Did You Get A Call About A Free Cruise? You Could Get Up To $900
You have until Nov. 3 to claim your cash.
Lately, it seems like I get spam phone calls every day. More than likely, you’ve gotten your fair share of pesky robocalls “giving away” free shit, too. According to a survey by First Orion, scam calls have quadrupled in the last two years. While they’re often easy to identify (hopefully) and ignore, here’s a total shocker: They’re also illegal.
If you’ve ever received a spam call congratulating you for winning a free cruise, then congrats — for real. Thanks to the class-action lawsuit Charvat v. Carnival et. al., you may be eligible for $300 to $900 in restitution. The lawsuit alleges Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines authorized Resort Marketing Group to make automated calls to thousands of people (sans their permission) offering free cruises between July 2009 and March 2014.
Philip Charvat filed the lawsuit in 2012 after he received telemarketing calls without his consent. The campaign violated FCC’s Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which restricts telephone solicitations and limits automated calls.
The parties reached a settlement in July. Depending on the number of claims filed, the companies will create a fund between $7 million and $12.5 million, from which payouts will be distributed to those who’ve received scam calls. If you qualify, you’re entitled to $300 per call, with a $900 maximum payout per phone number.
Check if your phone number is part of the settlement and file your claim here before the Nov. 3, 2017 deadline. Good luck!
