Where to find open class action lawsuits you can claim
This page used to be a giant table of 50+ settlements. Almost every row expired within a few months, which is the problem with any “top class action lawsuits” list that doesn’t get checked every week.
So for the current list, go to FileYourClaim. It keeps a running list of open settlements you can file, including the ones that need no proof of purchase.
Then come back here for the stuff that doesn’t change: how to tell if you qualify, what a claim really pays and how to dodge the fake settlement sites that pop up around every big case.
What a class action settlement actually is
A class action is one lawsuit filed on behalf of a whole group of people who were affected the same way. Think everyone who bought a product with a misleading label, or everyone whose data leaked in the same breach, all rolled into one case.
When the company settles, it puts money into a fund (or offers repairs, credits or free services) for the whole group. A judge has to approve the deal, and federal rules only allow that after a hearing where the court finds it fair, reasonable and adequate.
If you’re in the class and you don’t opt out, you’re bound by the deal, which means you can’t sue the company on your own later over the same thing. For a $10 refund, nobody cares. For a bigger loss, read the notice before you do anything.
How to tell if you qualify
Every settlement has a class definition. It’s usually one paragraph on the settlement site and it says who’s in: what you bought or used and when (sometimes where you lived too).
Got an email or postcard with a claim ID or notice number? You’re probably on the administrator’s list already, and filing with that ID is usually the easiest route.
No notice? You can still qualify. Lots of people who bought something at a store never get one, because the company doesn’t have their contact info. Read the definition, and if you fit it, file.
If you don’t fit it, don’t file. Simple as that.
Proof of purchase vs no proof claims
Settlements usually split claims into two kinds.
With proof. You upload a receipt, an order email, a bank or card statement, or an account record. These claims pay more, and some settlements let you claim every purchase you can prove.
No proof. You just state what you bought and sign the form saying it’s true. These are the “no proof” class actions everyone searches for, and they’re legit, but they’re usually capped at a small number of purchases or a flat amount.
One warning. The form is a sworn statement, and settlement administrators can check claims and reject the ones that look fake. Claiming stuff you never bought isn’t a hack. It’s lying under oath for a few bucks, and it can get every claim you file tossed.
How payouts really work (and why most are small)
The headline number is never what you get. A “$50 million settlement” pays the lawyers’ fees and the cost of running the claims process first, and whatever’s left gets split among everyone who files a valid claim.
That’s why so many settlements say “up to” and “estimated.” If more people file, each check shrinks.
Here’s the weird part, though. Most people never bother. When the FTC studied settlement campaigns, the median claims rate was 9% of the people who got a notice directly. So the folks who do file are splitting the pot with a lot fewer people than you’d think.
Timing is slow. Nothing pays until the judge gives final approval, and any appeal can push that back a long way. Plan on months, not weeks.
When it does pay, you usually pick how: check, PayPal, Venmo, a prepaid card or direct deposit, depending on the administrator. Watch your email, including spam, because that’s where the “choose your payment” message often lands.
What about taxes? The IRS looks at what the payment was meant to replace. Damages for a physical injury are generally excluded, and other kinds of settlement money can count as income. If a settlement sends you a big check, ask a tax pro before you spend it.
How to spot a fake settlement site
Every big settlement gets copycat sites. The FTC warned about exactly this during the Equifax breach settlement, when fake claim sites went up looking like the real one.
The red flags are pretty easy once you know them.
- They want money. You never pay to file a claim.
- Someone called you to get you to file. The FTC says that caller is almost certainly a scammer.
- The site doesn’t name the case, the court and the claims administrator, or it has no phone number or mailing address for questions.
- You landed there from a random text, a pop-up or an ad instead of the notice or a trusted list.
- It asks for your bank login or card number. Real sites ask where to send money, not for passwords.
Not sure? Type the address from your notice into your browser yourself, or start from a list you trust. If the notice says it’s from the FTC, check that the case is listed at ftc.gov/refunds. The FTC runs its own refund programs too, and it never charges an upfront fee or asks for your Social Security number or bank account info.
How to file a class action claim
- Find the official settlement site from your notice or a list you trust.
- Read the class definition and the claim deadline. The deadline is the one date that matters.
- Dig up proof if you have it: order emails, receipts, statements. If you don’t have any, check whether there’s a no proof option.
