Deadly Dog Bones, Robocalls and More: Why These 6 Companies May Owe You

This month, I’ve tracked down six settlements that are accepting claims. Three of them are from companies accused of placing unwanted phone calls to consumers, so if you get a lot of telemarketer calls, make sure you scroll through this list to find out if you qualify.

There’s a little bit of everything, so let’s jump right in and find out what companies could owe you money.

1. Real Ham Bone for Dogs

If you bought dog treats made by Real Ham Bone for Dogs between Jan. 1, 2011 and May 12, 2017, you could benefit from a $2.4 million class-action settlement.

A lawsuit claimed the maker of Real Ham Bone treats falsely advertised them as a safe chew products for dogs. However, plaintiffs say the bone is smoked and baked for eight hours, which causes it to become extremely brittle. When dogs chew on the brittle bone, it creates “needle-like shards” that allegedly cause internal injuries when consumed.

Class members who can prove their dog was injured or died from consuming a Real Ham Bone treat can receive up to $2,500 for documented bills.

Real Ham Bone for Dogs purchasers who did not have to pay for injuries sustained by their pet, can file a claim for $3 per bone. Individuals who submit a receipt along with their claim form, can claim up to 10 bones for a total of $30, while those who cannot provide proof of purchase can claim up to four bones for a total of $12.

The settlement also includes an injunction that prohibits the manufacturer from making or selling dog products made from pig bones until it reformulates the product so that it is “more durable than an uncooked bone” or obtains insurance coverage to compensate owners whose pets died or were injured due to consumption of the product.

The claim form deadline for this settlement is Sept. 9, 2017.

Find out more here.

2. Discover Home Loans Telemarketing Calls

If you received an unwanted telemarketing call from Discover Home Loans Inc. or Discover Financial Services between June 1, 2012 and July 31, 2015, you could get an estimated $25 to $50 from a class-action settlement.

Discover was accused of violating federal law to make marketing robocalls to consumers without their consent about home loan refinancing options. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, businesses must obtain consent before placing non-emergency automated calls. The TCPA also prohibits companies from contacting consumers registered on the National Do Not Call Registry more than once in a 12-month period.

Although Discover denied the allegations, it agreed to pay a total sum of $5 million to end the class-action lawsuit. Class members include anyone whose contact information was purchased by Discover from a third party and who:

• Received at least one non-emergency automated marketing call between June 1, 2012 and July 31, 2015, to a telephone number promoting goods or services using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice, OR
• Received two or more calls within any 12-month period to a cell phone or residential landline registered on the National Do Not Call Registry.

To benefit from this settlement, you need to submit a claim form by July 24, 2017. Although the claims administrator expects the settlement payout of $25 to $50 per consumer, the actual amount each person receives will depend on the total number of claims filed.

Learn more here.

3. Honeywell’s TrueSTEAM Humidifier

If you owned a Honeywell TrueSTEAM Humidifier between Jan. 1, 2008 and April 14, 2017, you could get either a new Honeywell humidifier or up to $40 cash.

According to a class-action lawsuit, Honeywell’s TrueSTEAM Humidifiers are prone to excessive mineral scale and sediment buildup and contain a defect that causes them to leak.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can choose either a replacement humidifier or a cash payout that varies depending on the size of the Honeywell TrueSTEAM Humidifier they purchased.

Here’s how much buyers of the affected models are eligible for:

• TrueSTEAM 6-gallon Humidifier, Model HM506 — $30
• TrueSTEAM 9-gallon Humidifier, Model HM509 — $35
• TrueSTEAM 12-gallon Humidifier, Model HM512 — $40

Those who want a replacement humidifier instead of cash can choose between these models:

• Honeywell Steam Humidifier Model HM609
• Honeywell Steam Humidifier Model HM612
• Honeywell Electrode Humidifier Model HM700

Class members must submit a claim form by Nov. 6, 2017, and attach one of the following:

• A photograph of the side label on your humidifier that displays the barcode and serial number (see the diagram on the claim form)
• A receipt or invoice showing that you purchased of your humidifier
• Records of the installation, maintenance, service or repair of your humidifier that contains your name and/or address.

Find out if you qualify here.

4. Wells Fargo Student Loan Phone Calls

Did you get a call from Wells Fargo about a student loan between April 21, 2011 and Dec. 19, 2015? If so, you could benefit from a $2,075,000 class-action settlement.

Class representatives claim that Wells Fargo made automated calls to consumers without getting permission from call recipients.

The Wells Fargo class-action lawsuit alleges that the calls violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Class counsel expects that the settlement will award each claimant between $20 and $50. To benefit, you must file a claim no later than July 31, 2017.

More information is available here.

5. Optical Disc Drive Indirect Purchaser

I mentioned the optical disc drive settlement in October, but since then, the settlement fund has grown to $180 million. If you missed it the first time, take a look to see if you qualify.

A class-action lawsuit accuses multiple electronics companies (including Sony, Panasonic, NEC, Pioneer, Hitachi-LG Data Storage and others) of a price-fixing conspiracy to artificially inflate the cost of optical disc drives.

Optical disc drives read CDs, DVDs and other computer software storage. They are installed in numerous electronic devices such as desktop and laptop computers, camcorders, game consoles, and more. ODDs can also be attached externally to a computer.

If you live in Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia or Wisconsin and purchased an internal ODD, a stand-alone ODD designed for internal use in a computer, or an ODD designed to be attached externally to a computer between April 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2008, you could benefit from this settlement.

Class members who file a claim for this settlement are expected to receive $10 for each drive they purchased during the class period. However, the actual cash payout could be more or less depending on the number of claims filed. No proof of purchase is necessary, and the online claim form takes only a few minutes to fill out.

The deadline to file a claim has been extended to Aug. 1, 2017.

Learn more here.

6. Real Time Resolutions TCPA

Did you get call on your cell phone from Real Time Resolutions between Aug. 30, 2009 and April 10, 2017? If so, you could benefit from a $1.3 million class-action settlement.

According to the plaintiff, Real Time Resolutions made automated calls to consumers about their debts without first getting their permission, a violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Class members include anyone in the U.S. who received automated calls from Real Time Resolutions on their cell phones during the class period without their consent.  

To benefit from this settlement, you must file a claim form by Aug. 23, 2017, and include the phone number that received calls from Real Time Resolutions during the class period.

The claims administrator estimates that settlement payouts will be about $25, but the actual amount could be higher or lower depending on the number of valid claims filed.

Find out more here.

Melissa LaFreniere is the news editor of TopClassActions.com. She just received an $8.50 check from the Johnson’s Bedtime Bath class-action settlement.