If you used Google between 2006 and 2013, Google may owe you some money. The company is settling a $23 million class-action suit that accuses it of sharing users’ searches and information with third-party companies and websites without their consent. Google has denied any liability or wrongdoing. Please note, there is no proof of purchase needed to claim what is owed to you, so no need to go digging through old receipts. The deadline for signing up for this settlement is July 31, 2023. You can claim up to $7.70 with no proof.
How do you file a claim? Go to the site refererheadersettlement.com.
First, click submit claim. If you already got an email about this, you’ll have a class member ID to put in the box. If not, click register. Then you’ll register and get an email with a class member ID. Go back to the form, fill it out completely and that’s it!
Right now, you’re going to get about $7.70, but that number could go up depending on how many people file. You have until July 31 to file.
Some other Class Action Settlements that are still available:
$4.2M Fashion Nova Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$300 Juul Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$29.10 Robocall Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
$6.5M Tuna Class Action Payout (without proof needed)
If you’re someone who bought Foodservice-Size Packaged Tuna Products (40 oz or greater) from DOT Foods, Sysco, US Foods, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, or Costco from June 2011 through December 2016, then you may be eligible for a class action settlement! The best part? You don’t need to provide any proof of purchase to claim what is owed to you, so no need to go digging through old receipts. But hurry, the deadline for signing up for this settlement is June 21, 2023. While payments may vary, the entire payout is estimated to be $6.5M. So don’t miss out on this opportunity and check it out now!
Some other Class Action Settlements that are still available:
Meta Platforms Inc., which was formerly known as Facebook, has agreed to pay a $725 million class action settlement. This is because it was alleged that Facebook shared or allowed others to access user data and data about users’ friends without their permission. Facebook did not properly monitor or enforce third-party access or use of that data.
If the settlement is approved by the court, Meta Platforms Inc. will set up a fund of $725 million. This fund will be used to pay all valid claims made by members of the settlement class. The settlement class includes people who were affected by Facebook’s actions during a specific time period.
How much each person will receive depends on how many people submit valid claims and how long they were users on Facebook during the class period. The settlement fund will also cover expenses related to notifying people about the settlement and administering the settlement process. Additionally, the fund will pay any attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as any service awards for the settlement class representatives.
Meta Platforms is a technology company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other platforms.
Who’s Eligible All Facebook users in the United States between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, subject to the exclusions described above.
Potential Award Varies. Make sure to state which payment you will take whether it be Paypal or Venmo. If you do not have them you can sign up for Paypal or Venmo or just get a Mastercard mailed out to you for the settlement amount.
Proof of Purchase None.
Claim Form
Head over to FacebookUserPrivacySettlement.com to file a claim.
Claim Form Deadline 08/25/2023
Case Name In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, Case No. 3:18-md-02843-VC, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Final Hearing 09/07/2023
Didn’t I file for a Previous Facebook Settlement?
This is not the first settlement for Facebook/Meta Platforms Inc. regarding user data privacy issues. In fact, there have been several other settlements in the past related to similar issues.
For example, in July 2019, Facebook agreed to pay a $5 billion settlement to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations of privacy violations related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In addition, Facebook settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for $100 million over allegations that it misled investors about the risks of misusing user data.
In April 2020, Facebook agreed to pay $52 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of collecting and storing users’ facial recognition data without their consent.
So, it’s important to note that this is not the first settlement for Facebook/Meta Platforms Inc. related to user data privacy issues, and it’s possible that there may be more in the future.
The settlement class includes all Facebook users in the United States between May 24, 2007, and Dec. 22, 2022, inclusive (the “class period”). The settlement class does not include: (i) all persons who are directors, officers, legal representatives, alleged co-conspirators and agents of defendant or its wholly or partly owned subsidiaries or affiliated companies or employees of defendant or its subsidiaries and affiliated companies; (ii) counsel for any plaintiff whose case was consolidated into this MDL and their employees, including but not limited to class counsel for plaintiffs and their employees; (iii) the special master, discovery mediators and settlement mediator who participated in this case and their staff; and the judges and court staff, as well as any appellate court to which this matter is ever assigned; and (iv) eligible persons who elect to opt out of the settlement class.
Claims Administrator Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation c/o Settlement Administrator 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210 Philadelphia, PA 19103 info@FacebookUserPrivacySettlement.com 855-556-2233
The court has scheduled a final approval hearing for Sept. 7, 2023.
