your receipts, bank statements, or other documentation.
Step 5: Submit Before August 22, 2026
The deadline for online submissions is August 22, 2026. Paper claims must be postmarked by the same date. After the window closes, no late claims will be accepted.
Step 6: Receive Your Payment
Once the court approves final distribution, you'll receive your payment by check or electronic transfer. Settlement administrator Epiq Systems will send confirmation to the email address you provide.
How Much Will You Get?
The $190 million fund is split among all eligible claimants. The exact amount per person depends on how many claims are filed:
- Basic claimants (no documentation) typically receive a smaller share of the remaining fund after documented losses are paid out
- Out-of-pocket loss claimants can receive up to $25,000 — the more documentation you have, the closer to the cap you can get
- Lost time claimants receive $25/hour for up to 15 hours = up to $375
Given the massive size of the eligible class, basic claims may yield modest amounts. The strongest claims are those with documented fraud or identity theft costs tied to the breach.
Deadline: August 22, 2026
Want Help Filing?
If you want to maximize your claim — especially for out-of-pocket losses — SettlementRadar's $9.99 filing assistance reviews your situation, identifies the strongest claim type, and submits everything correctly on your behalf.