Time’s almost up if you’re hoping to get paid from the massive $100 million Google ad settlement.
Eligible Americans only have until July 20, 2025, to submit a valid claim and secure their share of the payout. This stems from a class action lawsuit that accused Google of overcharging advertisers and failing to give them the discounts they were promised.
The issue? According to the lawsuit, Google allegedly charged advertisers for clicks outside the targeted geographic regions – meaning many businesses were paying for traffic they didn’t actually want or need. And while Google hasn’t admitted to doing anything wrong, they’ve agreed to settle and hand over a serious chunk of cash.
This settlement is open to individuals and businesses across the U.S. who used Google’s AdWords program and paid for clicks between January 1, 2004, and December 13, 2012. The settlement breaks down into two groups: the Location Targeting Class, which includes people who paid for out-of-area clicks between 2004 and 2011, and the Search Bundled Clicks Class, which covers those charged extra between June 2009 and late 2012 for not having separate pricing for non-Google search results.
Basically, if you paid Google for ad clicks during that time and weren’t fully getting what you paid for, you could be in for a payday. But to make your claim, you’ll need your Google AdWords Customer ID as proof – no ID, no money. And if you want to exclude yourself from the case entirely, that deadline is also July 20.
The final payment amounts will depend on how much each class member paid for the impacted ad clicks, so the checks won’t all be the same.
This isn’t the only settlement Americans can get in on right now either. Neiman Marcus has agreed to fork over $3.5 million in a separate data breach case from 2024, which affected people whose personal data was compromised. If you were caught up in that breach, you might be eligible to claim up to $2,500.
Then there’s the $4.5 million settlement involving Criterion Collection, a film distribution company accused of violating privacy laws. In this case, claimants don’t even need to provide proof of purchase to get paid – just fill out the form before August 19 and you’re in.
But again, for the Google ad money, don’t wait. July 20 is the last call to file your paperwork and claim what’s yours. After that, the window slams shut. Whether you’re a small business owner who used AdWords years ago or part of the broader group impacted by these corporate slip-ups, it’s worth checking if you qualify.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
