New passive income strategy for FIRE - collecting class action settlement money

[HeadedWest2029]

I kid, I kid, but between Equifax, Capital One, etc we might as well post our social security as part of our Twitter handle.  I always suspected Capital One security was broken.  I use to have it as my 1.5% general use CC, but the number got stolen multiple times even when issued a new number and not actively using it and storing it at home.  I practice good security hygiene so I knew it wasn't anything crazy I was doing and finally gave up on it (there are better options anyway).  At least with Equifax we are getting $125 x2

[AMandM]

Ha! You could combine it with CC churning. We signed up with Credit Karma to qualify for the Equifax $125 and immediately got offered new rewards CCs.

[Roots&Wings]

Don't forget the Target data breach! I have to check on that one...

EDIT: They're finally sending out the settlement checks for that one: https://targetbreachsettlement.com/

[jim555]

The day time TV has commercials for Mesothelioma, RoundUp, and Talcum powder cases.  I know someone who got $250,000 for 911 Victim Compensation (911 related illness).

[marion10]

I get this newsletter every week- https://topclassactions.com/

[Villanelle]

We got $36k last year, as part of a settlement over an investment property.  They had told investors that their earnest money was non-refundable when that was against the law.  We knew nothing about any of this and had no thoughts of backing out back when the investment was made, so to get this money nearly a decade later was the best kind of surprise!

(We did learn that settlements that aren't compensating you for direct loss, like paying medical bills, are considered income for tax purposes!  What a great problem to have!)

[A Fella from Stella]

No joke, I once received a check for a few grand from Bank of America. I think it was in 2013. The check came in an EXTREMELY non-descript envelope that I might have been tempted to rip in half and toss, but something told me to open it.

I called customer service to see what this was about and the poor woman on the other end put on a happy voice to say that they wanted to thank me for being a customer, and that they might not have given me the best service in the past.

I can only imagine how much I was ripped off for if they were making good to the tune of a few grand.