If you’re looking for class action lawsuits to join, the useful thing to know first is that for most consumer cases you don’t “join” anything — you’re automatically included if you fit the class definition, and the moment that matters is filing a claim once a settlement is reached. Several settlements are open for claims right now, including Bank of America ATM fees, Shimano bicycle cranksets, Google Play subscriptions, Hyundai and Kia airbag control units, and the Bayer Roundup settlement. Each has its own eligibility rules, deadline, and official claim site.
Open Settlements You Can File a Claim For Now
Bank of America ATM fees. A $2.25 million settlement covers U.S. Bank of America checking account holders who were charged more than one out-of-network balance-inquiry fee during a single visit to an FCTI-owned ATM inside a 7-Eleven between May 1, 2018, and November 16, 2021. Current account holders who received notice get paid automatically. Former account holders need to file at OONFeeSettlement.com by June 29, 2026. Final approval hearing: August 21, 2026.
Shimano cranksets. Owners of certain Shimano bicycle cranksets manufactured before July 2019 — Ultegra FC-6800, Ultegra FC-R8000, Dura-Ace FC-9000, Dura-Ace FC-R9100, and Dura-Ace FC-R9100-P — can seek reimbursement for replacement costs related to bonding separation or delamination. The court granted final approval in February 2026. Claims require proof of purchase and must be filed at ShimanoCranksetSettlement.com by August 4, 2026. The settlement also extends the warranty on eligible cranksets through July 29, 2027, which applies automatically.
Google Play subscriptions. California residents who paid for at least one renewal of a Google Play subscription for personal use between May 30, 2014, and October 27, 2019, are eligible for an estimated $5.85 under a $5 million settlement. No form is required. Eligible users receive an account credit, or payment via PayPal or Zelle if they no longer have an active account. Final approval hearing: July 23, 2026.
Hyundai and Kia airbag control units. This settlement covers defective airbag control units in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The claim deadline is March 29, 2027.
Bayer Roundup. A $7.25 billion settlement addresses claims that Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers, with roughly 65,000 pending claims. Preliminary approval came in March 2026, but the settlement faces more than 100 formal objections. Objectors say residential users who developed cancer would be capped at $40,000 in gross compensation, that opt-out procedures are overly restrictive, and that the $675 million sought in attorneys’ fees lacks adequate documentation. A final approval hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026, and the case has been removed to federal court amid ongoing jurisdictional challenges. Anyone with a potential Roundup claim should read the notice carefully before deciding whether to opt out.
How Filing a Claim Actually Works
For most consumer class actions, membership is automatic. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, the dominant structure uses an opt-out model: if you meet the class definition — you bought the product, held the account, used the service during the relevant period — you’re in the class without doing anything. You stay in unless you affirmatively opt out.
Wage and hour cases are the main exception. They often use an opt-in structure, and the official class notice spells out the steps.
When a settlement is reached, eligible class members receive a notice by mail, email, or sometimes through digital advertising. The notice explains the terms, your rights, and the claim deadline. Filing is usually a short online form on the official settlement website, or a mailed paper form if you prefer.
Whether you need proof of purchase depends on the settlement. Some accept a sworn statement alone. Others require receipts, order confirmations, or account records. Tiered settlements have become common: smaller payments require no documentation, larger ones do.
File through the official, court-approved settlement site linked in your notice. Third-party sites may list the case, but claims only count when submitted through the administrator the court approved.
Where To Find More Open Settlements
Several aggregator sites track active settlements and investigations and can alert you when new ones open:
- TopClassActions.com. Categorized lists of open settlements and investigations, with a free weekly newsletter. Operating since 2008. The site does not process claims — users file on the official settlement website.
- ClassAction.org. A searchable database with listings showing eligibility requirements, deadlines, and whether proof is required. Also offers a free weekly newsletter and directs users to official settlement sites.
- Consumer Action (consumer-action.org). A class action database sortable by status — open to claims, pending, or closed — with a deadlines calendar.
None of these sites file your claim for you. They point you to the court-approved site where the claim form actually lives.
What You’re Likely To Get Paid
Per-person payouts vary widely. A 2015 CFPB study found the average consumer award across class actions was $32. Larger individual awards exist in cases with smaller, better-defined classes or more serious harm. The settlement fund is divided after legal fees — courts typically approve 25% to 35% — and after any court-approved incentive awards to lead plaintiffs.
Recent examples give a sense of the range:
- Apple Siri privacy ($95 million): up to $20 per Siri-enabled device for users active between September 2014 and December 2024.
- MGM Resorts data breach ($45 million): $75 for exposed Social Security numbers, $50 for passport or driver’s license exposure, $20 for basic data.
- NYC taxi license suspensions ($140 million): up to $36,000 per driver, covering about 20,000 drivers.
- Keurig K-Cup settlement: $3.50 per 100 pods, capped at $36 per household.
Payouts typically arrive six to eighteen months after the filing deadline. The final amount depends on court approval, the volume of claims, and whether appeals are filed.
Deadlines and What Happens If You Miss One
Claim deadlines are firm, and missing one usually means forfeiting compensation. Because you remain a class member even if you didn’t file, you also lose the right to sue individually over the same issue.
Attorneys who litigate these cases report that the overwhelming majority of late-filed claims are ultimately accepted by all parties and approved by the judge. If you miss a deadline, contact the settlement administrator or class counsel and explain the circumstances. Some settlement agreements include specific provisions for late claims, and in rare cases an attorney can petition the court directly.
Don’t rely on that. Treat the deadline as absolute. A free newsletter from an aggregator site is the lowest-effort way to catch deadlines before they pass.
One number explains why deadlines matter so much: a 2019 FTC study of 149 consumer cases found the median claims rate was about 9%. More than 90% of eligible people get nothing, mostly because they never see the notice or don’t bother to file. Email notices produce roughly a 3% claim rate; mailed packets with an enclosed form bring it to about 10%. About 79% of consumer settlements require an affirmative claim.
Should You Stay in the Class or Opt Out?
For most consumers, staying in and filing a claim is the practical choice. The process is free. Attorneys work on contingency and are paid from the settlement fund. Standard class members aren’t required to attend hearings, give depositions, or participate actively.
The trade-off is that accepting a settlement waives the right to sue the defendant individually over the same allegations. For small claims, that’s rarely meaningful. For serious harm — a significant injury from a defective product, for example — the calculus changes. Opting out preserves the right to pursue an individual case, which has sometimes produced recoveries several times larger than the class settlement in securities and antitrust cases. The cost is real: individual litigation is expensive, slow, and uncertain, and you lose any guaranteed share of the class fund.
There’s a less obvious risk to staying in. If the lawsuit fails entirely, class members generally lose the right to bring individual claims over the same issue later. The outcome is binding, win or lose.
Spotting Fake Settlement Notices
Fraudulent class action notices are a growing problem. Scammers mimic real notices to harvest personal information or install malware. A few checks protect you:
- Search independently. Don’t click links in emails or scan QR codes from mailed notices. Search the case name or company name plus “settlement” and find the official site through a search engine or reputable aggregator.
- Cross-reference case numbers. Legitimate notices include a case name, case number, and often a Notice ID or Confirmation Code. Verify them against the official settlement website.
- Check the news. Major settlements are reported by established outlets. No coverage anywhere is a red flag.
- Never pay a fee. A legitimate class action settlement will never require an upfront payment of any kind.
- Be cautious with sensitive data. A mailing address for payment is normal. Requests for your Social Security number or bank account details are highly suspicious.
If a notice looks real but you’re not sure, go directly to the court-approved site listed on an aggregator or in independent news coverage and file from there.