Hamilton County Offers Identity Theft Protection Services After Data Breach
Hamilton County has announced that it will provide identity theft protection services to 14,081 individuals affected by a data breach involving Nationwide Recovery Service (NRS), a debt recovery service. The breach, which occurred in July 2024, compromised sensitive information including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, financial account information, and medical-related data.
The identity protection services, provided by IDX, a data breach and recovery services expert, include:
- 12 months of credit and CyberScan monitoring
- A $1,000,000 insurance reimbursement policy
- Fully managed ID theft recovery services
Those affected can enroll in these free services by first calling the HCG Privacy Officer at 1-833-484-8671 to obtain an Enrollment Code. They can then contact IDX at 800-939-4170 or visit https://app.idx.us/account-creation/protect to sign up. The enrollment deadline is September 30, 2025.
This development follows a class action lawsuit filed in federal court on April 22, on behalf of those affected by the breach. The lawsuit names NRS, Hamilton Health Care System, and Vitruvian Health as defendants, accusing them of failing to secure private information and respond adequately to the breach.
The Chattanooga City Council has rescinded its contract with NRS and is working to procure a new debt collection services provider. The Office of the City Attorney is also exploring legal action against NRS for failing to fulfill their contractual obligations.
For updates on this developing story, stay with Local 3 News.
