If you used a credit or debit card to make purchases at Trader Joe’s in early 2019, you could be eligible for a payout as part of a $7.4 million class action lawsuit settlement against the California-based grocery chain.
Customers who used both electronic payment methods between March 5, 2019, and July 19, 2019, may be eligible for a monetary payment. Trader Joe’s has been accused of violating the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act after shoppers’ personal financial information was exposed on their receipts, potentially leading to identity theft, according to the lawsuit and NBC Los Angeles.
Plaintiff Brian Keim filed a class-action lawsuit in 2019, alleging that after making purchases at a Trader Joe’s store in Palm Beach, Florida, he discovered that his receipt displayed the first six digits and the last four digits of his card number. This meant that exposing the 10 numbers on his card violated the FACTA amendment, according to the complaint.
Keim stated that exposing his personal financial information “invaded his privacy by disclosing his private financial information to the store employee who provided the receipt and anyone else who sees the receipt,” per the complaint.
Trader Joe’s has denied Keim’s allegations and denies any liability or wrongdoing. The grocery chain’s insurer concluded that further litigation would be “protracted and expensive” and has decided to fully settle based on the terms outlined in the settlement, according to the settlement website.
Here’s what shoppers need to know about the Trader Joe’s lawsuit, including eligibility for a payout, how to file a claim, the potential amount received, and the consequences of inaction.
Who is eligible for a payout?
Customers who used their credit or debit cards to make purchases at Trader Joe’s between March 5, 2019, and July 19, 2019, and whose card numbers were exposed, are eligible for a payout after the grocery chain violated the FACTA amendment.
Additionally, anyone who received an email or postcard about the settlement is likely a class-action member, according to the settlement website, based on the claims administrator’s records.
How should eligible customers file a claim?
Eligible customers should file and submit a valid claim by June 9, 2026, to receive a payment, but doing so means giving up their right to sue Trader Joe’s over related claims. Claims can be filed online, by mail, or by phone, and the settlement administrator may ask for additional information.
How much is the payout?
The exact payout amount will depend on the number of valid settlement claim forms filed by class members. However, the estimated amount could be around $100, according to the settlement website and ABC 7.
What happens if customers do nothing?
If customers decide not to file a claim, they will not receive any monetary award. They will also give up their rights to pursue or continue to pursue a Released Claim against Trader Joe’s or any other Trader Joe’s Releasee, per the settlement website.