- File online. It usually takes a few minutes. Save the confirmation number and screenshot the last page.
- Pick your payment method and keep an eye on your email for messages from the administrator.
That’s it. Then forget about it until the money shows up, because checking every day won’t make it come faster.
Should you opt out or object?
For most people, no. Opting out only makes sense if your loss was big enough that you’d rather sue on your own, and that’s a conversation for a lawyer.
If you think the deal is unfair but you want to stay in, you can object. The notice explains how and gives a deadline for that too.
Want money faster than a settlement check?
Settlements are free money, but slow free money. If you need a few bucks this week, these apps pay for games, app trials and quick offers. Check what’s paying right now before you pick one, and see the full rundown of apps that pay you real money.
Freecash
Best for: quick cash from games and app trials
- What it is
- A rewards site and app that pays you for games, app trials, surveys and other offers.
- What you do
- Pick an offer, play the game or try the app, and get paid when you finish what the offer asks.
- How much it pays
- Each offer shows its own payout, and your first offer unlocks a $10 welcome bonus. Cash out by PayPal, gift cards or crypto. Most of those withdrawals are instant. Your first one needs $5 to $20 depending on your region, then it’s $5 for PayPal.
- The catch
- You have to verify your ID with a selfie before the first payout, and you need to be 16 or older.
Worth it? Yes if you want small, fast cash and don’t mind playing a game for a few days to hit the goal.
Testerup
Best for: getting paid to test mobile games
- What it is
- An app that pays you to test mobile games and take surveys.
- What you do
- Pick a game or survey task. Each offer shows its reward before you start, so you know what it pays up front.
- How much it pays
- You get a $10 welcome bonus. Cash out by PayPal, Venmo (US), a Visa virtual card or an Amazon gift card. PayPal and Venmo payouts lose 5%. Money usually lands within 24 hours, up to 3 business days.
- The catch
- You need to be 18 or older, and your first payout goes through a face check.
Worth it? Yes if you already play games on your phone and want a $10 head start.
Bigcash
Best for: short offers on your phone
- What it is
- A rewards site and app that pays coins for games, apps, surveys and product offers. 250 coins = $1.
- What you do
- Pick an offer and finish it. Bigcash says most take 5 to 10 minutes.
- How much it pays
- Coins swap for PayPal cash, gift cards or Bitcoin. Bigcash claims up to $170 per offer and $20M+ paid out. Its App Store listing says payments go out within 36 hours.
- The catch
- Bigcash can raise your cash-out threshold based on how you use the account, and it can take back rewards an advertiser flags.
Worth it? Yes if you want quick offers on your phone. Cash out often so nothing sits there.
Need cash even faster than that? These are the quickest ways we know to get money when you need it now, and if you’d rather set a target, start with how to make $50 fast or make $200 fast. Apps that send money straight to PayPal are in our list of apps that pay through PayPal, and you can find more ideas under side hustles.
Class action lawsuit FAQ
Do I need proof of purchase to file a class action claim?
Not always. Many settlements have a no proof option where you state what you bought and sign the form. Those claims are usually capped low. Proof like a receipt or statement usually gets you more.
How much money will I get from a class action settlement?
Usually a small amount. The fund pays lawyers and administration costs first, then gets split among valid claims, so your check depends on how many people file. The settlement site gives an estimate, but it’s an estimate.
How long does it take to get paid?
Nothing pays until the court gives final approval and any appeals are done. Plan on months, and longer if someone appeals.
Is it safe to file a class action claim online?
Yes, on the official settlement site. Filing is always free. Skip any site that charges you, any caller who pushes you to file, and any form that wants a password or card number.
Can I still join a settlement after the deadline?
Almost never. Once the claim deadline passes, you’re out. That’s why it pays to check an updated list like FileYourClaim every couple of weeks.
Sources (5)
We use primary sources: the court rules, the agencies that regulate settlements and refunds, and the IRS.
- Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23: Class Actions. law.cornell.edu. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission. Consumers and Class Actions: A Retrospective and Analysis of Settlement Campaigns (staff report). ftc.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission. Equifax Data Breach: Beware of Fake Settlement Websites. consumer.ftc.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission. Refund Programs: Frequently Asked Questions. ftc.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments. irs.gov. Accessed October 22, 2026.
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