Americans have just hours to claim a one-time payment from $1.8m admin fee settlement – just fill out a three-step form

AMERICANS could get a one-time payment from a $1.8 million settlement surrounding a utility company's administrative fees, but time is running out.

Class members must act quickly, as the deadline to file a claim is today.

RealPage Utility Management agreed to a $1.8 million settlement to resolve claims that it charged an administration fee unlawfully.

Maryland residents who received an administration fee from the utility management company between April 1, 2017, and June 30, 2023, could be eligible to receive a payment.

The firm allegedly sent monthly statements to consumers for utilities and other fees, including unlawful administrative fees.

RealPage Utility Management has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to resolve the class action lawsuit.

If class members submit a claim by the end of today, September 2, they could receive a pro-rata payment in proportion to the amount in admin fees they were charged.

The exact amount individuals will get back depends on how many claims are filed.

The utility company has also agreed to apply for a Maryland collection agency license.

WHO QUALIFIES?

There are around 233,000 class members who may qualify for a payment.

To qualify, you must be a Maryland customer who received a charge from RealPAge between April 2017 and June 2023.

And you must file your claim by the end of today.

About one-third of the $1.8 million settlement will go towards lawyer fees.

It is not yet clear when class members will receive their payment.

Other settlements across the US include a $1.5 million software data breach, a dating app's $40 million settlement, and two canned tuna company's $3.875 million settlement.

OTHER SETTLEMENTS

Americans impacted by CMG's $1.5 million settlement could receive up to $4,400 in compensation.

The company, which provides software-as-a-service solutions for wireless and broadband providers, did not admit to any wrongdoing but agreed to pay the settlement to resolve the lawsuit.

Popular dating app Badoo agreed to a $40 million settlement after a class action lawsuit alleged that it, along with Bumble, violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

What's a class-action settlement?

Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or 'classes,' a way to band together in court.

These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.

When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all "class members," or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.

Companies often settle class actions - offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.

These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.

Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company's doorstep.

Both dating apps have agreed to delete any biometric data they previously collected from current and former Illinois residents.

And Walmart shoppers who purchased cans of tuna could be entitled to a payment from a $3.875 million settlement.

According to the lawsuit, the two tuna companies - StarKirst and Lion Capital - conspired with other tuna manufacturers to raise and fix the price of Foodservice-Size Packaged Tuna products of 40 ounces or more.

Individuals who purchased these products from other stores including Sam's Club, Costco, and US Foods could also be eligible for a payment.