Examples:

• • Holly signed up for Peacock Premium thinking it was a one-time fee, not realizing it would auto-renew indefinitely.
  • Bob didn’t expressly agree to recurring charges but Peacock kept billing his card for months after his trial ended.
  • Marisol never got an email from Peacock after payment explaining her plan details and how to cancel future renewals.
  • Joe couldn’t find any easy way to turn off auto-renewal online and had to jump through hoops to stop future charges.
  • The lawsuit says these are textbook violations of CA’s ARL, which requires clear terms, express consent, and simple cancellation.

How It Works:

• • CA’s ARL requires businesses to clearly disclose auto-renewal terms, get affirmative consent, and provide easy cancellation.
  • Terms must be presented in visual proximity to the consent action, not buried in fine print or legalese.
  • Customer’s consent must be explicit and optional – can’t be assumed from general site usage or required for purchase.
  • After an order, business must send confirmation with renewal terms, cancellation policy, and how to stop future charges.
  • CA subscribers must be able to cancel auto-renewals online, without unnecessary extra steps, conditions, or delays.

FAQs:

• • What is an automatic renewal? A plan that keeps charging you until you cancel, rather than expiring after a set time.
  • Why does CA have an automatic renewal law? To protect consumers from sneaky subscription fees and make terms clear.
  • Does Peacock admit to violating the ARL? No, they deny fault but agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.
  • Do other states have auto-renewal laws? Yes, but CA’s is one of the most robust. About 20 states have some form of ARL.
  • What happens if a business breaks the ARL? They may face lawsuits and have to issue refunds, change practices, pay damages.

Examples:

• • Gina signed up for Peacock in LA in 2020 on a monthly renewal plan and got charged 6 times – she’s in the class.
  • Henry bought an annual Peacock sub using his San Diego address in 2022 and it auto-renewed in 2023 – he qualifies.
  • Mary’s one-time Peacock purchase didn’t renew so she never paid any renewal fees – not a class member.
  • Jack works for NBC Universal so even though his Peacock plan renewed, he’s excluded from the class.
  • Class members like Gina and Henry can file claims for a portion of the settlement or object – but not sue Peacock separately.

How It Works:

• • In a class action, one person (the lead plaintiff) sues on behalf of a whole group of similarly situated people (the class).
  • Court certifies (approves) the class if it meets certain legal criteria, like members having same type of claim against defendant.
  • Class helps level playing field against big companies, pools resources. Not practical for everyone to sue individually.
  • If case settles, class members have right to part of settlement, object to terms, or opt-out and preserve right to sue solo.
  • But class settlement binds all members who don’t opt out – can’t later sue separately on same grounds.

FAQs:

• • How do I know if I’m in the class? If you fit the criteria (CA resident, auto-renew plan, paid fees in the period), you’re in.
  • What if I had a Peacock sub but don’t live in CA? Only CA residents with a CA billing address qualify for this case.
  • Are all Peacock subscribers part of the class? No, only those with auto-renew plans started online who paid renewal fees.
  • Do I have to pay anything to be a class member? No, but if you stay in the class you give up your right to sue separately.
  • What if I don’t want to be in the class? You can opt out by the deadline, but then you can’t get a settlement payment.

Examples:

• • If 200,000 class members file claims from the $3.74M fund, each claimant would get about $18.33. ($3,742,637 / 200,000 = $18.71)
  • More claims filed means each person’s share is a bit lower. 500K claims would mean roughly $7.40 each.
  • A claimant who paid $60 in renewal fees over the years won’t get that full $60 back – just their proportional slice of the fund.
  • To maximize your slice, file a valid claim before 11/13/24! After that, no soup for you even if you qualified.
  • Peacock must now comply with the ARL in CA – showing clear pricing/terms and getting consent before charging.

How It Works:

• • A non-reversionary fund means Peacock pays the whole amount, even if not all is claimed. Rest goes to charity, not back to Peacock.
  • Pro-rata means in proportion. Your payment is based on the total claims filed, not necessarily your actual damages.
  • Equitable distribution of limited fund. More claims = smaller individual shares, but all class members treated fairly.
  • Strict claims deadline ensures efficient processing, timely payments. Court can approve late claims for good cause.
  • Injunctive relief (ARL compliance) helps prevent future issues. Court supervises to make sure Peacock follows through.

FAQs:

• • How much will claimants actually get? It depends on how many people file claims. More claims = smaller shares and vice versa.
  • Will I get a full refund of my renewal fees? Unlikely. Payments are pro-rata shares of the $3.74M, not tied to your personal total.
  • What if I miss the claim deadline? Unless the Court approves a late claim for good reason, you get nothing if you miss 11/13/24.
  • How will Peacock change its practices? They must follow the ARL – clear terms, affirmative consent before renewals, easy cancellation.
  • Does this settlement mean Peacock broke the law? Not necessarily. They deny fault but settled to end the case. Court didn’t rule either way.

Examples:

• • Bursor & Fisher have won millions for consumers in similar auto-renew cases – Court will likely approve them here.
  • If Court thinks 33% is too high, it can award less. Leftover $ goes to class, not back to Peacock.
  • Named plaintiffs often get a “service award” for sticking their neck out. Court must OK $5K for Winston’s time/effort.
  • Release = class gives up right to sue Peacock again over auto-renewals & fees during the class period. Can’t double-dip!
  • Think $18 is too low or fees are too high? File a valid objection with the Court by the deadline and explain your beef.

