Walmart grocery shoppers could get cash from $45M settlement: NPR

Walmart has reached a $45 million settlement in a class action lawsuit accusing it of overcharging on some grocery items. Eligible customers have until early June to submit claims for cash payments.

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Walmart has reached a $45 million settlement in a class action lawsuit accusing it of overcharging on some grocery items. Eligible customers have until early June to submit claims for cash payments.

Robin Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Some Walmart shoppers across the country could soon get a refund from the retailer, as part of a $45 million settlement it is paying to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices.

Customers who purchased certain “weighed goods” — including meat, poultry, pork and seafood products — and in-person packaged citrus at Walmart locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico between Oct. 19, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2024, may be eligible for Cash Out payments, according to to Settlement official website.

It's the 2022 result Class action Which accused Walmart of overcharging on certain products to “deceptively, deceptively, misleadingly and unfairly steal customers' hard-earned grocery dollars for Walmart's financial benefit.”

The lawsuit alleges that Walmart falsely inflated the weight of certain grocery items, mislabeled the weight of packaged products — including oranges, grapefruit and tangerines — and overcharged clearance products sold by weight, forcing customers to pay more for them than The least they have. Advertising price.

Walmart has consistently denied these allegations and all wrongdoing but has agreed to do so $45 million settlement in November to avoid continued litigation.

“We still deny these allegations, but believe a settlement is in the best interests of both parties,” a Walmart spokesperson told NPR via email.

How much money can shoppers get?

The amount of money each person receives depends on how many other applicants there are, and how many there are Qualified products They purchased it and whether they kept their receipts.

Customers who provide proof of purchase can receive 2% of the total cost of weighed goods and packaged citrus fruits they purchased, up to a maximum of $500 per person.

Those who no longer have their receipts can still get between $10 and $25, depending on how many products they purchased during that period.

what happened after that?

Eligible customers have until May 22 to exclude themselves from, object to, or comment on the settlement, and until June 5. Submit a claim online Or by mail.

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing for the settlement on the morning of June 12.

If there are no appeals, settlement payments will be processed after that hearing.

Payments will be delivered electronically, either through Venmo, Zelle, ACH, or a virtual prepaid Mastercard, or claimants can request paper checks. The settlement administrator warns that funds may not reach customer accounts immediately.

“Please be patient,” the website says. “It may take several months before the settlement becomes final and claims are processed.”