OwedGuide
How to find class action settlements you may qualify for
Start with the companies you've actually done business with. Check your mail and inbox, including spam, for settlement notices, search for open settlements involving brands and services you've used, and confirm each one on its official settlement website before you file. A short check once a month helps you catch new ones before their deadlines. This is general information, not legal advice.
List where you've spent money
Settlements are tied to specific products, services and dates, so your own history is the best starting point.
How to do it: Write down the stores, banks and cards, phone and internet providers, subscriptions, cars and insurance you've had in recent years.
Check your mail and inbox, including spam
Notices often arrive as a postcard or an email with a notice or claim ID.
How to do it: Search your inbox for words like settlement, class action and claim ID.
Keep data breach letters
If a company told you your data was exposed, a settlement may follow later.
How to do it: Save those letters and emails; they can help show you were affected. How to file a data breach claim
Search, then verify
Searching a brand name plus the word settlement can turn up open cases, along with copycat sites.
How to do it: Confirm the case on the official settlement website named in the court-approved notice before you share anything. How to spot a fake settlement
Check court records
Federal cases can be looked up in PACER, the federal courts' online records system.
How to do it: The case name and number in a notice let you check that the case is real.
Read who is in the class
Every settlement defines its class: who, what and when.
How to do it: Check the dates and the product or service carefully before you file.
Start with claims you can file now
Some settlements don't ask for proof of purchase; others do.
How to do it: If you rarely keep receipts, start with the ones that don't need them. Claims with no proof of purchase
Note every deadline
Claims filed after the deadline are usually rejected.
How to do it: Put each deadline in your calendar with a reminder a week before. Settlement deadlines explained
Make it a monthly routine
New settlements open throughout the year.
How to do it: Set aside 5 or 15 minutes once a month to check for new ones.
Get a checklist built from your answers
Owed's free quiz turns where you've shopped, banked and subscribed into a checklist of categories to look in and claims to start with.
How to do it: Answer five quick questions to get your checklist. Get my checklist
See where to look for open settlements. Answer five quick questions and get a checklist built from where you've shopped, banked and subscribed. Not legal advice.
Get my checklistQuestions
How do I know if I'm eligible for a class action settlement?
Read the class definition in the official notice or on the settlement website. It says who is included, often by product, service and date range. The settlement administrator decides on each claim.
Is there a free way to find class action settlements?
Yes. Check your mail and inbox for notices, search for settlements involving companies you've used and verify each one on its official website. Filing on the official claim form is free.
Do I need a lawyer to file a claim?
Usually not. Class members file claims themselves on the official form. If you have a question about your rights, the notice lists who to contact.
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Updated October 11, 2026