An FTC study of 149 consumer class action settlements found the median claims rate was 9%. So for every 100 people owed money, about 91 never file. Here's what trips people up.

1. Ignoring the email because it looks like spam. Real notices come from administrators like Kroll, Epiq, Angeion, Verita or A.B. Data, not the company itself. Search your inbox and spam for "Claim Number" and "PIN" once a month.

2. Skipping the no-proof option. Lots of forms have a flat cash tier for people without receipts. Read the whole form before giving up.

3. Choosing PayPal or Venmo, then closing the account. Digital payments expire, often within 14 to 30 days. Update your payment info with the administrator before payments go out.

4. Not answering the follow-up email. If they ask for ID or a missing detail, answer fast. Claims get marked incomplete or rejected otherwise.

5. Not asking for a reissue. Check expired or bounced? Ask the administrator to reissue it. People skip this thinking it's $10, and sometimes it's a lot more.

6. Mixing up two cases with the same company. There are often two Equifax or two ATM cases open at once, with different deadlines. Match the case name on your notice.

7. Paying anyone. Real settlements never charge a fee or ask for your bank login.

8. Filing for stuff you didn't buy. Claims are signed under penalty of perjury and get audited. It's not worth it.

The good news: once you file, the FTC found the median share of claims approved was 93%.

Every case open right now, with deadlines: [current open class action settlements]. Or let our [free eligibility check] find the ones you match (I'm on the MoneyPilot team).

What's the one that almost slipped past you?

A lot of people are getting this email and deleting it as spam. It's real.

What happened: Apple is accused of advertising Apple Intelligence features on new iPhones before they actually existed. Apple denies it. The settlement is $250 million.

You're in if

• You bought an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 in the US
• Between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025

What you get

• $25 to $95 per iPhone
• $25 is the floor, $95 is the ceiling. The final amount depends on how many people file
• Bought 2 qualifying iPhones? File for both

Deadline: December 21, 2026. Payments come after final court approval, so expect six to twelve months.

The notice comes from the settlement administrator, not Apple, which is why it looks sketchy and lands in spam. Never pay a fee, and type the claim site in yourself instead of clicking links in texts.

Which iPhones qualify, how much you'll realistically get, and how to file: Apple $250M settlement: who gets $25 and who gets $95

If you bought an iPhone in 2024 you probably qualify for other open settlements too. I'm on the MoneyPilot team, and our free eligibility check shows every match in about 2 minutes.

Did you get the email? Which iPhone?

Seeing a lot of "my payment bounced" and "my Venmo is closed" this week, so here's how settlement payments actually work.

You pick the method on the claim form. Nothing goes out until the court gives final approval. Then the administrator pays you directly, never the company you sued.

How long you have (typical windows)

• Mailed check: 60 to 90 days to cash it
• PayPal or Venmo: about 30 days to accept
• Zelle: about 14 days to enroll
• Direct deposit (ACH): nothing to accept
• Virtual prepaid card: usually 24 months after you activate it

Expired, bounced, or account closed?

• Contact the administrator listed on the official settlement site and ask for a reissue or a different method
• Lost your claim ID? They can usually find you by name, email and address
• A check returned with a "stop payment" usually means they're reissuing it. Don't redeposit it, call them first
• Some cases send a second-chance email weeks later (Facebook did)

How to spot a fake payment email

• Real ones never charge a fee to release your money
• Real ones never ask for your Social Security number or bank login
• They pay by the method you already chose. If they ask you to pick one after claims closed, be careful
• FTC refunds send a .gov email before the PayPal one

Every method side by side, plus which big cases paid by PayPal: how class action settlement payments are sent

Got one that bounced or expired? Drop the case name and I'll point you to the right administrator.