I respectfully disagree. In light of two Equifax executive's selling off stock just before the news of the cyber security incident went public, in-addition to Equifax's draconian legal disclaimer - craftily-written and snuck into their "Terms and Agreement policy" - I think that Equifax is trying to play two sides of the fence: The public relations side and the legal side.
Problem is, Equifax's PR department's alleged-promises to reassure customers that claim that customers are not signing away their legal rights, and therefore induce the public to continue to sign up for TrustedID - Equifax's promises might not be hold up in court that protect your own legal rights as party to a class-action suit. Equifax could later renege in order to limit their scope of liability if a class action lawsuit prevailed, fencing out as many plaintiffs as possible as not being party to the suit. All of the alleged promises that Equifax's PR department can release to the press might not necessarily contractually bind any amendments clarifying the arbitration clause and class action waiver. How Equifax could argue in court that their PR's department's public statement did not establish promissory estoppel, is that these public statements were independent of Equifax's legal department who authored the policy. In addition, there was no explicit acceptance from each plaintiff regarding this amendment that clarifies applicability of the waiver signed by each individual, or for those who subsequently signed the agreement relying upon Equifax's promise, therefore Equifax promise from their PR department was therefore not binding.
The arbitration clause and class action waiver are plainly codified and written, and it is clear that Equifax's sole-intent is limit their own exposure to legal liability. Why else, or what other situation would Equifax possibly be referring-to regarding an arbitration clause and class action waiver? If this really was the situation of 'does not apply to this cybersecurity incident' - then why would they insert the language for a policy which is germane to this situation only, but in reference to a different situation?
It is common-knowledge that almost no one sits down and reads every word of legalese, every single time that they are presented with another too-common "Terms and Agreement policy". Equifax was bold enough to believe that no one nationwide would bother to read the policy. Fortunately, at least one sharp person did bother to read the policy and subsequently alerted the press, effectively calling-out Equifax again.
When a person explicitly agrees to a company's policy, then it is questionable that future promises offered by the company will be honored by the courts if a company simply issues a blanket press release that purports to unilaterally-amend the legal agreement after the fact. Equifax's intent is to reassure the impressionable public that somehow the agreement that they signed just suddenly no longer applies to this situation pertaining to the breach - when this very obvious material fact was omitted in the original agreement to begin with.
The onus still may remain with each individual to be discerning regarding Equifax's claims that might not amend the policy agreement or change how the courts will interpret individuals signing away their legal rights as plaintiffs in a class action suit. A statement from Equifax's PR department might not rise to the level of undue influence in the eyes of the court.
Given the stock sell-off, I think this speaks volumes to Equifax's ongoing business concerns, given that a class action lawsuit could have the potential to cause them irreparable damage. Between the stock sell-off, the sneaky waiver craftily-inserted into the terms and agreement policy, then doubling-down with a PR stunt that makes claims that might not hold up in court - I see no reason to provide yet more information (last six digits of my social security number) as well as comply to Equifax's terms in exchange for a service which should not have contained the arbitration clause and class action waiver language in the first place.
I do not recommend signing anything as an individual regarding agreements which originate from Equifax. The best way to protect yourself is through a security freeze on your credit with all three bureaus.
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