I don’t mean to start with something sad, but whenever I talk about class-action lawsuits, it reminds me of the day my father died back in 1997. He and my mom were about to go on a cruise in a few days when suddenly, his allergies kicked in. So, he took an over-the-counter (OTC) allergy pill that interacted with his heart medication. He suffered a fatal heart attack because of that.
Years later, my mother received a letter that the OTC allergy pill was yanked off the market, along with a settlement check from a class-action lawsuit for $432. She spent countless hours on that paperwork.
Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to be a part of a class-action lawsuit. No more hunting down lawyers and cases. You just fill out a form online. That’s it. Here are a few I thought you might be interested in knowing about.
Classic hidden fees
A lawsuit alleges Verizon charged some customers “undisclosed administration fees in a deceptive and unfair manner.” Oops.
If you had these charges on your account between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023, you may qualify for up to $100. You have until April 15, 2024 to file your claim.
At least you didn’t have to wait in that line
Chick-fil-A is paying out $4.4 million. It called delivery free or low-cost, then raised prices on delivery orders to bury the hidden fees. Oh, nuggets!
Anyone who made a delivery order through the app or website between Nov. 1, 2019, and April 30, 2021, in California, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey or New York are eligible. Submit a claim by Feb. 15, 2024, to receive up to $29.25.
Mark-up madness
The photography products company Shutterfly (think a mug with your kid’s face on it) posted products at discounted prices that were based on fake regular prices. That math ain’t mathin’.Â
If you made a purchase on Shutterfly at an advertised discounted price between April 1, 2018, and Aug. 25, 2023, you may be eligible for a $25 voucher. You have until Feb. 5, 2024 to file a claim.Â
Sharing is caring
Apple is paying $25 million to settle allegations of misleading customers about family-sharing plans. It made it seem like you can share any app subscriptions with family members. Nope, you can’t.
If you bought an app subscription through the Apple Store while enrolled in an Apple Family Sharing plan with at least one other member, you may be entitled to $30. Submit your claim by March 1, 2024.
Ain’t very clean
Fabuloso products were the subject of a major lawsuit around deceptive advertising … and bacteria. Bad testing meant people were exposed to no-good cleaner.
If you bought one or more recalled products between Dec. 14, 2022, and Nov. 14, 2023, you’re eligible for a refund for up to five products (proof of purchase needed). If you don’t have proof of purchase, you may get a refund for the average retail price for up to two products. File a claim by March 13, 2024.
All the better to see you with
If you purchased a pair of prescription glasses from LensCrafters within the last 10 years, you’ll want to see this. The company is paying $39 million over deceptive advertising of its AccuFit system.Â
If you bought glasses between Sept. 5, 2013, and Sept. 20, 2023, you may qualify for up to $50 per pair. You have until March 27, 2024, to submit a claim.
Anytime I mention a class-action lawsuit
Someone’s gonna write to me, “Oh Kim Komando, you didn’t mention how much the lawyers made. Shame on you!” Oh, grumpy-face, does it matter, really?Â
Yes, the lawyers make the lion’s share because there would be no lawsuit without them. In my father’s case, the money wasn’t important. The product was taken off the market. Maybe someone else didn’t suffer a loss like my family did.
