Class Action Rebates and How To Get The Money You Are Owed
A company that has sold a defective product will often settle the problem with a refund or by offering rebates on the item you purchased. This is what we call a class action rebate case. There are some legal requirements and steps you may need to take if you want to be part of a class action lawsuit. In this litigation Guide article we will talk about class action rebates and how to get the money you are owned.
THE PURCHASE
The first thing you need to do is provide proof of the purchase. This is not true in every case but in the vast majority of cases you will have to prove your standing in the lawsuit. It is always a good idea to save your receipts because a company normally won’t provide any refunds or rebates without one. The company needs to see the paperwork, even if it is from 5 years ago. If you can’t prove you purchased the product why should the company send you and everyone else money?
I also don’t recommend going after money on some minor purchase. If you are going to file for a class action rebate be sure it’s on something worth more than a dollar or two and more than the value of the postage stamp you are using. Make sure it is worth your while and the company’s time.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE
This is another question that pops up. Do some research before filing and make sure you are eligible for the class action rebate and do a quick search on the internet. There are sites that will have a list of items that are in class action rebate status and they will display which ones you may be eligible for.
HOW TO GET THE PROCESS GOING
When online you may need to fill out a claim form. In some cases you might have to mail in the information with proof of purchase. They will usually ask you for some basic details that will consist of your name, address and phone number. They will also ask you for the number of items you purchased. Fill out a form completely and answer all questions and mail or email the form in as required. Keep a copy of you correspondence.
WHEN CAN YOU EXPECT A RESPONSE
You are going to have to wait, unfortunately. Most of the time it will take about 1 to 2 months to hear anything from the company. Once the claim period is finished, your check should be mailed to you at the address you have provided. This is the process and legal action is never very speedy. All class action lawsuits will take some time to process, be patient.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COURSES OF ACTION
Most of the time there is not anything else you can do. Just get in line and wait. But if this is a very large item and very expensive or physical injury occurred you may want to take other steps. What you need to do is seek additional counsel. Your best bet is to talk to a lawyer and decide if it is your best interest to not take part in the class action lawsuit but file suit on your own. Filing a suit on your own can be complicated and expensive and you will need an attorney.
SHOULD YOU HIRE AN ATTORNEY?
1) In a class action rebate situation you already have attorney representation that is protecting all member interests who have standing in the rebate. Only if you opt out of the class action for the reasons mentioned above should you attempt to get your own attorney. If you do opt out and get your own attorney it may help to expedite your payment but it may make it take longer and cost you more.
2) If you have questions or concerns your lawyer can help you understand your rights. You should always remember that when you are looking at something that has legal implications and you are not sure what to do then seeking legal advice is always the intelligent thing to do, contact an attorney. A company may take advantage of your lack of understanding the law. You have rights and can avoid all this by hiring an attorney.