Class action settlements
Data breaches, hidden fees, false advertising, defective products: when a company settles a class action, you may be owed a check, and you usually don't need proof of purchase. Open settlements, deadlines, and how to file.
- SettlementsClass action settlements: how they work, where to find open ones, and how to get your checkWhen a company settles a class action, millions of customers are owed money and most never claim it. What a class action settlement is, how to find open settlements with no proof of purchase required, how to file a claim in 5 minutes, and how much you can realistically expect.
- SettlementsData breach settlements: how to claim your share (and what "documented losses" really means)Your data was in a breach and the company settled. Here's who qualifies, the difference between the flat payment and reimbursement of losses (up to thousands), how to prove time spent and costs, and how to check whether your email or SSN was exposed.
- SettlementsFTC refunds: how the government sends you money from companies it sued (and how to check your name)The Federal Trade Commission returned hundreds of millions of dollars to consumers last year. How FTC refund programs work, how to check whether a company you paid is on the list, what to do if you got a check or a PayPal payment, and why they never ask for a fee.
- SettlementsFake settlement and refund scams: 7 signs the "money you're owed" is a trapScammers copy real settlement notices, FTC refunds, and unclaimed property letters. The seven signs that separate a real claim from a scam, what real administrators will and won't ask for, and where to verify any notice in two minutes.
How settlements and refund programs pay people
When a company settles a class action or the Federal Trade Commission recovers money from it, the payout goes to the people who were affected, but usually only to those who file a claim before the deadline. Many settlements pay small amounts per person; data breach and consumer-fraud settlements often pay more if you can document losses or lost time.
Before you file
- Check that you're actually in the class. The notice or the official settlement website defines exactly who qualifies (for example, "purchased product X between these dates" or "had an account during the breach").
- Use only the official settlement site named in the court notice. Claim administrators such as Kroll, Epiq, JND, Angeion, or Rust run most of them.
- Never pay to file. Real settlements, FTC refunds, and state refund programs are free. Requests for fees, gift cards, or bank logins are scams.
- Keep your confirmation and watch for the payment: many programs pay by check, PayPal, Venmo, or prepaid card months after the court's final approval.
The FTC publishes every active refund program at ftc.gov/refunds. The guides below explain how settlements work, how to claim data breach payouts, and how to spot fake notices.