Chicago Tribune Settles Subscription Rate Hike Class Action
By Matt O’Donnell
Over 41,000 Chicago Tribune customers will begin receiving notices of a class action lawsuit settlement resolving claims the newspaper illegally charged increased rates to subscribers’ credit and debit cards. Eligible Class Members will receive $6.50 if the settlement is approved.
The settlement, announced today, resolves a 2011 class action lawsuit filed by two subscribers, Cheryl Naedler and Theodore Raab, who accused the Chicago Tribune of breaching its contract with subscribers and violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act by increasing their subscription rates without a 30-day advance notice.
Chicago Tribune spokeswoman Maggie Wartik said in a statement today that the newspaper periodically adjusts its subscription pricing and tries to be transparent when price increases occur. However, “In 2011, a portion of our EZ Pay customers — less than 10 percent of our home delivery subscribers — did not receive notifications in time and are set to receive a $6.50 credit on their bill or refund if they are no longer subscribers. We are committed to ensuring this does not happen to our valued subscribers.”
A Final Fairness Hearing is set for July 23, 2013.
Updated May 17th, 2013
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