If you’ve shopped at Walmart at some point over the last several years, you could be eligible to receive up to $500 as part of a $45 million settlement from the grocery chain to resolve a class-action lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, claims that “Walmart uses unfair and deceptive business practices to deceivingly, misleadingly, and unjustly pilfer, to Walmart’s financial benefit, its customers’ hard-earned grocery dollars.” These “unfair” practices have to do with customers overpaying for certain weighted grocery items, including meat, seafood and bagged citrus. And although Walmart denies any wrongdoing on their part, it has decided to settle.
Specifically, the lawsuit accuses Walmart of falsely inflating product weight, mislabeling the weight of bagged produce and overcharging for sold-by-weight clearance products — practices that seemingly go against Walmart’s mission “to save people money so they can live better.” It claims that at checkout, Walmart’s system increased the weight of certain products, resulting in customers overpaying. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Walmart used price stickers on bulk organic oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and navel oranges that falsely represented the cost per ounce, and that sold-by-weight clearance products were labeled as costing less than they actually were.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Who is eligible for payment?
Anyone who purchased certain weighted goods (such as pork, poultry and seafood) or bagged citrus in person at a Walmart retail store, supercenter, or neighborhood market in the United States or Puerto Rico from October 19, 2018, through January 19, 2024, is eligible. You can find and search through the full list of eligible products online, as well as submit a claim. Claims for payment must be submitted online or through the mail by June 5, 2024.
When filling out the claim form, customers will be asked to provide receipts, proof of purchase or other documentation that verifies eligible products purchased, and will receive 2% of the total cost — capped at $500.00. If you don’t have documentation, you can still receive $10 to $25 depending on the number of goods that were purchased. If you wish to object to or exclude yourself from the settlement, you must do so no later than May 22, 2024.
The final approval hearing will take place on June 12, 2024.
Related Content
-
Stock Market Today: Good Feelings and Solid Data Lift StocksResilience and de-escalation defined another generally positive day for financial markets.
-
Five Home Upgrades for Surviving Record-Breaking HeatWith global temperatures expected to hover at record highs for years to come, now’s the time to upgrade your home for long-term heat resilience.
-
The 401(k) Mistake That Could Cost You Millions in Retirement SavingsThinking about reducing your 401(K) contributions in the current market? Here are six reasons why you may want to reconsider.
-
I'm an Insurance Expert: Yes, You Need Life Insurance Even if the Kids Are Grown and the House Is Paid OffLife insurance isn't about you. It's about providing for loved ones and covering expenses after you're gone. Here are five key reasons to have it.
-
7 Rules Frequent Flyers Swear ByFrom dodging long lines to avoiding bad coffee, these clever travel rules can help you save time, stay healthy and reduce stress every time you fly.
-
My Professional Advice: When It Comes to Money, You Do YouThis is how embracing the 'letting others be' and 'learning to surrender' mindsets can improve your relationship with money.
-
Five Smart Moves for Retirement Healthcare: From HSAs to Medigap PoliciesUnchecked health care costs in retirement could blow a hole in your savings. Here’s how to avoid that.
-
The High Price of Skipping Workers' Comp InsuranceTwo labor and employment attorneys highlight the penalties (fines, reputation damage and even jail time) that small businesses risk if they opt not to carry workers' comp insurance.
-
Why You May Want a PostnupEven after you've said "I do," you can draw up an agreement to protect your assets.
-
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Could Reshape 529 PlansTrump's budget-reconciliation package could change 529 plan rules as early as this summer. What does that mean for you?
