A major U.S. grocery chain has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement over how it printed customer receipts, and some shoppers who paid by card several years ago may now be eligible for compensation.
Trader Joe’s has agreed to pay $7.4 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that certain store receipts displayed too much credit and debit card information, according to court filings and settlement documents.
What happened
The lawsuit centers on transactions made between March 5, 2019, and July 19, 2019. During that period, some receipts printed at Trader Joe’s locations showed both the first six and last four digits of customers’ card numbers.
Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), businesses are generally prohibited from printing more than the last five digits of a card number on receipts. Plaintiffs argued that the additional digits increased the risk of identity theft or fraud.
Trader Joe’s has denied any wrongdoing or legal liability. The company said the issue affected only a limited number of transactions and that no cases of identity theft linked to the receipts have been reported.
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Who may be eligible
According to the settlement terms, individuals may qualify for compensation if they:
Used a credit or debit card at a Trader Joe’s store during the specified period and received a receipt that displayed both the first six and last four digits of their card number.
Records suggest that hundreds of thousands of transactions could fall within the settlement class, though not all customers will have been affected.
Some eligible individuals may have already received a notice by email or mail, but receiving a notice is not required to file a claim.
How much you could receive
Payments are expected to average around $102 per valid claim, though the final amount may vary depending on how many people file and how funds are allocated for legal and administrative costs.
What to do next
To receive a payment, eligible individuals must submit a claim form. Claims can typically be filed online, by phone, or by mail through the official settlement administrator.
The deadline to file a claim is set for early June 2026, according to settlement notices.
Consumers who file a claim will give up the right to pursue separate legal action over the same issue. Those who wish to retain that right must opt out of the settlement by the same deadline.
Individuals unsure of their eligibility can check the settlement website or contact the claims administrator for more information.
What happens next
The settlement still requires final court approval, with a hearing scheduled for August 2026. If approved, payments are expected to be distributed shortly afterward, though appeals could delay the timeline.
For now, affected shoppers are being encouraged to review the eligibility criteria and submit claims before the deadline if they believe they qualify.
