How to find class action settlements you may qualify for

Am I eligible for a class action settlement?

You’re eligible if you fit the settlement’s class definition: the description, approved by the court, of who the settlement covers. It usually names a product, service or event, a group of people (for example, U.S. residents or account holders) and a date range called the class period.

You don’t need to have been part of the original lawsuit, hired a lawyer or heard about the case before. If you fit the definition and the claim deadline hasn’t passed, you can generally submit a claim. Whether a claim is approved, and how much it pays, is decided by the settlement administrator under the terms the court approved.

Which companies may owe you a settlement?

Settlements follow everyday life. The fastest way to find ones that may apply to you is to list the companies you’ve dealt with over the last several years. Class periods often reach back years, so think beyond what you use today.

• Products you’ve bought: food and drinks, supplements, cosmetics, cleaning products, electronics, cars and car parts. Many settlements involve products allegedly mislabeled or advertised in a misleading way. See false advertising settlements.
• Accounts and subscriptions: banks, credit cards, phone and internet providers, streaming services, gyms and software subscriptions. Fee, billing and auto-renewal cases are common. See consumer protection settlements.
• Data breaches: any company that has notified you that your personal information may have been exposed, including hospitals, insurers, retailers and employers. See data breach settlements.
• Apps, websites and devices: services that allegedly collected or shared your data, recorded you, or tracked you without proper consent. See data privacy settlements.
• Services: airlines, ticketing, rideshare, delivery, rentals and insurance.

Where can I see a list of open settlements?

Once you have your list, compare it against settlements that are currently accepting claims. Claim’s open settlements list shows settlements by category with their deadline, proof requirement and status. If you don’t have receipts, start with settlements that don’t require proof of purchase.

Pay attention to status. A settlement that is still being litigated, or that has been proposed but not yet given preliminary approval, usually isn’t taking claims yet. A settlement past its claim deadline is closed, even if payments haven’t gone out.

How do I read a class definition and class period?

The class definition is the single most important sentence on any settlement. Read it word for word, because small details decide who is in and who is out. Look for:

• Who: individuals only, or businesses too? A specific state, or all of the U.S.?
• What: the exact products, models, plans or accounts covered. A settlement about one product line may exclude another from the same brand.
• When: the class period. If you bought the product or had the account outside those dates, you’re likely not in the class.
• How: some classes cover only purchases from certain retailers, or only people who received a specific notice.
• Exclusions: most settlements exclude company employees, judges and their staff, and people who opted out.

Some settlements have subclasses, for example one group for people who bought a product and another for people who also had a specific problem. Each subclass may have its own proof rules and payment amount. Terms like these are explained in the Claim glossary.

Do I need proof of purchase?

It depends on the settlement. Many settlements accept claims without proof: you confirm, under penalty of perjury, that you made the purchases or used the service during the class period. Those claims are often capped at a set number of purchases or a fixed amount.

Claims with proof, such as receipts, order confirmations, bank or card statements, or account records, can often claim more. Proof can be easier to find than you expect. Search your email for order confirmations, check retailer and loyalty accounts for order history, and look through card statements. Our guide on how to find proof of purchase walks through each source.

Check your email and mail for notices

When a company has records of who is in the class, the administrator often sends a notice by email or postal mail. These notices frequently include a Class Member ID, Notice ID or claim number. That ID can matter: some settlements pay people who received a notice automatically, and others use the ID to pre-fill or speed up review of your claim.

Search your inbox, including spam, for words like “settlement”, “class action” and “legal notice”, plus the company’s name. Keep any notice you find. If you didn’t receive one, you may still qualify. Notices are mailed or emailed to people the company has records for, and settlements often also run ads or online notices for everyone else.

Scammers copy the look of real notices. Before you click a link or share any information, read our guide to spotting settlement scams. A real settlement never asks you to pay a fee to receive money.

Watch the deadlines

Every settlement has a claim deadline, and late claims are usually rejected. There are often other dates too: an opt-out deadline if you want to keep your right to sue separately, an objection deadline if you want to tell the court you disagree with the terms, and a final approval hearing where the judge decides whether to approve the settlement. Payments usually come after final approval and any appeals.

Your eligibility checklist

Before you submit a claim, run through these questions:

1. Is the settlement real, and is it currently accepting claims?
2. Do you fit the class definition: the right product, service or event, and the right location?
3. Did your purchase, account or exposure happen within the class period?
4. Are you excluded for any reason, such as being a company employee or having opted out?
5. Does the settlement require proof, and if so, do you have it or can you find it?
6. Did you receive a notice with a Class Member ID or claim number? Have it ready.
7. Is the claim deadline still ahead of you?
8. Can you answer every question on the form truthfully?

If the answer to each is yes, you’re ready to file. Our step-by-step guide on how to file a settlement claim covers the form itself, payment methods and what happens after you submit.

How Claim can help

Checking every settlement by hand takes time. Claim is a website that helps you find class action settlements you may qualify for, based on what you tell us. For some settlements, Claim fills in the claim form from your answers and submits it to the settlement administrator in your name, online or by mail. For others, Claim links you to the official claim form so you can file it yourself. You can see the details on how it works.