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This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
UPDATE:
- The Court granted final approval to this settlement Aug. 23, 2021.
- Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
Victim Services Inc. and other companies have agreed to a $1.1 million settlement benefiting check writers who may have paid fees allegedly in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
Two Classes of consumers have been established in the Victim Services settlement:
- UCL Class: Anyone in California to whom the defendants sent an initial collection demand in connection with a returned check at any time from Sept. 1, 2011, to May 7, 2015, and who subsequently paid any fees to the defendants in response to that letter.
- FDCPA Class: Anyone in California to whom the defendants sent a collection demand in connection with a returned check from whom the defendants attempted to collect or collected money for checks written for personal, family, or household purposes, from Dec. 1, 2013, to May 7, 2015.
Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit accused the defendants of using a California district attorney’s letterhead and charging unlawful fees in connection with a dishonored check, in violation of the FDCPA and the California Unfair Competition Law (UCL). They also argued the defendants’ conduct constitutes negligent misrepresentation or fraudulent misrepresentation.
Victim Services and the other defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing.
The $1.1 million settlement fund will be used to pay attorney’s fees and other expenses; the remainder will be divided among all Class Members who submit valid claim forms.
Each Class Member’s share will depend on whether they paid any fees to the defendants and the amount paid, the number of valid claim forms filed, and when the defendants sent the collection letters.
About 21,000 Class Members paid check diversion program fees to Victim Services and the other defendants. The amount they will receive will be based on the amount they paid in fees and the total number of Class Members submitting claims.
It is unlikely that Class Members will receive a payment for all fees paid to the defendants, according to the settlement website. The settlement administrator will add up the amount of fees paid by all Class Members submitting valid claims, then divide the amount an individual paid by the total amount to determine that individual’s percentage share of the fund.
An estimated 29,000 Class Members belong to the FDCPA Class. They will receive an equal share of the $20,000 of the fund allocated for FDCPA statutory damages.
This amount will be paid in addition to any award based on check diversion program fees paid to the defendants.
Class Members can look up the amount they paid in fees by entering their Claim ID Number in the Fee Payment Lookup tool on the settlement website.
A final hearing is set for Aug. 5, 2021.
Anyone who would like to exclude themselves from or object to the Victim Services class action settlement must do so by July 9, 2021.
The deadline to submit a claim is also July 9, 2021.
Who’s Eligible
Two Classes of consumers have been established:
- UCL Class: Anyone in California to whom the defendants sent an initial collection demand in connection with a returned check at any time from Sept. 1, 2011, to May 7, 2015, and who subsequently paid any fees to the defendants in response to that letter.
- FDCPA Class: Anyone in California to whom the defendants sent a collection demand in connection with a returned check from whom the defendants attempted to collect or collected money for checks written for personal, family, or household purposes, from Dec. 1, 2013, to May 7, 2015.
Potential Award
Varies.
Each Class Member’s share will depend on whether they paid any fees to the defendants and the amount paid, the number of valid claim forms filed, and when the defendants sent the collection letters.
- About 21,000 Class Members paid check diversion program fees to Victim Services and the other defendants. The amount they will receive will be based on the amount they paid in fees and the total number of Class Members submitting claims. It is unlikely that Class Members will receive a payment for all fees paid to the defendants, according to the settlement website. The settlement administrator will add up the amount of fees paid by all Class Members submitting valid claims, then divide the amount an individual paid by the total amount to determine that individual’s percentage share of the fund.
- An estimated 29,000 Class Members belong to the FDCPA Class. They will receive an equal share of the $20,000 of the fund allocated for FDCPA statutory damages. This amount will be paid in addition to any award based on check diversion program fees paid to the defendants.
Proof of Purchase
No proof of purchase is required for participation in this settlement.
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
07/09/2021
Case Name
Solberg, et al. v. Victim Services Inc., et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-05266-vc in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division
Final Hearing
08/19/2021 UPDATED
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Check Diversion Class Action
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91400
Seattle, WA 98111
info@CheckDiversionClassAction.com
Class Counsel
TERRELL MARSHALL LAW GROUP PLLC
Defense Counsel
FREEDMAN & TAITELMAN LLP
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
4 thoughts onVictim Services $1.1M Check Fees Class Action Settlement
Woohoo received a check for $610 and had only paid around $200 in fees. Glad to receive this just compensation. The predatory DA’s office is finally handed back to them a little taste of their own medicine.
Tried to do mobile check deposit to Chime but unfortunately it was denied. Hopefully a different bank will be able to cash this.
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