Oregon Shoppers Could See Cash from Trader Joe’s Data Privacy Settlement

Oregon residents who swiped their credit or debit cards at Trader Joe’s in recent years may be eligible for a piece of a multi-million dollar settlement. The popular grocery chain has agreed to pay over $3.3 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging it printed too much customer information on receipts, a potential violation of federal privacy law.

The lawsuit, filed in California, claimed that between 2017 and 2020, Trader Joe’s printed receipts that included the first six and last four digits of a customer’s payment card number. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) strictly prohibits merchants from printing more than the last five digits of a card number on a receipt. This practice, the plaintiffs argued, created an unnecessary risk of identity theft and fraud.

While Trader Joe’s admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, it has agreed to change its receipt-printing practices and pay affected customers. Oregonians who made a purchase at any Trader Joe’s location in the United States using a credit or debit card between November 3, 2017, and December 31, 2020, are automatically included in the class.

Eligible consumers must file a claim by June 21, 2024, to receive a payment. The exact payout amount is uncertain and depends on the total number of valid claims filed, but estimates suggest individuals could receive between $10 and $50. Claims can be submitted easily online through the official settlement website. For Oregon shoppers who frequent the chain’s stores in Portland, Bend, or Lake Oswego, this settlement serves as a reminder to check old receipts and understand their digital privacy rights.