Published
August 15, 2025
Updated
August 3, 2026
The $6.94 million Canteen settlement covered card purchases from vending machines that allegedly charged more than the displayed price. Claims closed in November 2025, final approval followed, and electronic payments were issued in February 2026.
Current Status
Claims are closed and settlement payments were issued. The claim deadline was November 14, 2025, the court granted final approval in January 2026, and claimants reported electronic payments through services such as Zelle, PayPal, and Venmo in February 2026. No new claim form is available.StatusPayments Issued
Claim DeadlineNovember 14, 2025 — Passed
Settlement Fund$6.94 Million
Historical ProofNo Purchase Receipts Required
What Was the Canteen Vending Machine Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit alleged that Compass Group USA, Inc., doing business as Canteen, operated certain vending machines that charged a customer’s credit, debit, or prepaid card more than the price displayed for the item. Plaintiffs contended that the extra card charge was not disclosed before purchase and primarily pursued a breach-of-contract theory.Compass denied the allegations, denied violating any law or duty, and did not admit wrongdoing. The parties settled after years of litigation involving cases in multiple jurisdictions, dismissal motions, document discovery, depositions, expert work, and class-certification briefing. The settlement avoided the cost and uncertainty of continuing toward trial.
Who Was Included in the Settlement?
The class generally covered people who bought an item in the United States from a qualifying Canteen vending machine using a credit, debit, or prepaid card between January 1, 2014, and July 9, 2025. A qualifying machine offered cash and card payment but charged more for a card purchase than the displayed item price.Not every Canteen machine qualified. The official notice excluded machines that displayed a cash-discount sticker, showed both cash and card prices, or used a digital shopping cart that displayed both prices. Eligibility therefore depended on the machine and transaction, not merely on having used any Canteen location.
What Benefits Did the Settlement Provide?
Compass funded $6.94 million. After court-approved attorneys’ fees, litigation and administration expenses, and service awards, the remaining net fund was allocated to people who submitted valid claims. The agreement stated that none of the remaining settlement money would revert to Compass.The historical payment schedule ranged from $30 for up to 250 qualifying purchases to $360 for more than 2,500 purchases. Intermediate tiers increased in $30 steps. Those figures were subject to pro rata reduction depending on the number of valid claims and the amount available after deductions, so the chart was not a guaranteed payment promise.
Was Proof of Purchase Required?
The claim form did not initially require receipts. Claimants certified under oath that they made qualifying card purchases, identified the purchase location, and selected the applicable purchase-count tier. The administrator retained the ability to request more information later.Under OCA’s proof classification, the settlement was no-proof because purchase documents were not required with an ordinary claim. That did not permit guessing or claiming purchases that did not occur. The sworn certification and location information still had to be truthful and complete.
What Happened at Final Approval?
The court scheduled a fairness hearing for January 9, 2026 and ultimately granted final approval. That approval followed the completed notice, objection, exclusion, and claim processes. It converted the proposed agreement into an approved settlement and allowed administration to move into distribution after any required finality period.The distinction matters: the hearing date alone did not prove approval. The final approval result and later payment activity establish the settlement’s completed stage. Compass continued to deny liability, and approval did not amount to a court finding that every allegation was true.
When Were Payments Sent?
Electronic settlement payments began reaching approved claimants in February 2026. Payment notices referenced the Canteen vending machine settlement and offered common digital delivery methods. A timely claim did not necessarily produce the top amount because the individual award depended on the purchase tier, claim validation, and pro rata calculations.A claimant should rely on the payment notice and the official administrator site when verifying an unfamiliar email or transfer. OCA cannot reissue a payment, change the selected method, or determine why a specific claim was denied or paid at a particular level.
Can Anyone File a Claim Now?
No. The November 14, 2025 deadline passed and the online filing period is over. An old notice, downloaded claim form, or machine-location list does not reopen the settlement. People who did not submit a timely claim cannot join the distribution through OpenClassActions.Someone following up on a timely claim should use the official settlement website and any saved confirmation. Do not submit card numbers or other private financial details to an unofficial form or social-media account.
What Rights Did the Settlement Resolve?
Participating class members released the covered claims arising from the alleged undisclosed card-price difference at qualifying machines. Class members who did nothing generally received no payment but, unless they timely excluded themselves, were still bound by the settlement’s release.The release concerns the conduct and class period defined in the agreement. It does not automatically determine whether a different vending operator, a machine with clearly displayed dual pricing, or a purchase outside the class period violated the law.
How Should Claimants Read the Current Status?
This is a completed-payment settlement, not an open cash opportunity. Historical payout estimates and the former claim button should be read as a record of what eligible consumers could request before the deadline. They are not current instructions.Claimants who received money should retain the associated notice for their records and consult a tax professional if they have questions about reporting. Claimants with unresolved administration questions should use the official site rather than sending personal information to OCA.
Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Canteen vending machine settlement website.
Case
Jilek v. Compass Group USA, Inc. d/b/a Canteen
Case Number
3:23-cv-00818-JAG-DCK
Court
U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
Class Period
January 1, 2014–July 9, 2025
Settlement Fund
$6,940,000
Claim Deadline
November 14, 2025
Final Approval
January 2026
Payment Stage
Electronic payments issued February 2026
Official Website
official Canteen vending machine settlement
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