The Citibank class action settlement deadline to submit the claim form for the settlement was 20 December 2024, now claimants await the settlement payout. A settlement fund of $29.5 million has been established to resolve the Citibank class action case.
After the final approval hearing of the Citibank class action settlement, the claimants would receive the compensation. The class members of the Citibank class action settlement wondering about the settlement payout can check their expected payout date here.
Citibank Class Action Settlement Payout
The Citibank class action settlement notice was sent to the class members and was disbursed in September 2024. After the preliminary approval from the federal court, the class members who have submitted the claim form before the deadline of 20 December 2024 must be wondering about the payment.
The settlement amount is not available to class members who choose to opt out of the Citibank class action settlement. The settlement administrator will disburse the payment once the federal court United District Court for the District of Arizona approves the class action agreement and the payments.
The settlement agreement states that on January 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM, the final hearing for the Citibank class action settlement will be held at the Arizona court. After the final approval hearing the administrator will process the payment after 30 days of the final approval if no one appeals to the court decision.
If anyone appeals the court decision, the Citibank class action settlement administrator will cease the payment distribution until the appeal is resolved.
What’s the Citibank class action settlement about?
On August 15, 2018, Christine Head filed a complaint against CitiGroup Inc. Mr. Newton and Ms. Head filed the class action settlement alleging that Citibank has violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by saying that they placed the calls to noncustomers of telephone numbers with robocalls without the consent of the customer.
The plaintiff claims that Citibank violated the TCPA by calling cellular phone numbers not associated with current or former Citibank cardholders, customers, or authorised users about past-due credit card accounts using an artificial or prerecorded voice (robocalls).
The defendant denied the allegations and any wrongdoing, however, the defendant settled to resolve the class action lawsuit with a settlement fund of $29.5 million. According to the TCPA violation, the rules say the violation of TCPa caused $500 charges and the willful violations are charged up to $1500.
How much payout can you expect through the Citibank Class Action Settlement?
As we have mentioned earlier, the Citibank class action settlement fund amounts to $29.5 million and will be first used to cover the following expenses:
- Settlement administrator notice and costs that will not go above $975,000
- Attorney’s fees and costs that would not go above one-third of the settlement;
- Service Awards for the class representatives that would not go over the $15,000 to Ms. Head, whereas Mr. Newton will receive up to $10,000;
- Litigation costs and expenses of the settlement do not go over $60,000.
The settlement class members will receive the payment from the settlement fund after the settlement administrator uses the fund for the above-mentioned expenses. The class members who have filed the Citibank class action settlement can receive the funds from the remaining settlement fund that will be left after the distribution of the funds to the above-mentioned cost.
The participating members who have filed the valid claim for the Citibank class action settlement can expect the payout depending on the number of filed claims and the evidence they provide of the telephone calls. According to the settlement administrator, the claimants can receive up to $350 and $850 as the payout.
The Citibank class members who have provided documentary evidence of the calls can recover a settlement fund limited to $2500. The settlement class members will receive the notice if they reach the maximum limit of $2500 payout based on the prerecorded calls documentary evidence. The documentary evidence of the Citibank class action settlement includes pre-recorded calls, screenshots, wireless carrier telephone records, etc.
Who can receive the Citibank Class Action Settlement Payout?
According to the Citibank class action settlement, people who meet the following eligibility conditions will receive the settlement payout:
- All individuals and organizations in the United States (a) to whom Citibank, N.A. called regarding a past-due credit card account, (b) via its Aspect dialler and with an artificial or prerecorded voice, (c) to a number linked to a cellular telephone service but not to a current or former Citibank, N.A. customer or authorised user, and between the class period 15 August 2014, and 31 July 2024.
- The class members who have submitted the claim form before the deadline of 20 Dec 2024 and have not submitted the excluding form before the deadline.
How will you receive the Citibank settlement payout?
According to the Citibank class action settlement, the settlement administrator will release the compensation to the class members who had claimed the class action settlement. The class members will receive the class action settlement fund and will receive the compensation via physical check and the payment method they have selected in the claim form.
The Citibank class action claimants will need to cash out their payment within 120 days of the issuance of the check. If the payment is not cashed out on time the funds will go back to the settlement administrator and will be used to make other payments under the settlement and it may cancel the check.
The Citibank class action settlement final approval hearing on the fairness of the settlement will be held on 14 Jan 2025, the class members can expect the payment after the hearing within 45 days if no one appeals the court’s decision.