POLL: Scam or not?

[Normy]

I received a fairly legitimate-looking package in the mail the other day that deals with a class action lawsuit. Apparently, it was deemed illegal for credit card companies to charge US-based card-holders fees for the use of credit, charge, and/or debit/ATM cards at locations outside the United States, and a fund has been set up to reimburse people who were.

The package was several pages long, and the first few pages all you had to do was confirm your address, and then date and sign. On the last page however, they ask you for your account number and the name of the bank that issued the card....

-Now, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck yesterday. I'm going to take this to the Post Office on Monday and ask them about it, but I thought it would be interesting to get the thoughts of folks on this web forum. The package was labeled "U.S. District Court Settlement Administrator", and lists a P.O. box in Philadelphia as a contact point. What's more...guess what? They even have a website:

www.ccfsettlement.com

AND a phone number: 1-800-945-9890

My opinion: SCAM. If you get something in the mail like this...be very wary!

N!

[cashflyer]

Registrant:
Heffler, Radetich & Saitta LLP
P.O. Box 290
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105-0290

I received one of these several months ago. It seemed legit to me and since I had been doing some overseas travel, I completed the paperwork.

My mother recently received the same paperwork. She's not convinced of it's authenticity.

In other words, I don't know.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You could call the State Bar Association and see if the lawyers representing the class are registered.

[stomachmonkey]

Wife got the same thing. Thought it was legit. Gonna go read the fine print later.

[equality72521]

My wife and I just got the same thing. I haven't really read it though.

[HardDrive]

I think its legit. The firm seems to be a major accounting house that deals with large scale class action settlements.

http://www.hrsclaimsadministration.com/cases/

[VaSteve]

We got it too. So did my sister in law. Too many people got it to be a scam...for long anyway.

[pwd72s]

Did it come through the USPS...in other words, US Mail? If it's a fraud, they are risking the wrath of postal inspectors. You might begin checking there. Scams often send material by fedex these days. Impresses the mark, while avoiding postal fraud charges.

I'd be VERY wary of giving anyone asking for my banking info...

[TerryH]

I got two. Tossed em after reading they didn't appy to me. IE; no foreign transactions. I'm 99% sure they are legit. But, as you say, for the larger claims they are asking for personal info, so always better to err on the side of caution.

[stomachmonkey]

Wife says ours came USPS. Regular mail.

[aap1966]

Let's ASSUME it's legit.
How much would each person stand to get at the end of all this? (Excluding the lawyers initiating the action.)

[The Gaijin]

Indeed! You get a check for $3.35 and they reap millions. So yes, basically a scam.

[WolfeMacleod]

My wife got it too. Two, actually. Both came this week.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Sent my reply in yesterday. Mine was for $25. I did use my Mastercard outside the US within the time frame noted so it seemed legit. All you had to do is sign it and mail it back for the basic refund. I have received many of these class action lawsuits over the years and they all sent me my money eventually.

I wonder what I can do with my new found wealth. I guess it will help pay for my ball joint order to pelican in the next couple of weeks.

[Gogar]

I got it.

In that time period, I'd say I have a total of about 10 overseas card transactions, so I'm blowing it off, along with the 7,436,027 other class action mailings I get each year.

[cstreit]

I got the same thing.... Not sure if I want to spend the time, but spent $20-$25k overseas in that time period... Perhaps more.. International business travel.

I hate to do all the documentation work, but the alternative would be letting those lawyers have it.

[Normy]

Wow...

I don't know. ALL these people getting this stuff within the past few weeks-?

Question: Has anyone here received an actual check in the mail for the money that you supposedly were owed?

And those of you who have sent in a response: Have you checked your credit card statements lately?

N

PS: Someone who posts here and on Rennlist should post something over there on their OT section. I'm going to post this tonight on my company union web forum.

[TerryH]

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/ccfsettlement.asp

[legion]

I've gotten a few different things like this over the years. What has happened is a plaintiff's attorney (trial lawyer) has brought a class-action case and won. Now he is trying to find people in the class for the settlement.

I'm pretty conflicted on these, as I hate frivolous lawsuits (as the ones I have gotten often have been) and the lawyers that bring them. Unfortunately, they sometimes (often) get to keep whatever is left of the settlement that isn't claimed, in addition to their outrageous fees.

I have torn up the paperwork and tossed it in the trash.

In this case, however, if you were subjected to those fees, you have a legitimate claim.

So yes, this is probably a legitimate lawsuit, but IMO most of these suits are a scam.

[masraum]

My wife and I got the same thing this past week. For the first 2 options, you don't have to fill out anything except your name and address (no SSN or bank info). I suspect it's legit. I'm not going to try for the 1st or 3rd option. The amount they list for the first option (you spent 1 week or $2,500 in another country) is 1% or $25. I've spent 18 days in another country in that time, so I'm hoping for $75.