Hercules laundry card $2.4M class action settlement

Update:

• The claim deadline has been extended to Sept. 3, 2022.

Consumers who previously had a Hercules laundry card could benefit from a $2.4 million class action lawsuit settlement.

The settlement benefits consumers who possessed and used a Hercules laundry card after Jan. 1, 2017, stopped using their laundry card before July 13, 2021, and who no longer possess their laundry card.

Hercules is a laundry equipment company that offers leasing packages and installations for laundry room equipment. The company also offers SmartCards, which allow customers to “revalue” their cards for future use.

According to a class action lawsuit against Hercules, the company misrepresented the value of its refillable laundry cards. 

Hercules laundry cards are allegedly designed to have a remainder balance. After using the majority of the cards’ balances, customers claim they were forced to pay a $5 processing fee for Hercules to collect the remaining card balances. 

The Hercules class action lawsuit claims consumers were not given clear and conspicuous notice of these fees. As a result, the fees allegedly violated state and federal consumer protection laws.

Hercules hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to pay nearly $2.4 million to resolve the allegations in the laundry card class action lawsuit. Both parties believe they would prevail in court but agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and risks of continuing the litigation through a trial.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can collect a cash payment. 

Class members who used a Hercules laundry card after Jan. 1, 2017, and stopped using the card before July 13, 2021, could receive a cash payment of $3. Larger payments of $15 are available to class members who were charged processing fees when Hercules collected unused funds on a laundry card or who sent their card in for fund recovery but had it returned because less than $5 remained.

These payment amounts may be reduced on a proportional basis if a larger number of claims are filed with the settlement. Payments may be sent via a check in the mail, but class members have the option to receive their payments via Venmo or PayPal.

In addition to providing cash payments to customers, Hercules agreed to not reinstate fees for unused fund recovery. 

The deadline for exclusion and objection passed on May 31, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the Hercules laundry card settlement is scheduled for July 12, 2022.

In order to collect a payment from the laundry cards settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by Aug. 26, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits consumers who possessed and used a Hercules laundry card after Jan. 1, 2017, stopped using their laundry card before July 13, 2021, and who no longer possess their laundry card.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

Will be asked to provide the address at which you possessed and used a Hercules Laundry Card.

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

09/03/2022

Case Name

McCall, et al. v. Hercules Corp., Index No. 66810/2021, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Westchester

Final Hearing

07/12/2022

Settlement Website

HerculesLaundryCardSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Hercules Laundry Card Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91067
Seattle, WA 98111
info@HerculesLaundryCardSettlement.com
888-964-2126

Class Counsel

Philip L Fraietta
BURSOR & FISHER PA

Defense Counsel

Alan B Howard
PERKINS COIE LLP