Do You Qualify for These Class-Action Settlements? Wendy’s is Paying Millions

A photo outside of Wendy's
Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

What do a burger data breach, vehicle crash parts, unwanted phone calls and a fire-prone lawn tractor have in common? They all include circumstances surrounding alleged violations of consumer law that could result in compensation due to the most important customer of all: You.

See if you qualify for one or more of the following class-action settlements. Hurry, many of these offers will end faster than it takes to get through most drive-throughs.

Wendy’s Data Breach

Would you like a few bucks with that burger?

Wendy’s has agreed to pay a $3.4 million class-action settlement over allegations the company failed to protect consumer information from a data breach in 2016.

Class members include customers who used a credit, debit or other payment card at particular Wendy’s locations between Oct. 25, 2015 and June 28, 2016 and had their personal information compromised in the February 2016 data breach.

Potential awards range all the way up to $5,000 for those who submit documented evidence; without documentation, eligible class members may collect a total of $30 for two hours of undocumented time spent tending to data breach issues (calculated at $15 per hour).

For more details and to submit a claim by the March 21, 2019 deadline, click here.

State Farm Vehicle Repair

Did you make a vehicle repair claim on your State Farm casualty insurance policy between July 1987 and February 1998?

If so, you could be eligible for a portion of a $250 million class-action settlement with the insurance giant.

Class members include “All persons in the United States, except those residing in Arkansas and Tennessee, who, in between July 28, 1987, and February 24, 1998, (1) were insured by a vehicle casualty insurance policy issued by Defendant State Farm and (2) made a claim for vehicle repairs pursuant to their policy and had non-factory authorized and/or non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) ‘crash parts’ installed on or specified for their vehicles or else received monetary compensation determined in relation to the cost of such parts.”

The $250 million settlement stems from allegations State Farm contributed to campaign funds for a judge’s re-election on the condition the judge reverse a $1 billion consumer fraud class-action lawsuit judgment regarding the use “crash parts” on State Farm policyholders’ vehicles. State Farm admits no wrongdoing under the settlement terms.

The settlement award will depend upon the number of class members who submit timely and valid claims.

Class members should be notified by mail, but if you qualify and do not receive a postcard, click here and file a claim by the Jan. 31, 2019 deadline.

Sekure Merchant Solutions ‘Do Not Call’ Phone Calls

If Sekure Merchant Solutions contacted you on your cell phone between July 26, 2013 and Feb. 1, 2018, you could be eligible for a portion of a $6.25 million settlement.

Sekure allegedly violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by calling cell phones to make a sales pitch even when certain numbers were on the National Do Not Call Registry.

The TCPA prohibits telemarketing calls that invade cell phone users’ privacy by contacting the consumers without explicit written permission.

If you received a robocall from Sekure Merchant Solutions during the specified time period, you could be eligible for an estimated payment of $30.

Qualified class members should receive a postcard in the mail with a claim ID number on it, but you may also complete a claim form by clicking here by the Nov. 30, 2018 deadline.

Campus Debt Solutions Unwanted Phone Call

Education Financial Solutions LLC, doing business as Campus Debt Solutions, has agreed to a $1.1 million Telephone Consumer Protection Act class-action settlement.

Campus Debt allegedly used an autodialer to contact consumers regarding programs for loan forgiveness or loan consolidation without the consumers’ consent to receive such calls.

Class members who received such a call on or after Oct. 16, 2013 are eligible for a potential reward of $20.

 

Those who received notice of settlement do not need to submit a claim form, but if your address has changed since you received the robocall or if you did not receive notice of the settlement, click here to file a claim.

Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractor

Did you buy a Sears Craftsman Riding Lawn Tractor between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2015?

If so, you could receive a free inspection, repair and/or up to $125 cash in a Sears class-action settlement regarding allegations a fuel line defect poses a fire risk.

The $125 is available for class members who paid for fuel line repairs on their own.

Sears denies the allegations but agreed to the settlement to avoid further expenses of ongoing litigation.

Class members should have received an email with a Notice ID number, but if you didn’t receive the notice, you can click here to see if the model you purchased is covered and to submit a claim by the Dec. 19, 2018 deadline.

GameStop Online Data Breach

Did you buy (or attempt to buy) an item from GameStop’s website between Aug. 10, 2016 and Feb. 9, 2017?

If so, you could receive a portion of a data breach class-action settlement. GameStop notified affected customers about the breach of about 1.3 million debit and credit card numbers in June 2017.

Class members can claim up to $10,000 for out-of-pocket expenses linked to the data breach, including fraudulent debit and credit card charges.

 

Consumers also may be eligible for up to $235 for out-of-pocket expenses incurred to reverse fraudulent charges, including bank fees and long distance phone calls.

GameStop admits no liability under the terms of the data breach class-action settlement.

To make a claim, click here to submit a form supporting documentation by the Dec. 13, 2018 deadline.

Suunto Dive Computers Incorrect Depth Readings

If you purchased a Suunto dive computer by Aqua Lung that was made between Jan. 1, 2006 and Aug. 10, 2018, you could be eligible for compensation from a class-action settlement.

Consumers allege the functions of their Suunto dive computers took a dive once placed in the water. Allegedly defective pressure sensors caused the depth and temperature readings to be incorrect.

Class members may qualify for a replacement or repair of their defective Suunto dive computer, but this settlement does not include coverage of claims of wrongful death or personal injury that may have resulted from incorrect readings.

For a full list of affected Suunto dive computers, serial numbers, required documentation and a claim form, click here by the Feb. 24, 2019 deadline.

Cricket CDMA Phones

When Cricket and AT&T merged, many consumers complained they couldn’t get as much as a chirp out of their Cricket Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) phones.

After several years of litigation, a class-action settlement has been reached for consumers who bought a Cricket phone between July 12, 2013 and July 9, 2018.

Under the settlement, class members are eligible for one of three benefits:

  • Unlock Benefit: Settlement class members will be able to unlock their qualifying CDMA phone, which may allow them to activate the phone with another wireless carrier.
  • Data Benefit: Settlement class members will be able to port an existing wireless number onto a new line of Cricket service without paying an activation fee and receive an additional 1 GB of high speed data for free after maintaining one month of service.
  • Four Month Data Benefit: Settlement class members who maintain one month of future Cricket service on either an existing or new line of Cricket service will be able to receive 1 GB of free high speed data for up to four subsequent consecutive months of timely prepaid service.

Click here for more details and to submit a claim form by Feb. 4, 2019.