Price fixing on a propane tank, price gouging by competitors, price fixing with a competitor, or not refunding sales tax when a customer legitimately returns an unsatisfactory product are unfair business practices that finally cost Godiva Chocolates, Walmart, Sam's Club, Amerigas, and Blue Rhino millions of dollars in class action settlements. Employees who benefit from a few cents here and there are sadly mistaken as customers complain of a trifling amount of sales tax lost over years of shopping in neighborhood stores or identity theft when their personal information is displayed or captured on sales receipts.
 

Godiva Chocolatier Receipts Revealed Credit Card Numbers

Godiva Chocolatier settled a class action lawsuit for $6.3 million payable to customers whose receipts displayed ten digits of their credit card numbers. From April 6, 2013 until November 20, 2015, Godiva cash registers printed credit card numbers on all of their receipts. Godiva's customers potentially fell victim to identity fraud, theft, or scams using their exposed credit card numbers. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act protects customers from illegal disclosure of their credit card numbers. The class action lawsuit was filed in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and the settlement is $55 to $60 per person. You have until March 22, 2021 to file a claim in this lawsuit.
 

Walmart and Sam's Club Owe Sales Tax Refunds

Walmart and Sam's Club agreed to pay $5 million in cash to customers who returned purchases from July 17, 2015 until Nov. 25, 2020. The discount stores did not refund sales tax while refunding purchase prices. You can submit a claim online until April 1, 2021.
 

Blue Rhino or Amerigas Caught Price Fixing

AmeriGas and Blue Rhino worked together to sell 15 instead of 17 pounds of propane in their portable gas tanks to drastically improve their profit margin. AmeriGas stated that the claim was unfounded but preferred to settle rather than endure costly litigation with the potential to tarnish their brand's reputation. AmeriGas settled, and Blue Rhino is in litigation.

You can claim $5 for up to 50 propane tanks that you purchased between December 1, 2009 and November 20, 2020 by filing a claim form with cash register or credit card receipts before March 8, 2021.
 

Keurig Indirect Purchasers Antitrust Settlement

Keurig drastically raised the price of its K-cups sold by retailers attempting to monopolize sales of individual portions of coffee and related beverages. Retailers sold K-Cups at unreasonably expensive prices from September 2010 until August 2020 when class action legal claims forced the manufacturer to cease inflating prices and create a $31 million Settlement Trust Fund. Keurig agrees to compensate consumers up to $3,000 for Keurig K-Cup Portion Packs purchased at retail prices. You have until July 21, 2021 to claim your unpaid portion of this class action settlement.
 

Dole Salad Recalls for Manufacturer Defects

Is Dole ready for class action lawsuits due to three recalls of their salad products during the last year? Dole recalled its chopped salad kits because of manufacturers' defects. The manufacturers incorrectly packaged Dole salad products enclosing wrong ingredients and dressings. Undisclosed allergens left sensitive consumers with allergies and immune disorders at their peril. The Food and Drug Administration recall warns that improperly labeled salads contained nuts and wheat products. No allergic reactions from Dole salads were reported to the Food and Drug Administration.

Dole's Endless Summer Salad Kit had to be recalled in January 2021 because it contained eggs and fish by-products. The Food and Drug Administration requires manufacturers to clearly disclose the presence of peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, and soybean oil in their products.
 

Contact Lens Price Fixing

ABB Optical Group LLC conspired to fix the prices of select disposable contact lenses manufactured by Johnson and Johnson Vision Care and Alcon from June 1, 2013 until December 4, 2018. Bausch and Lomb disposable contact lens manufactured from June 2013 until July 1, 2015 are also included in the settlement. Bausch and Lomb settled rather than litigate, but ABB Optical Group, LLC only recently agreed to join in the $30.2 million settlement. You have until March 10, 2021 to file a claim for compensation in this case.

Class action lawsuits hold businesses and manufacturers responsible for unfair business practices. Claiming your share of a class action settlement keeps the settlement funds from being returned to the plaintiffs who took consumers' money illegally.