Bargain Hunt Credit Card Receipts $2M Class Action Settlement

By Top Class Actions | February 23, 2022

Category: Closed Class Actions

This settlement is closed!

Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!

Credit card on pile of receipts

UPDATE:

Readers reported this settlement paying out $100 as of February 2022.
Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!

A $2 million settlement has been reached to resolve claims Bargain Hunt stores issued receipts containing too much information in violation of FACTA. Under the terms of the settlement, Class Members can collect cash payments of up to $100.

The settlement benefits consumers who made a purchase at a Bargain Hunt store between Aug. 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, and were provided with an electronically-printed receipt which showed more than the last five digits of their payment card number.

Plaintiffs Brian Nowe and Mary Allen Wilson Tondee filed their Bargain Hunt class action lawsuit in Georgia, claiming the bargain stores violated federal laws by electronically printing receipts that contained too much payment card information.

State and federal laws such as the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) aim to protect sensitive consumer information by restricting the amount of information allowed on electronically printed receipts. FACTA prohibits businesses from showing more than the last five digits of a payment card or any of the card’s expiration date information on an electronically printed receipt.

These laws help to protect consumers by making it more difficult for criminals to steal complete credit card numbers or large portions of these numbers that can be pieced together.

FACTA compliance uses a process known as truncation to replace sensitive digits with a symbol such as # or *. However, if this process is flawed through either negligence or errors, companies may be found in violation of FACTA.

Regardless of the source of such violations, noncompliance with FACTA regulations can result in statutory damages of up to $1,000. Consumers like Nowe and Tondee are empowered by the law to seek these damages through class action lawsuits.

Despite requirements of FACTA and other laws, Bargain Hunt allegedly printed too much information on its electronically printed receipts. Specifically, the plaintiffs claim receipts printed by the store between 2016 and 2017 contain more than the last five digits of payment card numbers.

Nowe reportedly made a purchase at a Bargain Hunt store in Georgia in May 2015. As a result of his transaction with the company, the plaintiff was allegedly given an electronically printed receipt that contained the first six digits and last four digits of his payment card number.

Nowe and Tondee argue this practice was widespread and affected a large Class of consumers. These receipts reportedly violated consumers’ privacy rights.

Bargain Hunt operator Essex Technology Group has not admitted any wrongdoing. However, the company has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve the claims against it.

Of the $2 million settlement, at least $200,000 will be distributed among Class Members in the form of cash payments. Payments are capped at $100, though exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of claims filed and the net settlement fund after administrative costs are deducted.

In order to benefit from the Bargain Hunt class action settlement, Class Members must file a valid claim form by July 12, 2021. Claim forms must include proof of purchase from between Aug. 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, such as a receipt for an eligible purchase or a credit/debit card statement detailing the claimant’s name and an eligible purchase from any Bargain Hunt store.

The deadline for exclusion and objection in the settlement was April 12, 2021.

The final approval hearing for the Bargain Hunt FACTA settlement took place Nov. 15, 2021. At this hearing, the court will decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement terms after reviewing Class Member participation and objections.

Payments will only be distributed from the settlement if the deal is approved by the court and after any appeals are resolved.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who made a purchase at a Bargain Hunt store between Aug. 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, and were provided with an electronically-printed receipt that showed more than the last five digits of their payment card number.

Potential Award

Cash payments of up to $100.

Payments are capped at $100, though exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of claims filed and the net settlement fund after administrative costs are deducted.

Proof of Purchase

A receipt for an eligible purchase or a credit/debit card statement detailing the claimant’s name and an eligible purchase from any Bargain Hunt store between Aug. 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017.

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.