Class members who wish to exclude themselves from or object to the Facebook class action settlement must do so no later than July 26, 2023.
The deadline to submit a claim form is Aug. 25, 2023.
Update 12/21/22: After all these years, the settlement – initially touted $125 – is finalized and ends up paying out somewhere between $5 and $24, from the numbers we’ve seen. Not clear what accounts for the variation. Readers report now getting this payment via Paypal or check.
Update 10/6/22: Lots of readers are getting an email to claim payment either by paypal or prepaid card. If you do nothing by Oct 14th they will mail you check. We still don’t know how much the payments are for. Safe to guess that it’s less than $125.
In September of 2017, Equifax announced a data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people. The company has agreed to a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and 50 U.S. states and territories. The settlement includes up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach.
The settlement is offering a minimum of $5-$125 per person.
How Much?
Free Credit Monitoring and Identity Theft Protection Services
Up to 10 years of free credit monitoring, OR
$125 if you decide not to enroll because you already have credit monitoring.
The free credit monitoring includes:
At least four years of free credit monitoring of your credit report at all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and $1,000,000 of identity theft insurance.
Up to six more years of free credit monitoring of your Equifax credit report.
If you were a minor in May 2017, you are eligible for a total of 18 years of free credit monitoring.
Cash Payments (capped at $20,000 per person)
For expenses you paid as a result of the breach, like:
Losses from unauthorized charges to your accounts
The cost of freezing or unfreezing your credit report
The cost of credit monitoring
Fees you paid to professionals like an accountant or attorney
Other expenses like notary fees, document shipping fees and postage, mileage, and phone charges
For the time you spent dealing with the breach. You can be compensated $25 per hour up to 20 hours.
For the cost of Equifax credit monitoring and related services you had between September 7, 2016, and September 7, 2017, capped at 25 percent of the total amount you paid.
File a claim for Out-of-Pocket Losses or Time Spent – January 22, 2020 (for current losses and time); January 22, 2024 (for future losses and time)
File a claim for Credit Monitoring Services or Alternative Reimbursement Compensation – January 22, 2020
File a claim for Equifax Subscription Product Reimbursement – January 22, 2020
Access to Identity Restoration Services – No deadline. Services will be available for at least 7 years
Exclude yourself from the settlement – November 19, 2019
Object or comment on the settlement – November 19, 2019
If Eligible, Then Go for it!
Keep in mind that not everyone is eligible for the settlement; only the 147 million whose data was breached. That’s roughly half of all Americans. Check your eligibility here.
Many of us already have free credit monitoring in place from Discover, Credit Karma, etc. So it should/might be possible for us to file a claim for the $125, despite not really having any expenses laid out. If you aren’t subscribed for any credit monitoring services such as automatically with a credit card issuer, then technically you aren’t eligible.
You can self-certify the time you spend, up to 10 hours at $25 per hour, for the time you spent dealing with the breach. That’s another $250 on top of the $125 for credit monitoring. Of course, this is under the penalty of perjury so make sure not to make up stuff.
There’s a pool of $425M and there are 147M people affected so that leaves around $3 per person, not $125 per person. We assume lot of people won’t sign up for the settlement but go for the free credit monitoring instead which is what got us here in the first place.
Check out this new class action settlement that is available for anyone who visited non-Facebook websites that displayed a Facebook “Like” button between April 22, 2010 and September 26, 2011. Please note, there is no proof of purchase needed to claim what is owed to you, so no need to go digging through old receipts. The deadline for signing up for this settlement is September 22, 2022. Claim up to $50 – $300 without proof (estimate from the $90 million).
Facebook Settlement
This lawsuit alleges that Facebook improperly tracked their users from the United States while visiting other websites that had a Facebook ‘Like’ button on their pages. Facebook has agreed to a $90 million settlement payout to affected users.
Submita claim at fbinternettrackingsettlement.com.
Who Is Eligible?
Anyone who was a Facebook user in the US and visited non-Facebook websites that displayed the Facebook ‘Like’ button, between April 22, 2010 and September 26, 2011.
How Much?
The total settlement fund is $90 million. There is no stated estimate of how much payout will be, it’ll depend on the number of claimants.
Important Dates
Claims must be submitted by September 22, 2022
Must have had a Facebook account between Apr. 22, 2010 through Sept. 26, 2011
Final Thoughts
Should be easy enough to fill out if you were affected during the eligible time frame.
