Montrealers launches class-action lawsuit against Equifax over handling of personal information

A proposed class action in Quebec alleges that Equifax allowed third parties to access and use Montreal consumers’ credit file data too easily, exposing them to identity theft risk and failing to adequately protect their personal information.​

Core allegations

• Lead plaintiff Solomon Abudharam says he discovered fraudulent access and false information in his Equifax credit file, which he attributes to a marketing firm linked to Equifax accessing his data.​

• The suit claims Equifax’s business partners could obtain consumer information with minimal identity verification, effectively “opening the door” to misuse of sensitive data and potential identity theft.​

• Plaintiff’s counsel argues Equifax should have known about vulnerabilities in its systems and had a duty to implement stronger safeguards over how affiliates access and use credit file data.​

Procedural status and scope

• The case has been filed as a class action in Quebec but still requires court authorization before it can formally proceed on behalf of a broader group of affected individuals.​

• Although the representative plaintiff lives in Montreal, the pleadings suggest the outcome could have implications for consumers across Canada whose data is handled in similar ways by Equifax.​

Equifax’s response

• Equifax denies the allegations and has stated that it “will vigorously [contest] these claims through the appropriate channels,” while emphasizing the importance of its role in consumers’ financial lives and its claimed commitment to that responsibility.​

Context within Canadian privacy litigation

• This action follows a broader trend of privacy and data‑breach class actions in Canada, including earlier Canadian litigation related to Equifax’s 2017 breach and large settlements in other financial‑sector data cases (for example, a roughly $200.9 million settlement in the Desjardins data‑breach class action approved by the Quebec Superior Court).