I guess class actions aren't too bad?

[tcsenter]

I was a class member for that Rash Curtis robocall scammer lawsuit. Received a card in the mail informing my name was in their database, what are my rights (opt-in or opt-out), etc. So I registered. Received $90! Thought that was over but received an email a few weeks ago saying there was another round of disbursements, due to more money being extracted from the parties and because of lower than anticipated response rate. i.e. there was still money left over, because far fewer people opted-in or registered than were eligible. So I clicked the link to verify my registration info and received $599 (via Prepaid MasterCard that I could convert and transfer to my bank for $16 fee) ! 😃💵

 

[Chaotic42]

This is Rash Curtis, aka Happy Dude. The court is making me call everybody back and apologize for my telemarketing scam. I'm sorry. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, send one dollar to Sorry Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield. You have the power.

 

[tcsenter]

So I clicked the link to verify my registration info and received $599 (via Prepaid MasterCard that I could convert and transfer to my bank for $16 fee) ! 😃💵

That almost sounded like it was part of a scam to get me to part with the $16 first. lol I meant $16 deducted from the $599 balance. I already done used that Master Card like three times for over $300. It was legit Rash Curtis TCPA settlement funds.

 

[sdifox]

Why couldn't you just use the prepaid MC instead of converting the balance?

 

[nakedfrog]

Better than I've ever made out from a class action suit.

 

[Brainonska511]

Got $150 or so from a Boston Globe/Facebook tracking thing a few years ago.

The payouts for most might seems small, but that's not necessarily the point: they often come about from small harms to lots of people that make companies a lot of money (but no one would individually use over a couple bucks). These lawsuits make it more costly for companies to rip off consumers by just a little bit.

 

[KLin]

Best I ever got for a class action was for car insurance premium overcharging. Got $107 back in 2005 or so.

 

[dank69]

Better than I've ever made out from a class action suit.

Yeah I've never hit for $600 for one. Definitely had few that were over $100 over the years though.

 

[tcsenter]

Why couldn't you just use the prepaid MC instead of converting the balance?

I did. I didn't convert it, just mentioning it was an option I "could" do.

 

[BoomerD]

My objections to class action lawsuits are:
1) The fucking lawyers get MOST of the money
2) The left-over amounts get dribbled out to so many people, most of the time, it's almost not worth the time. (or you get a fckn discount coupon on another purchase)

 

[dullard]

My objections to class action lawsuits are:
1) The fucking lawyers get MOST of the money
2) The left-over amounts get dribbled out to so many people, most of the time, it's almost not worth the time. (or you get a fckn discount coupon on another purchase)

What is the alternative? Companies get away with anything they want? One or two people get $20 from a lawsuit? Plus the lawyers typically only get about 1/3rd, not most.

For the most part, the time that I've put in is about 10 minutes to fill out a quick form with name, address, maybe a detail or two relevant to the case. I average maybe $50 back. Sometimes it is a paltry $2. But, sometimes a couple hundred. It is sufficient reward for my effort on average. Even if I only get $20, that is a rate of $120/hour for those 10 minutes of work.

 

[Brainonska511]

What is the alternative? Companies get away with anything they want? One or two people get $20 from a lawsuit? Plus the lawyers typically only get about 1/3rd, not most.

For the most part, the time that I've put in is about 10 minutes to fill out a quick form with name, address, maybe a detail or two relevant to the case. I average maybe $50 back. Sometimes it is a paltry $2. But, sometimes a couple hundred. It is sufficient reward for my effort on average. Even if I only get $20, that is a rate of $120/hour for those 10 minutes of work.

Also, lawyers take these cases on contingency. They do all the work for free and only get paid if they win or get a settlement.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Better than I've ever made out from a class action suit.

Yeah damn best I ever get was $90 for a hack of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas that leaked my info. Then $30 for my GTX 970 after Nvidia lied about the speed of the VRAM on the card. And a ton of checks for like $3.56 for various RAM price fixing class actions from building systems over the years.

 

[dullard]

Yeah damn best I ever get was $90 for a hack of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas that leaked my info. Then $30 for my GTX 970 after Nvidia lied about the speed of the VRAM on the card. And a ton of checks for like $3.56 for various RAM price fixing class actions from building systems over the years.

You have a chance for more. Up to $100 for Apple Siri users right now.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

You have a chance for more. Up to $100 for Apple Siri users right now.

Sorry haven't bought anything Apple since an ipod in like 2006

 

[tcsenter]

Well this is weird. I got another notice, legit from the administrators saying there is STILL money left and requesting that I complete/submit a W-9. According to IRS, payments under $600 don't require W-9 which is why the previous 599 figure. Payments of $600 and more require W-9. So I may be getting another payment in excess of $599? Unless I am mistaken and it is simply the totality of all the payments that exceeds 599 e.g. 599 + 1, thus triggering the W-9 requirement? We shall see I guess.

 

[sdifox]

Well this is weird. I got another notice, legit from the administrators saying there is STILL money left and requesting that I complete/submit a W-9. According to IRS, payments under $600 don't require W-9 which is why the previous 599 figure. Payments of $600 and more require W-9. So I may be getting another payment in excess of $599? Unless I am mistaken and it is simply the totality of all the payments that exceeds 599 e.g. 599 + 1, thus triggering the W-9 requirement? We shall see I guess.

you are getting Donny Tariffed!

 

[tcsenter]

you are getting Donny Tariffed!

I think that $600+ reporting thing is from the Biden admin.

 

[dullard]

I think that $600+ reporting thing is from the Biden admin.

Two things to note:

1) The $600 only applies to payments in 2026 or later. If you receive this payment in 2025, the limit is $2500 before it gets reported to the IRS. Just because it may or may not be reported to the IRS does not affect whether or not you are legally supposed to be taxed on it. This is only in regards to if the IRS knows about the payment or if it is the old honor system method (which was widely abused). https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k

2) It may or may not be taxable, depending on how it is classified. I didn't bother to look up how this particular lawsuit settlement was made. But, this document should clarify it for you. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4345.pdf