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Millions of dollars in the groundbreaking Arco debit card settlement went unclaimed by Class Members who were charged an unexpected $0.35 fee at gas pumps in Oregon between 2011 and 2013.
Arco, along with BP, was accused of hiding a debit card fee in violation of state law in a class action lawsuit. The complaint alleged that Arco gas stations advertised a certain “cash price” outside at the gas pumps, then slapped consumers with a fee when they went inside to pay.
An Oregon jury found the gas companies had crossed Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act and hit the companies with a $409 million verdict in 2014. BP submitted several appeals to the massive verdict and ultimately the parties agreed to settle.
Class Members started seeing the first of two Arco debit card settlement checks in 2020. The first check was for $91.94 and the next one is expected to be the same.
However, the company in charge of locating Class Members using debit card transaction records reported that it could only find 1.7 million of them. Fortunately, for consumer advocates, the remaining settlement fund will not revert back to the defendants.
Under a 2015 state law, settlement funds in the state of Oregon cannot go back to defendants in the class action lawsuit. In fact, the 2015 law was prompted by this very case, according to Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.
“This new law prevents these funds from being returned to the wrongdoing multinational corporation,” Rosenblum said in an emailed statement to Oregon Public Broadcasting. “Instead, they will remain here and do more general good for consumers in Oregon.”
Where will the remaining Arco debit card settlement funds go?
Reportedly, the remaining $66 million will be split amongst public interest groups, including a legal aid fund for those who cannot afford legal services and a consumer watchdog group, Oregon Consumer Justice.
The University of Oregon also recently announced that it had secured funds for consumer protection research – a minimum of $3 million that will be doled out to researchers over 10 years.
Did you get an Arco debit card settlement check? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
The plaintiffs are represented by David F. Sugerman of David F. Sugerman Attorney PC and Tim Alan Quenelle of Tim Quenelle PC.
The Arco, AmPm Debit Card Fee Class Action Lawsuit is Steven Scharfstein v. BP West Coast Products LLC, Case No. 1112-17046, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, County of Multnomah.
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47 thoughts on$66 Million Unclaimed in Arco Debit Card Fees Class ActionSettlement
I used a debit card to purchase gas at many different ARCO stations MULTIPLE times during those years and I never knew NOTHING about no lawsuit! Would have been really nice to know, so I could claim the funds I was entitled to!
I signed up for this an whole when it was still being resolved and I have moved and changed phone numbers and I never received a check or heard from any attorneys is it too late to get my check
I also could not cash my 2nd check, never received 1st one, because it arrived two days ago! Almost a year late?? Do not understand that. Replacement check..i do not see that happening since everyone packed up and there is no way to reach them.
Received first checkin 2019.
Did not receive second check, still at the same address.
Sounds to me they decided to keep the rest of the money that is owed.
Did not receive first cheque, unable to cash second one as it is stale dated.
Was not able to cross border from Canada due to Covid-19 travel restrictions
I received my two checks did not have a bank account I tried to sign them over to my brother which didn’t work his bank refused and I could not make it to Portland where is the only place where they had a bank that was the same and the covid happens so I never got to cash them and they won’t replace him what should I do it’s not right that they just going to keep our money I am broke and I need the money
Due to covid19 and me going home to care for a family member I just receive my checks today. Ive tried contacting them but there not reachable.
I moved and never received the check. Did some research online over 66 million in checks were unclaimed. Sounds like it’s all going to charity instead of taking care of the customers. Covid made 2020 just a little crazy with all the unexpected.