Shopped at a NC Sprouts grocery store? You may be owed part of a $5M settlement
Sprouts Farmers Market shoppers in North Carolina and nationwide could be owed money under the terms of a multi-million-dollar settlement.
The Arizona-based grocery chain, known for its farm-stand vibes and healthy food options, agreed to a $5 million class-action settlement to resolve claims that it showed too many digits of customers’ debit and credit card numbers on printed receipts — a violation of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
The settlement is the result of a pair of class-action lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2022, court documents show. Sprouts has denied any wrongdoing.
The Charlotte Observer reached out to the specialty grocer for additional comment on Monday, April 20 but didn’t immediately hear back.
The chain has more than 450 stores nationwide, including seven in North Carolina, according to its website. Sprouts plans to open the doors on a new store in Concord as part of its continued expansion in the Charlotte metro, The Observer reported. It will join existing spots in Raleigh, Greensboro and Fayetteville.
Here’s what to know as the claim deadline approaches:
Who’s eligible?
Customers who used a credit or debit card at any Sprouts grocery store in the U.S. between Aug. 16, 2020 and Oct. 31, 2022, or an EBT card between March 15, 2021, and April 15, 2023, and who received a receipt showing more than the last five digits of their card number may be owed payment, administrators said.
How do I get paid?
Claim forms can be submitted online (if you received an email notice) or mailed.
Customers who didn’t get a notice must submit a long-form claim form, which requires either:
- Proof of purchase / a receipt
- A copy of your debit or credit card statement showing you shopped at a Sprouts Farmers Market during the settlement period.
Mailed claim forms must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, Aug. 5.
How much will I get paid?
Administrators said affected shoppers will receive a pro-rata share, or equal portion, of the settlement fund after all court costs and attorney’s fees have been paid, though exact amounts may vary. Estimates weren’t available as of Monday, April 20.
“For purposes of determining the Pro-Rata Share, each Eligible Settlement Class Member will be counted once, and may not receive more than the Pro-Rata Share,” regardless of how many transactions they made at Sprouts during the settlement period, according to the settlement website.
Shoppers will be mailed a check, though payments could also be higher or lower depending on how many valid claims are received.
When will I get paid?
A hearing to decide whether to approve the settlement, including payments to affected Sprouts shoppers, is set for Thursday, Nov. 19. However, administrators warned the process could be lengthy.
“Class Counsel does not know how long these decisions will take,” they wrote.
