After being accused of breaking the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Citibank agreed to a $29.5 million deal with a group of people. The case says that Citibank called people who were not users without their permission and told them to settle their past-due credit card accounts. The robocalls were made without permission, which is against the TCPA.
As part of the deal, Citibank will pay people who were harmed. Different people will get different amounts of money, anywhere from $350 to $850, based on how many true claims are made and that are suitable. The amount of money each person gets in the end may depend on how many people file proper claims by the deadline.
What is the TCPA, and How Did Citibank Allegedly Violate It?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was enacted in 1991 to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls, robocalls, and spam messages. Because of the TCPA, businesses can’t make automatic calls to customers without their permission. This law was made to stop the growing number of annoying phone calls that come from automatic dialing systems.
Citibank was accused of calling people who were not Citibank users without their permission and pushing them to pay their past-due credit card amounts. The people who are suing say that these calls were made without their permission, which is against the TCPA.
Citibank didn’t say they did anything wrong, but they did agree to settle the claims to avoid more court costs and the uncertainty of a trial.
Who is Eligible for the Settlement?
People must meet the following requirements in order to be qualified for reimbursement from this class action settlement:
- Timeframe: You must have received an automated call from Citibank between August 15, 2014, and July 31, 2024.
- Recipient Status: You must have been a non-Citibank customer at the time of the call.
- Nature of the Calls: The call must have been related to past-due credit card accounts.
Citibank Lawsuit Settlement Amount
In this case, the payment is $29.5 million. Eligible class members who received unsolicited robocalls from Citibank can expect compensation ranging from $350 to $850, depending on how many valid claims are filed. If you want to get paid, you have to send in your claim by December 20, 2024. After that, a final approval hearing is scheduled for January 14, 2025, where the court will decide whether to grant final approval for the settlement and allow the distribution of funds to those who qualify.
How to File a Claim?
If an individual is eligible to file a claim in Citibank’s TCPA settlement, they need to follow several steps to ensure their claim is properly submitted. It is important to verify that the person received unauthorized robocalls from Citibank between August 2014 and July 2024 and meets the eligibility criteria.
- Visit the official Citibank TCPA settlement website to access the claim form.
- Complete the form with personal information, such as name and phone number.
- Provide any necessary supporting information, like phone records, if required.
- Review the form for accuracy, then submit it through the website.
- After submitting, expect a confirmation notice.
- Monitor the progress for updates.
- Ensure the claim is submitted by December 20, 2024, to be considered.
What Happens Next?
Once the court grants final approval for the settlement, those who submit valid claims will receive their compensation. The exact amount each claimant receives will depend on the total number of claims filed; if fewer claims are submitted, individuals may receive up to $850.
To ensure they receive a share of the settlement, it is essential for eligible claimants to submit their claims by the deadline of December 20, 2024. Starting the claims process as early as possible is recommended to secure a portion of the $29.5 million settlement fund.
