According to Mashable, the massive credit check company 700Credit has suffered a significant data breach, exposing the sensitive information of 5.6 million customers. The accessed data includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. The Michigan Attorney General’s office, where the company is based, states the breach was discovered on October 25, 2025, and compromised data collected from car dealerships between May and October of this year. The company says the breach originated from an integration partner in July, but that partner failed to alert them immediately, leading to an exposed API that stole customer data. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging affected consumers not to ignore notification letters and to take immediate protective steps. Those impacted are now being alerted and will be offered free credit-monitoring services.
This is a big one, and it’s messy
Look, a breach involving Social Security numbers and birthdates for 5.6 million people is never a small story. But here’s the thing that makes this one particularly gnarly: the timeline. The breach originated in July, wasn’t discovered until late October, and involved data collected over a five-month window. That’s a long exposure period. The fact that it reportedly came through an “integration partner” who didn’t sound the alarm immediately adds a layer of third-party risk that is becoming a massive, systemic problem. Companies like 700Credit are entrusted with the most sensitive financial data imaginable, and their security is only as strong as their most vulnerable vendor. It’s a sobering reminder that your data is often in more hands than you think.
Who wins and loses here?
So, in the immediate aftermath, the losers are painfully obvious: the 5.6 million individuals now facing a heightened risk of identity theft for years to come. 700Credit itself is a major loser, facing colossal reputational damage and potential regulatory fines, especially from states with aggressive data protection laws. The “integration partner” at the heart of this will likely face legal and financial ruin. But who wins? Well, unfortunately, the credit monitoring and identity theft protection industry gets a sudden, involuntary influx of potential customers. Companies offering those services will see a spike. And, in a grim way, cybersecurity firms that audit third-party vendor risk might get more calls. This breach is basically a case study in why third-party risk management is no longer a niche concern but a core business imperative.
If you get that letter, take it seriously
Attorney General Nessel’s advice is dead simple and absolutely correct: don’t ignore the notification. If you’ve bought a car or financed one through a dealership in the last year or so, there’s a chance you’re in this dataset. Accept the free credit monitoring—it’s the bare minimum. But you should probably go further. Place a free credit freeze with all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). That stops anyone from opening new credit in your name. Monitor your bank and credit card statements like a hawk. You can find more official resources and the sample notification letter from the Michigan AG’s press release and the 700Credit notice of data event. For broader information on how states handle breaches, you can check resources like the Wisconsin data breach page. It’s a huge hassle, but the alternative—dealing with identity theft—is infinitely worse.
