How to file a class action settlement claim

Every court-approved settlement has an administrator, usually a claims company such as Angeion (the Facebook privacy case) or A.B. Data (the Google Assistant case), that runs a dedicated website. The address appears in the settlement notice you received by email or mail, and in court filings. Only file there. Third-party sites, including ours, do not file claims for you.

Ways to confirm you are on the real site:

• The site names the case, the court, and the case number, and says it is maintained by the claims or settlement administrator.
• It posts the long-form notice, the settlement agreement, and court orders.
• The address matches the one in your notice or on the court docket.
• It never asks for a fee, a gift card, or your online banking password.

Our open settlements list links to each official site. If an email looks suspicious, do not click it; type the address from a trusted source instead, and read our guide to settlement scams.

Read the class definition carefully. It usually specifies a product or service, a class period, and a geography. For example, the Tom's of Maine toothpaste settlement covered people who bought certain Tom's toothpaste products in the United States between November 21, 2020, and March 6, 2026. If you are unsure, see how to know if you qualify.

Then write down three dates from the notice: the claim deadline, the opt-out and objection deadline, and the final approval hearing. In the Panda Restaurant Group data breach settlement, claim forms had to be submitted online or postmarked on or before April 10, 2026, and that deadline has now passed. Late claims are usually rejected no matter how clearly you qualify.

This is also the moment to decide whether a claim is the right move at all. Filing keeps you in the class. If you would rather keep your right to sue the company yourself, you must opt out instead, by the opt-out deadline, and you cannot do both. For most people with small losses, filing a claim is the practical choice; our guide on opting out or objecting explains the alternatives.

Most forms ask for the same basics: your name, mailing address, email, phone number, and a claim ID or PIN if your notice included one. Beyond that, what you need depends on which payment tier you choose. Many settlements, especially data breach cases, offer several. Here is how the Panda Restaurant Group data breach settlement was structured:

The documented tier pays more but requires real paperwork, such as bank statements showing fraudulent charges or receipts for credit freezes. Consumer product settlements often work the same way. In the Tom's of Maine settlement, claimants with proof of purchase could get a full refund for up to three products, while claimants without proof were limited to the average retail price of one product per household. For more on the no-receipt option, see settlements with no proof of purchase.

1. Choose online or mail. Online is faster and gives instant confirmation. Paper forms can be printed from the site or requested by phone.
2. Answer each question accurately. Most forms require you to attest under penalty of perjury that the information is true. Do not claim products you did not buy or losses you did not have.
3. Upload documents if you are claiming a documented tier. Clear photos or PDFs of receipts and statements are usually fine.
4. Pick a payment method. Many administrators now offer electronic options. The Facebook user privacy settlement offered PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, direct deposit, check, or a prepaid Mastercard. Electronic payments avoid lost mail and expired checks.
5. Submit and save the confirmation. Screenshot or print the confirmation page and keep the email receipt with your claim ID.

Common mistakes that get claims reduced or denied:

• Filing after the deadline, or mailing a paper form that is postmarked too late
• Choosing the documented-loss tier without attaching documents
• Leaving required questions blank or skipping the signature or attestation box
• Filing more than once, or filing for more units or household members than the settlement allows
• Using an email address or mailing address you will not have in a year

Filing is not the end. Payments go out only after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved, which can take months or years. In the meantime:

• Respond to deficiency letters. If the administrator says your claim is incomplete, you usually get a short window to fix it.
• Update your address with the administrator if you move.
• Check the website for status updates and the payment timeline. See how to check a settlement's status.
• Cash checks quickly. Checks expire. The Apple Siri settlement website says final reissued payments must be cashed or deposited by November 5, 2026.

The FTC's 2019 study found that about 15% of submitted claims were denied, usually because they were incomplete or did not match the class definition. Careful, truthful answers are the best protection against denial. If you have not been paid long after approval, see what to do if your settlement check has not arrived.

Filing a claim keeps you in the class and releases your claims. If your losses are large, such as major fraud after a data breach, consider whether you want to opt out instead; a free case review takes about two minutes.