Global Tel Link AdvancePay funds $67M class action settlement

Updates:

• Top Class Actions readers reported this settlement paying out up to $8.97 in a second distribution as of early January 2024.
• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!

• This class action settlement is paying out up to $11.54 as of May 13, 2023.
• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

Global Tel Link (GTL) will pay $67 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement resolving claims it unlawfully retained funds from AdvancePay accounts after inactivity.

The settlement benefits a nationwide Class of individuals who had a positive balance in a prepaid GTL account that was reduced to a zero balance after up to 180 days of account inactivity between April 3, 2011, and Oct. 6, 2021.

Global Tel Link Corp. is an inmate telephone service company that operates prison phone systems at around 2,300 facilities throughout the country. According to the company’s website, 1.8 million inmates and their family members use GTL accounts, which are often prepaid, to speak to each other. 

Global Tel Link allegedly retained money from prepaid AdvancePay accounts after these accounts were inactive for around 180 days or six months. According to the GTL class action lawsuit, the company should have returned these funds to consumers instead of pocketing the cash for its own benefit.

The plaintiff in the case is a practicing criminal defense lawyer who used GTL services to speak to clients and other inmates. After a period of inactivity, the lawyer says his account balance was reduced to zero after a period of inactivity in 2014. 

According to the GTL class action lawsuit, the plaintiff wasn’t informed that his accounts would be forfeit after 90 days of inactivity.

GTL hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve these class action lawsuit allegations with a $67 million settlement.

Under the terms of the settlement, GTL will reimburse consumers for 100 percent of any fund the company retained from inactive accounts. 

Payments will vary depending on how much money Class Members had in their inactive accounts. 

Both current and former customers are eligible for this relief, though the refund method will vary depending on whether a Class Member has an active account with GTL. 

The Global Tel Link AdvancePay class action lawsuit settlement also includes non-monetary relief that changes GTL’s inactivity policy. The baseline policy will extend from 90 days to 180 days, consumers with active accounts will be able to refund their account balances, and other changes are included in the new policy.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is April 15, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the Global Tel Link settlement is scheduled for Aug. 26, 2022.

Current GTL customers do not need to file a claim; settlement payments will be automatically credited to their accounts. 

Former GTL customers must submit a valid claim form by June 14, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits a nationwide Class of individuals who had a positive balance in a prepaid GTL account that was reduced to a zero balance after up to 180 days of account inactivity between April 3, 2011, and Oct. 6, 2021.

Potential Award

Varies.

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable.

Claim Form

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

06/14/2022

Case Name

Benson Githieya v. Global Tel Link Corp., Case No. 1:15-CV-00986-AT, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia of the Atlanta Division

Final Hearing

08/26/2022

Settlement Website

GTLPrepaidSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

GTL Prepaid Settlement
C/O Rust Consulting Inc. – 7513
PO Box 2627
Faribault, MN 55021-9638
833-630-1412

Class Counsel

Michael A. Caplan
James W. Cobb
T. Brandon Waddell
CAPLAN COBB LLP

Defense Counsel

Josh Belinfante
Jeremy U Littlefield
Evan C Dunn
ROBBINS ALLOY BELINFANTE LITTLEFIELD LLC