Tens of millions of American Android users could be entitled to money from a landmark Google settle
If you have used an Android phone with a cellular data plan at any point in the last several years, there is a reasonable chance you are entitled to money from a $135 million settlement with Google, and you may not even know it yet.
The lawsuit at the center of the settlement alleged that Android devices were quietly transmitting data to Google in the background without users’ knowledge or consent, effectively consuming paid cellular data that users never agreed to spend. Google denied any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case rather than take it to trial. With roughly 117 million Android users currently in the United States, the pool of potentially eligible recipients is enormous.
Who qualifies for a payment
The eligibility criteria are straightforward. To qualify for a payout, you must meet all 3 of the following conditions. 1. You must be an individual based in the United States, not a business entity of any kind. 2. You must have used an Android device to access the internet through a cellular data plan at any point on or after Nov. 12, 2017. 3. You must not be a participant in a separate California case known as Csupo v. Google LLC, which excludes certain users from this particular settlement. If you are unsure whether that case affects your eligibility, settlement materials recommend contacting the claims administrator directly or checking the official settlement website for clarification.
How much money to expect
Individual payouts are expected to be modest. Most eligible users can anticipate receiving somewhere between $1 and $1.50, though payments are capped at $100 per person depending on the total number of users who ultimately participate. The final amount each person receives will be determined once the full pool of eligible claimants is known and payments are distributed evenly among them.
How to claim your payout
The process for receiving payment is relatively simple, but it is not entirely automatic, and there is one important step that could determine whether your money actually reaches you. Eligible users are encouraged to visit the official settlement website at FederalCellularClassAction.com and select a preferred payment method. No traditional claim form is required, but choosing a payment method in advance is strongly recommended. If no selection is made, administrators may attempt to deliver payment through services such as Zelle, PayPal or Venmo using account information already on file. If that attempt fails and no payment preference has been recorded, there is a real possibility of missing the payout entirely.
If you want to opt out instead
Anyone who would rather preserve their right to pursue independent legal action against Google can opt out of the settlement, but doing so requires submitting a formal request before the deadline. That process may involve a notice ID and a signed form that must be mailed in ahead of the cutoff date.
Key dates to keep in mind
There are 2 dates that every potentially eligible user should note. The deadline to opt out of the settlement or file an objection is May 29. A final approval hearing is currently scheduled for June 23. If the settlement receives court approval at that hearing, payments will be distributed to eligible users in the weeks that follow. Given how many Americans fall within the eligible window, taking a few minutes to visit the settlement website before May 29 is well worth the effort.
Source: New York Post