Walmart customers who have bought certain items at the retail giant may be eligible to be included in a $45 million settlement. This settlement occurred after a class action lawsuit was filed against the retail giant.
According to this suit, Walmart charged customers more than it should have for certain weighted groceries, such as bagged fruit. However, customers can only apply to be included in this settlement under certain conditions.
The Class Action Lawsuit Against Walmart
Since Walmart has agreed to settle in this class action lawsuit, they have also agreed to pay $45 million in the settlement. As a result, customers who purchased eligible items from October 19, 2018, to January 19, 2024, can potentially qualify to be part of the settlement.
Customers can get up to $500 in settlement money if they can prove that they purchased qualifying items from Walmart during this time frame. Per the settlement, Walmart has denied that they have done anything wrong.
Walmart Allegedly Charged Customers More
Though the retailer has denied any wrongdoing, the class action lawsuit insinuated that Walmart up-charged customers on various weighted items.
Customers ended up paying a higher price on these items, instead of the lower in-store price. This occurred because the prices on weighted items were marked higher.
Allegations Against Walmart
That wasn’t all Walmart was accused of doing in the suit. While the retail giant allegedly put higher prices on these weighted or bagged items, they were also accused of falsely inflating products’ weight.
Therefore, when you weighed fruit when checking out, it would be a larger weight than what it truly was, prompting customers to be forced to pay more. Walmart was also accused of allegedly overcharging for clearance items.
What Items Qualify in This Settlement
To become a part of this settlement — and potentially get money back from Walmart — you must prove that you bought certain items that qualify.
Any customer who purchased weighted items, such as bagged apples or oranges, can qualify to be included in this settlement. Any other form of weighted goods — products that you would have to weigh on a scale upon checkout — also qualify.
Customers Must Have Proof of Purchase
To successfully become a part of this settlement, customers must have proof that they purchased qualifying items from Walmart during the past seven years.
So, if you have a receipt that shows this, you can qualify to join the settlement. Some customers may have been emailed about this settlement with a claim confirmation code. This will also work as proof.
Customers Who Don’t Have a Receipt
Even if you don’t have a receipt or some form of proof of purchase, customers can still file a claim and potentially become a part of this settlement.
When filing a claim, those with no receipt can choose the option to file without documentation or proof of purchase. However, these customers will then have to describe exactly what type of weighted goods they purchased, and when.
Shoppers Must File Before the Deadline
As many people have shopped at Walmart in the past seven years, thousands of people could potentially file a claim to be added to this settlement — and therefore receive settlement money.
However, customers do have a deadline to file. To receive any type of compensation from this settlement, you must file a claim by June 5, 2024.
How Much Money Could Shoppers Get?
According to the settlement website, the money customers could get is not completely set in stone, as things could change from case to case. However, the cap is currently at $500. Nobody will receive more than this.
For shoppers who have proof of purchase, they will receive 2% of the total cost of their items. For those who don’t have any documentation of purchase, they may receive anywhere from $10 to $25, depending on what they bought.
How Will Shoppers Receive Settlement Money?
Shoppers who have successfully been approved to be included in the settlement will receive payment in various ways. Customers can choose their desired way to receive this money.
According to the website for the settlement, those a part of the claim can get payments through platforms like Zelle and Venmo. However, they can also choose to receive a physical check or a Virtual Prepaid Card.
The Court’s Final Hearing
However, customers should be aware that they will not receive their settlement money any time soon — even if they have full proof of purchase.
The court won’t hold a final hearing on the matter until June 12, 2024, at 10 a.m. At this time, the court will finally decide whether the settlement is approved or not. Once the court approves it, settlement money will be disbursed quickly.
Appeals Could Occur
Some delays could persist, even if the court does approve the settlement. For example, if appeals occur, the settlement will be delayed.
This means customers will not receive any settlement money until this appeal is dealt with. Because of this, the website warns customers it could take several more months before they see any repayment.
