$12.5M Cash App Settlement: How to Claim Your Share & Key Payment Dates

Cash App is a popular mobile payment application, which is used by millions of people for online transactions every day. But recently this company has got caught in a big legal dispute. Many people living in Washington state have filed a class action lawsuit against Cash App Settlement and its parent company Block Inc.. The main reason for this lawsuit is unauthorized messages sent through the app’s “Invite Friends” feature, which were sent without the permission of the recipients.

Now the company has agreed to settle the dispute for \$12.5 million (about Rs 104 crore).

Background of the lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed in a Washington state court, alleged that Cash App’s Invite Friends feature was sending text messages without consumers’ consent. These messages were sent under a referral program, but it was a violation of Washington’s consumer protection law.

This case is mainly related to violations of three laws:

1. TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act)
2. Washington Consumer Protection Act
3. Washington Consumer Electronic Mail Act

Under these laws, sending messages without permission is considered a serious offense.

Settlement amount and payment

The company has offered a settlement of \$12.5 million to avoid a long legal process. However, the entire amount will not be directly given to the affected people.

• This will be first-deductible in the lawyers charges and the administrative costs.
• The rest will be shared by qualified claimants on pro-rata basis.

Estimated Payout:

• If the number of claims is 1,00,000 → \$125 to \$147 per person
• If the claims are 2,00,000 → \$88 to \$110 per person
• If the claims reach 5,00,000 → \$50 or less per person

Who is eligible? (Eligibility Criteria)

There are certain conditions to benefit from this settlement:

• The person must be a resident of Washington State.
• The person must have received a referral message from Cash App.
• The mobile number received must have a Washington area code.

Only those who have actually received the messages without consent will be eligible for the claim.

Claim Process

Those who are eligible have to take proactive steps on their part.

1. Keep an eye on official notices and court announcements.
2. Make sure the number on which the message came has a Washington code.
3. Submit your claim immediately as soon as the official claim website goes live.

Ways to receive payment

After the claim is verified, payment will be made in various ways, such as:

• PayPal
• Direct bank deposit
• Paper check (will be sent by mail)

Company’s stand and dispute

Interestingly enough, nevertheless, Cash App and Block Inc. have yet to acknowledge that they have committed an error. They claim to have not neglected any law. However, in order to avoid a prolonged legal battle and huge fines they were willing to settle the case.

Such condition reveals the severity of consumer rights. Unauthorized sending of messages without the permission of the consumers does not only infringe their privacy because it puts their data at risk.

Why is this case important?

This lawsuit is not limited to Washington state. It is an example that big tech companies also have to respect consumer rights.

• This sends a message to consumers that they have legal rights.
• This teaches companies that no marketing practice without transparency and consent can be sustained.
• This will lead to a greater focus on data privacy and security.

Conclusion

This $12.5 million settlement is a welcome relief for Washington consumers. Those who are eligible should complete the claim process as soon as possible by keeping an eye on the official information. This case is proof that consumers’ voices cannot go unheard and even big companies have to follow the law.

FAQs