If you have used a debit, credit, or prepaid card in California at a vending machine, it would be wise to check your bank statement to see if you were secretly overcharged. On and around July 26th, 2019, Compass Group USA charged a secret $.10 additional fee on all transactions using debit, credit, or prepaid cards at its vending machines. Compass’ vending machines are marked with the company’s trade name, Canteen.
While $.10 may seem like a small sum, Compass collected nearly $10,000,000 through these hidden charges. Illegal hidden fees like these are becoming alarmingly common and are bringing significant profits to companies like Compass.
Our class action attorneys are determined to stand up for the consumers that Compass has taken advantage of and secure financial compensation to compensate them for the damages incurred by these illegal charges.
Compass’ strategy of secret yet minimal overcharging was designed to be both difficult to identify and unlikely to draw much attention from consumers. This strategy constitutes false advertising and mass theft – Compass must be held accountable. Our class action lawsuit lawyers are pursuing a lawsuit that will likely result in significant financial compensation for those who were victimized by Compass’ scheme.
If you have suffered damages from a similar instance of false advertising, contact our consumer class action attorneys today to see if you have a case.
What Is a Canteen Vending Machine?
Canteen is the name that Compass uses to brand and mark its vending machines. It is among the largest vending machine companies in the country and can be found nearly everywhere vending machines are located. Canteen’s vending machines are often designed to appear to have advanced features and can be recognized by their green logo.
Canteen offers both traditional vending machines and machines dedicated to what its website refers to as “healthy vending” options. If you make a purchase from a vending machine today in California, there is a high chance that it is operated by Canteen.
Our consumer class actions are working to bring financial compensation to those who have made a purchase at a Canteen vending machine during the period in which Canteen collected these illegal fees. To learn more about how this might apply to any damages you may have suffered from consumer fraud, contact us today.
What Damages Resulted from Compass’ Actions?
During the period in which Compass was charging a secret $.10 fee to those who used a credit, debit, or prepaid card at one of its Canteen vending machines, the company profited nearly $10,000,000 off these fees alone. There was no indication during the transaction that the charge was more than the listed price. These secret charges willfully stole millions of dollars from consumers, representing grave financial damages.
By charging secret fees, Compass engaged in:
- Violation of contract. Vending machine purchases, due to their clearly listed prices, fall under implied-in-fact contracts in which consumers agree to pay the listed price and Compass agrees to provide the desired goods at the price listed.
- False advertising. California’s Unfair Competition Law protects consumers from false advertising. Compass had no intention to sell consumers paying with credit, debit, or prepaid card its goods at the advertised price, which constitutes false advertising.
- Fraudulent practices. Under California’s Unfair Competition Law, consumers are protected from fraudulent practices. A reasonable consumer would be commonly deceived by this practice.
Compass’ moment of accountability has arrived with the help of our class action lawyers and the class representatives. Our Compass Group class action lawyers of class action attorneys is always available to consult regarding new cases – if you believe you may have a consumer fraud case, contact us today.
Has Compass/Canteen Faced Similar Lawsuits Before?
Compass’ Group USA vending machines have faced numerous lawsuits for illegal business practices. Notably, Compass was charging the illegal secret $.10 fee in many states throughout the nation. There are similar class action lawsuits underway in several other states. Additionally, in Illinois, Compass faced a lawsuit in 2018 for collecting fingerprint data at its Canteen vending machines. Compass has faced a wave of legal accountability in recent years, and our class action attorneys are proud to be a part of this movement advocating on behalf of consumers.
Compass denied consumers the opportunity to make an educated choice on how to spend their money. Canteen vending machines did not in any way mark or advertise this secret charge.
There was no reasonable way for a consumer to know about this fraudulent activity. This is often the case when it comes to consumer fraud – contact our Compass Group class action lawyers today to learn more about how to pursue a lawsuit following an instance of consumer fraud.
What Is a Class Action?
A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit on behalf of a large group of people that can reasonably be represented as a group. These plaintiffs can be joined together by a judge if they have suffered the same damages from the same cause.
This large group of plaintiffs is referred to as a class. It would be difficult to hold Compass accountable for each of these instances of fraud individually, so our class action attorneys have resolved to secure larger compensation for our deserving clients by considering these shared damages as one sum.
Either by verdict or settlement, once this compensation is secured, it will be divided between members of the class. Our Compass Group class action lawyers of consumer class action lawyers brings over 300 years of combined experience in holding negligent companies accountable.
We know that certain companies hope to go unnoticed by exploiting the good faith of consumers – our consumer class action attorneys are fighting back. Contact us today to take the first step toward the compensation you deserve if you have suffered damages from consumer fraud.
