Ally Financial Hidden Auto Leasing Fees Class Action Settlement

Ally Financial has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to end a class action lawsuit alleging the company misled consumers financing vehicle purchases through them.

Under the terms of the Ally Financial class action settlement, Class Members can be reimbursed for the allegedly hidden fees they paid under vehicle finance plans through Ally.

The Ally Financial class action settlement will end allegations that the company hit consumers with hidden fees as a part of lease-to-purchase agreements called “SmartLease Contracts.”

The plaintiffs claimed the Ally Financial violated the Consumer Leasing Act because it hit consumers with fees if they decided to purchase the vehicle at the end of their SmartLease Contract.

According to the Ally Financial class action lawsuit, these fees were not described in the SmartLease Contract that consumers agreed to when they started the lease agreement with Ally Financial.

Class Members, under the Ally Financial class action settlement, include those in the United States who were hit with dealer or documentary fees not included in their SmartLease Contracts.

According to the settlement agreement, affected SmartLease Contracts go back as far as June 4, 2009 through June 18, 2018.

The company admits no liability under the terms of the Ally Financial class action settlement.

Class Members who wish to object or exclude themselves from the Ally Financial class action settlement must do so by Aug. 31, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include those who leased a motor vehicle pursuant to a SmartLease Agreement that was assigned to Ally Financial Inc., then purchased the vehicle under the terms of the lease between June 4, 2009 and June 18, 2018 and were assessed a “Documentary” or “Dealer” fee.

Please note the following predecessors in interest and affiliated companies: General Motors Acceptance Corporation, GMAC LLC, GMAC Inc., GMAC Automotive Bank, Ally Bank, Ally Bank Lease Trust and Ally Financial Lease Trust.

Potential Award

Varies depending on the fees paid.

“Each Settlement Class Member who timely returns a valid Claim Form (‘Claimant’) shall receive a payment (‘Settlement Payment’) equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Documentary or Dealer Fee that was charged in connection with the lease-end transaction pursuant to a purchase option provision in his/her SmartLease Agreement,” the Ally Financial class action settlement agreement states.

If claims and settlement costs exceed the $19.7 million settlement fund, awards will be adjusted on a pro rata basis.

Proof of Purchase

Class Member ID from Claim Form.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

2/28/2019  UPDATED

The Claim Form deadline is 90 days after the date of the final approval of the settlement agreement. If no objections or appeals are filed, then the deadline should be 90 days from the final hearing which is Jan. 9, 2019.

Case Name

Schreiber v. Ally Financial Inc., Case No. 1:14-cv-22069, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Final Hearing

10/11/2018

UPDATE: The Ally Financial Hidden Auto Leasing Fees Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on October 11, 2018. Claims will not be paid until after the claim deadline. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

UPDATE: On November 13, 2018, a notice of appeal to the Ally Financial Hidden Auto Leasing Fees Class Action Settlement was filed. Claims will not be paid until all appeals are exhausted.  We appreciate your ongoing patience. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more. 

UPDATE: On November 30, 2018, the appeal to the Ally Financial Hidden Auto Leasing Fees Class Action Settlement was dismissed. Claims will not be paid until after the claim deadline. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Settlement Website

www.DealerFeeSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Class Counsel

PODHURST ORSECK PA

BARON & BUDD PC

Defense Counsel

BALLARD SPAHR LLP