SOME Americans could get a check worth hundreds of dollars soon without even filing a single form.
The direct payment opportunity comes from a class action lawsuit involving a top financial institution.
Americans who received a certain phone call could get a check soon (stock image)[/caption]
Plaintiffs in the suit accused Truist Bank of violating the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Truist Bank was established in 2019 after SunTrust Banks and BB&T completed a merger.
The bank allegedly sent out prerecorded calls to consumers who did not provide consent to receive them.
The recordings also detailed information about accounts that were unrelated to those who got the call, according to the suit.
While Truist Bank has not admitted to any wrongdoing, it agreed to a $4.1 million settlement pot to resolve the claims and avoid further legal costs.
Consumers who meet certain criteria could qualify for money from the pot in the coming months.
ELIGIBILITY
First, they must’ve gotten a prerecorded call from Truist Bank.
The call would have also pertained to an unrelated account and have been received between February 10, 2019, and August 31, 2022.
Truist Bank made the calls to any one of 5,998 phone numbers.
Americans with those specific numbers will have gotten a notice about the settlement.
FILING A CLAIM FORM
That means there’s no claim form to file to obtain money from the $4.1 million pot.
It will automatically be sent out to those who meet the qualification criteria.
Except, those who wish to object or exclude themselves can do so so long as they file a form on the settlement website by September 8, 2025.
That leaves just weeks left to take action.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.
A final hearing for the Truist Bank settlement is set for October 16.
PAYMENT
Checks may be higher or lower depending on the number of eligible class members and other factors.
A current estimate is set at $440 per claimant.
Given that the final hearing isn’t until October, consumers should expect not to receive the money until the end of 2025.
Americans should also remain aware of other settlements with payments going out soon.
Select drivers of General Motors (GM) vehicles, for example, have only days left to get $875 distributions from a recent case.
A Coca-Cola rival is also sending out $8.9 million to soda drinkers, and a September deadline to claim the money is approaching.
Even Cash App users can get $147 checks from a $12.5 million settlement so long as they file a claim by November 18.
Grocery store shoppers can also get a reward from an advertising settlement without any proof.
