Trader Joe's customers may be eligible for money after $7.4M settlement over receipt data
Trader Joe's has agreed to pay $7.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the grocery store of putting customers at risk of potential identity theft.
The lawsuit alleged that between March and July of 2019, certain Trader Joe's locations printed receipts that displayed sensitive financial information, including more digits of customers' credit or debit card numbers than allowed by law.
Businesses are barred by law from printing more than the last five digits of a card number, under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
"Trader Joe's denies Plaintiff's allegations and vigorously denies any and all liability or wrongdoing whatsoever. Not all Trader Joe's stores printed receipts displaying the first six and last four digits of the card number, and in those stores that did, only a small minority of transactions involved such receipts," Trader Joe's said in a notice.
"By entering into the settlement, Trader Joe's has not conceded the truth or validity of any of the claims against it," the company added. "It has been more than five years since Plaintiff sued Trader Joe's, and Trader Joe's represents no person has reported to Trader Joe's identity theft based on the conduct alleged in this case."
Who is eligible for Trader Joe's settlement claims
If Trader Joe's customers used a credit or debit card between March 5 and July 19, 2019, and received a receipt that showed the first six and last four digits of your card number, they may be eligible for compensation.
The parties estimate that roughly 757,000 unique card numbers were affected.
The estimated payment is $102.45 per claim, though the actual payout could be lower after fees and expenses.
How to submit a claim for the Trader Joe's settlement
Some eligible customers were sent emails or postcards alerting them of the settlement.
Customers do not need to have experienced identity theft to submit a claim.
Eligible customers can submit a claim online through the settlement website or print out a PDF claim form and mail it in.
