Fred Meyer class action claims failed to reimburse customers who prepaid for fuel but pumped less

Fred Meyer fuel class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Randy Shields filed a class action lawsuit against Fred Meyer Stores Inc. 
• Why: Shields claims Fred Meyer fails to reimburse consumers who use a debit card to prepay for gas at its gas stations and then pump less gasoline than they paid for. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the state of Washington in and for King County. 

Fred Meyer fails to reimburse consumers who use a debit card to prepay for gasoline at its gas stations and then pump less fuel into their vehicles than they paid for, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Randy Shields claims Fred Meyer informs customers who prepay for gas that they will receive a credit back for the value of fuel that does not end up being pumped into their vehicles, but then fails to give said credit. 

Shields argues that, in addition to not getting credits on his debit card, he has also received a double charge on his debit card account on more than one occasion after he prepaid for gas at Fred Meyer. 

“Fred Meyer’s actions in retaining the value of Mr. Shields’ and putative class members’ unpumped gasoline and double charges for gasoline were and are capable of deceiving a substantial portion of the public,” the Fred Meyer class action states. 

Shields wants to represent a class of individuals who did not receive a credit to their debit card account after using it to prepay for gas at a Fred Meyer gas station and who pumped less gas than they paid for, and a class of individuals who were double charged when using a debit card to prepay for gas at a Fred Meyer gas station. 

Fred Meyer won’t reimburse for transactions more than six months old, class action says

Fred Meyer ultimately reimbursed Shields for some of his uncredited prepaid gas transactions, but allegedly informed him he could not be reimbursed for duplicate charges or for transactions more than six months old, the Fred Meyer class action alleges. 

“As a direct and proximate result of Fred Meyer’s retention of the value of Mr. Shields’ and putative class members’ unpumped gasoline and double charges for gasoline, Mr. Shields and each member of the putative classes have suffered actual damages,” the class action states. 

Shields claims Fred Meyer is guilty of conversion, breach of contract and unjust enrichment, and of violating the Washington Consumer Protection Act. 

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory relief along with an award of money and treble damages for himself and all class members. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Fred Meyer in 2018 by a consumer arguing the company charged Oregon residents deposits for beverage containers that were not returnable. 

Have you used a debit card to prepay for gas from a Fred Meyer gas station? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Guy W. Beckett of Berry & Beckett PLLP. 

The Fred Meyer fuel class action lawsuit is Shields v. Fred Meyer Stores Inc., Case No. 23-2-14835-5 KNT, in the Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for King County.

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