Why Haven’t I Received My Settlement Check Yet?

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Why Haven’t I Received My Settlement Check Yet?

If you filed a claim for a class action settlement, there are many possible reasons why you have not received a check yet. Most commonly, the reason that you have not received a settlement check is because the settlement agreement has not become final and effective.

A judge must hear arguments about why the proposed class action settlement should be approved at the Final Fairness Hearing (you can find out when the Final Fairness Hearing is scheduled on the settlement notice or website). Funds will not be distributed to claimants until the judge grants final approval to the settlement and approves the method for disbursement. Once this order is submitted to the court, the class action settlement has become “effective.”

If Class Members were required to submit Claim Forms, each claim must be reviewed and approved. In some cases, the Settlement Administrator may request more information from claimants before approving their claim. Depending on the case, this approval process may be completed relatively quickly, or it may take several months to resolve. Typically, the Settlement Administrator won’t issue payments until all submitted claims have been reviewed. [NOTE: Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator. We are a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits and settlements. We list the Settlement Administrator’s contact information in all of our Open Settlements.]

Even if a judge grants final approval to a class action settlement, it still may be subject to appeal. If an appeals court decides to hear the case, it may take quite a while for the class action lawsuit to be resolved. In some cases, appeals can cause settlement payments to be delayed by years—or cause the settlement to be overturned.

Why Have Others Received Their Settlement Check, But I Haven’t?

It can be unnerving to find out that other claimants have received settlement checks when you’re still waiting for yours. There are several reasons why checks for the same settlement go out at different times. If a settlement has an option to submit a Claim Form without proof of purchase, a Settlement Administrator may mail out these payments first while they review the documentation submitted by other claimants. Typically, claimants who submit documentation will be entitled to more compensation than those who do not, so the Settlement Administrator will take extra time to verify those claims.

Some class action settlements also involve several subclasses. The Settlement Administrator may decide to send payment to each subclass at different times, most likely based on the amount of compensation at stake or the amount of documentation the subclass members were required to submit.

If the Settlement Administrator has indicated a certain date by which the checks would be mailed, wait a couple of weeks before you get concerned. Mail service can differ widely from region to region. Some people may receive their checks immediately while other checks may be delayed due to slow mail service. If you still haven’t received your check, you may contact the Settlement Administrator for more information.

Why Did My Settlement Check Bounce?

Unfortunately, sometimes settlement checks bounce, leaving consumers stuck paying a bank fee. There are a few reasons why a settlement check may bounce. The settlement money may not have been transferred to the Settlement Administrator’s account at the time you cashed your check, or there may have been some other error that prevented the funds from being available.

If you have problems cashing your settlement check, contact the Settlement Administrator to let them know. They should be able to tell you what the problem is and whether it is safe for you to try to cash the check again. They may also offer to send you a replacement check.

Related FAQ Articles:

Why Was My Class Action Settlement Payout Smaller than Expected?

What is a Settlement Administrator?

What is a Class Action Settlement?

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