Costco will pay $14 million to customers after lawsuit settlement: check if you qualify
Costco agreed to a $14 million fund to pay certain customers: who qualifies, how to claim payment and the deadline to do so
Thousands of consumers could be eligible for a cash payment thanks to a multimillion-dollar settlement related to a class-action lawsuit against Costco. If you meet all the requirements and have received certain promotional emails from the chain over the past few years, you could be part of the group of people who will have to get a share of a $14 million dollar fund. It is also important that you submit your claim before the deadline.
The settlement seeks to resolve a lawsuit filed against Costco for sending promotional emails that the plaintiffs allege used false or misleading subject lines to advertise supposedly time-limited deals. The company denied having committed any irregularities, but agreed to reach an agreement to avoid the costs and uncertainty of continuing with the judicial process.
According to the lawsuit, some of those messages gave the impression that certain promotions were ending, creating a sense of urgency among consumers in Washington. However, the plaintiffs maintained that the offers remained valid even after the deadline announced in the emails.
For that reason, the case alleged possible violations of the Commercial Electronic Mail Act and the Washington State Consumer Protection Law, rules that regulate business practices and advertising directed to consumers.
The agreement received preliminary court approval on July 2, 2026 and provides for the creation of a $14 million fund to compensate eligible consumers.
Who can receive a payment?
The benefit is intended for residents of Washington state who received promotional emails from Costco considered within the agreement between June 2, 2021 and July 7, 2026.
One of the most relevant characteristics of this case is that consumers will not have to present proof of purchase to participate. Unlike other class action settlements, you simply need to meet the requirements and submit a valid claim within the time frame provided.
The amount each person will receive is not yet defined, since the amount will depend on the total number of approved claims, so individual payments could vary once the process is concluded.
Interested parties must submit their claim form no later than August 24, 2026. After that date it will no longer be possible to request a part of the fund established in the agreement. Claims can be submitted through the official Costco Email Settlement website, where information about eligibility, the process for requesting payment, and key case dates is also available.
The agreement needs to receive final approval from the court during a hearing scheduled for October 2, 2026. If the judge authorizes the agreement and there are no appeals that delay the procedure, the distribution of payments among the approved claimants will subsequently begin.
For those who live in Washington and believe they have received this type of promotional messages, the recommendation is to check if they meet the established criteria before the deadline to participate expires.