You may think twice about tossing your junk mail if it contains the key to collecting unclaimed money.
NBC 5 Responds has learned consumers may be failing to collect on class action settlements that range from just a few bucks to hundreds of dollars.
For example, if you took home tubes of Tom’s Toothpaste over the past few years, you may be entitled to some cash depending on what you bought.
The website TopClassAction.com alerts consumers to class action settlements. According to the site, millions of dollars are left unclaimed because people simply don’t know about the settlements. If consumers are notified by the courts, they may receive densely worded mailings that may look like junk mail to some people.
“The companies usually want to make the class notice as confusing and complicated as they possibly can,” consumer attorney Stuart Talley said. “They don’t want people to take advantage of the benefits.”
Consumers who search the website may find settlements related to many different kinds of products and services, including home appliances, gift cards, dog food, mortgages, insurance and pharmaceuticals.
It’s important to know there are deadlines to file a class action settlement claim. The deadline for Tom’s Toothpaste claims is in early May.
Settlement money that goes unclaimed will sometimes go to charity or be handed back to the defendant.
