American Express Gift Card Class Action Settlement Checks Mailed

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Top Class Actions viewers are reporting that they are receiving $25 checks in the mail from an American Express gift card class action settlement.

If you filed a claim for this settlement, keep checking your mailbox because you may soon be receiving compensation.

The American Express settlement resolves a class action lawsuit that alleged the company failed to notify consumers about the full terms and conditions of American Express gift cards.

The plaintiffs, who originally filed the AmEx gift card class action lawsuit in 2009, claimed that this lack of notification resulted in consumers being unable to use the full value of the gift cards because merchants would not allow consumers to use two forms of payment for a transaction.

The American Express class action lawsuit also says fees were improperly applied against the available gift card funds.

Class Members of the gift card settlement include anyone who purchased, received, held or used an American Express gift card between Jan. 1, 2002 and Oct. 15, 2013. Claimants were eligible to receive up to $40 in cash, a $100 gift card and/or a refund of the gift card’s unused balance without paying any fees.

Specifically, Class Members who unsuccessfully tried to use the AmEx gift card together with another form of payment during a transaction were eligible to receive up to $20. Those who incurred monthly fees were eligible for a payment of up to $8, and those who paid a check issuance fee were eligible for payment of up to $5.

Claimants could make a claim for more than one of these amounts, but were limited to a payment of $40, subject to a pro rata reduction based on the total amount of approved claims.

American Express denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the gift card class action lawsuit to avoid the burden, expense and uncertainty of ongoing litigation.

The deadline to file a claim for the American Express gift card class action settlement passed on Nov. 16, 2015.

The American Express class action settlement received final approval on March 8, 2016, but multiple appeals were filed. The final appeal was dismissed on April 4, 2018.

Congratulations to our Top Class Actions readers who submitted a valid claim and got PAID! If you missed out, sign up for our free newsletter to receive updates on new class action lawsuits and settlements. You can also check out which class action settlements are still accepting claims in our Open Class Action Settlements section.

Class Members were represented by Phillip A. Bock, Richard J. Doherty and James M. Smith of Bock & Hatch LLC.

The American Express Gift Card Class Action Lawsuit is Kaufman v. American Express Travel Related Services Inc., Case No. 1:07-cv-01707, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.