IDT Energy Overcharge Class Action Settlement

Current and former customers of IDT Energy or its related companies may qualify for cash or a credit on their bill under the terms of a class action settlement.

If you purchased electric or gas service from IDT Energy, Genie Retail Energy, Genie Energy International Corporation, or Genie Energy LTD between July 1, 2008 and Oct. 16, 2017, you may qualify for settlement benefits.

Plaintiff Louis McLaughlin filed this IDT Energy class action lawsuit, claiming IDT and the other defendants overcharged some of its utility customers. McLaughlin further alleged IDT Energy failed to give customers the rebates they were owed under the company’s rebate program.

The complaint raised claims for breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and violation of various states’ consumer protection laws.

McLaughlin was later joined by co-plaintiffs Anthony Ferrare and Deborah Aks. All three plaintiffs served as class representatives.

The parties reached the current IDT Energy class action settlement after more than a year of negotiations. The settlement will provide qualifying IDT Energy customers with their choice of cash payments, account credits (for current IDT Energy customers), or rebate payments.

Class Members must submit a Claim Form to receive payment. Claim Forms may be submitted online, by mail or by fax.

Class Members may object to the settlement or exclude themselves from it by filing a written request no later than April 5, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement Class covers all current and former customers of IDT from July 1, 2008 through Oct. 16, 2017.

Potential Award

Class Members who choose cash payments or credits will receive amounts determined in part by the number of months the Class Member was an IDT Energy customer, up to 15 months for cash payments and up to 20 months for account credits.

The settlement agreement provides the following as an example of a credit payout: “if a Class Member was a High Electric Usage Customer for 19 months and a High Gas Usage Customer for 18 months, the Credit Settlement Payment shall be calculated as: (19 X $5.25) + (18 X $2.10) = $137.55.” 

The following is an example of a cash payout: “if a Class Member was a High Electric Usage Customer for 15 months, and a High Gas Usage Customer for 15 months, their Cash Settlement Payment will be: (15 X $3.50) + (15 X $1.00) = $67.50.

The number of qualifying months will be multipled by the rate applicable to the Class Member’s service and choice of benefit. The rates range from $0.75 to $5.25 per month. Which rate applies will depend on factors including:

• whether the Class Member is considered a “high usage” or “low usage” customer;
• whether the payment is for electricity service or gas service; and
• whether the Class Member has elected a cash payment or an account credit.

Proof of Purchase

In addition to the Class Member’s contact information and election of benefits, the Claim Form asks for the Claimant ID provided in the Class Member’s settlement notice.

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

4/5/2018

Case Name

McLaughlin v. IDT Energy Inc., et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-04107-ENV-RML, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Final Hearing

4/9/2018

UPDATE: The IDT Energy Overcharge Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on October 18, 2018. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

UPDATE: On January 14, 2019, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving checks in the mail from the IDT Energy Overcharge Class Action Settlement worth as much as $71.65! Congratulations to everyone who filed a valid claim and got PAID!

Settlement Website

www.IDTEnergySettlement.com

Claims Administrator

IDT Energy Litigation
c/o Rust Consulting
PO Box 2610
Faribault, MN 55021-9610
Phone 1-888-334-6163
Fax 877-625-9460

Class Counsel

New York Class Counsel:
Steven L. Wittels
J. Burkett McInturff
Tiasha Palikovic
WITTELS LAW PC

Pennsylvania Class Counsel:
Jonathan Shub
KOHN SWIFT & GRAF PC

Troy M. Frederick
MARCUS & MACK PC

New Jersey Class Counsel:
D. Greg Blankinship
FINKELSTEIN BLANKINSHIP FREI-PEARSON & GARBER LLP

Matthew D. Schelkopf
McCUNE WRIGHT AREVALO LLP

Matthew R. Mendelsohn
MAZIE SLATER KATZ & FREEMAN LLC

Defense Counsel

Thomas L. Allen
Samuel Kadosh
Casey D. Laffey
REED SMITH LLP