"This settlement is a slap on the wrist of Equifax," continued Panameño. "The restitution fund is up to $425 million, which is equivalent to $2.89 per impacted consumer (147 million); the initial restitution fund is only $300 million. The average monthly cost for credit monitoring is $20. These 147 million American consumers will have to worry about identity theft and financial fraud in perpetuity. Yet under the settlement agreement, consumers must request benefits by January 22, 2020."