How It Works:

• • Court appoints class counsel to represent the group’s interests. Must be experienced, no conflicts of interest.
  • Counsel typically work on contingency – paid a % of the settlement/judgment. Court decides if % is fair.
  • Lead plaintiff represents the class, works more closely with counsel, may attend hearings. Court can award them extra $.
  • Release prevents class members from re-litigating settled issues against defendant. Gives certainty to both sides.
  • Objectors can challenge settlement terms they disagree with. Court considers objections when deciding whether to approve.

FAQs:

• • How do I know the lawyers are legit? Court vets class counsel to ensure they’re qualified and have no conflicts of interest.
  • What if I don’t like my class counsel? You can hire your own lawyer to advise you or appear in the case, but you must pay them.
  • Why does the lead plaintiff get extra money? Incentive awards compensate them for the extra time/effort of representing the class.
  • Can I exclude myself from the release? Yes, you can opt-out of the whole settlement by the deadline. But then no $$ for you.
  • What if the Court ignores my objection? The Court will consider proper objections but has discretion to overrule. You could try to appeal.

Examples:

• • Ava checks the class definition, sees she qualifies, and submits her claim form online before the deadline.
  • Luis gets a notice in the mail because he’s a class member. He files a claim by mail and waits for his payment.
  • Nadia forgot she ever signed up for Peacock but gets an email notice about the settlement. She searches her inbox to find signup/renewal confirmations.
  • Omar objects to the settlement because he thinks the payout is too low. He follows the instructions to file his objection with the Court.
  • After final approval, Mia gets a $20 settlement check. She cashes it right away so she doesn’t forget and lose out!

How It Works:

• • Settlement admin handles notice & claims process. Notices go out by email/mail to all class members they can locate.
  • Claim forms are simple – just basic info about your Peacock subscription needed. File online or by mail by the deadline.
  • Court holds fairness hearing to consider any objections & decide whether to give final approval to the deal.
  • If approved, settlement admin reviews all claims, tosses dupes & frauds, calculates pro-rata shares, mails checks.
  • Cashing the check = accepting the settlement terms. Most banks will cash a check for non-customers, may charge a small fee.

FAQs:

• • How do I know if I got a notice? Check your email (even spam) & regular mail. Contact the settlement admin if unsure.
  • What if I miss the claim deadline? You’re out of luck unless the court decides to accept late claims for good cause shown.
  • When will I get my money if approved? Typically a few months after final approval, but could be longer if there are appeals.
  • How long are settlement checks good for? Read the fine print! Usually 90-180 days before they expire & the $$ goes to the state.
  • Can I sue Peacock again if I cash the check? No, cashing the check = agreeing not to sue them again over the settled claims.

Questions: Peacock Class Action Basics

• • 1. What’s this Peacock class action lawsuit about?
    • A) Glitchy video streaming
    • B) False advertising of content
    • C) Automatic renewal practices
    • D) Charging more than Netflix
  • 2. What law(s) does the suit claim Peacock violated?
    • A) California’s Automatic Renewal Law
    • B) The federal Lanham Act
    • C) California’s Consumer Privacy Act
    • D) The FTC’s Endorsement Guidelines
  • 3. What does Peacock say about the lawsuit’s claims?
    • A) The claims are true and they admit fault
    • B) The claims have some merit but are exaggerated
    • C) The claims are false and they did nothing wrong
    • D) They don’t have a public position on the claims
  • 4. Why did Peacock agree to settle the case?
    • A) To save money on legal fees
    • B) To avoid the uncertainty of a trial
    • C) To put the matter behind them
    • D) All of the above
  • 5. What class period does the settlement cover?
    • A) September 2019 to February 2024
    • B) January 2018 to December 2022
    • C) July 2020 to April 2023
    • D) March 2021 to June 2024

Answers: Peacock Class Action Basics

• • 1. C) The lawsuit claims Peacock’s automatic renewal practices violated California law.
  • 2. A) The main law at issue is California’s Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) and similar statutes.
  • 3. C) Peacock denies the claims and says it did nothing wrong, but still chose to settle.
  • 4. D) Peacock likely settled to avoid further legal costs, trial risks & uncertainty, and bad PR.
  • 5. A) The settlement class period runs from 9/15/2019 to 2/27/2024.

Questions: Your Options & Next Steps

• • 1. How much can class members expect to get from this settlement?
    • A) A full refund of all Peacock fees paid
    • B) Around $18 per class member
    • C) $100 Peacock credit
    • D) Nothing unless you file a claim
  • 2. What’s the deadline to file a claim?
    • A) November 13, 2024
    • B) December 31, 2024
    • C) February 27, 2025
    • D) There is no deadline
  • 3. How can class members submit a claim?
    • A) Online through the settlement website
    • B) By mailing in a paper claim form
    • C) Both A and B
    • D) By calling a 1-800 number
  • 4. What happens if you do nothing?
    • A) You’re included in the settlement and get a check
    • B) You’re excluded from the settlement entirely
    • C) You’re included but won’t get paid unless you file a claim
    • D) Peacock will cancel your subscription
  • 5. When is the deadline to opt out or object to the settlement?
    • A) September 1, 2024
    • B) October 31, 2024
    • C) November 13, 2024
    • D) January 15, 2025

Answers: Your Options & Next Steps

• • 1. B) Eligible class members will get a pro-rata share of the fund, estimated around $18 each.
  • 2. A) The deadline to file a claim for a settlement payment is November 13, 2024.
  • 3. C) Claims can be submitted online or by mail – both are valid options.
  • 4. C) If you do nothing, you’re still in the class but won’t get paid unless you file a claim.
  • 5. C) November 13, 2024 is the deadline to opt out of or object to the settlement terms.