Canadians have a limited time to participate in a significant $500 million settlement regarding a class-action lawsuit tied to bread price-fixing. The lawsuit, which involves Loblaw Companies Limited and its parent company George Weston Ltd, has opened the claims process for residents who purchased packaged bread products between 2001 and 2021.
Eligibility for the Settlement Claim
To be eligible for compensation, individuals must be Canadian residents who bought packaged bread for personal use, including:
- Bagged bread
- Buns and rolls
- Bagels
- Naan
- English muffins
- Wraps, pita, and tortillas
Claimants must submit their claims by December 12. Each eligible participant could receive a minimum payout of $50, administered by Verita, the independent claims administrator.
Concerns About Privacy and Fraud
Some Canadians have raised concerns about the safety of sharing personal information online. Questions about the legitimacy of the claims process have surfaced on various online forums, with particular apprehension regarding identity theft. Many feel that the process could disadvantage those with limited internet access, including seniors.
Suzanne Chiodo, an assistant professor at York University, emphasizes the necessity of collecting personal data in class-action lawsuits. Such data collection is crucial for mitigating fraud risks. Recent statistics indicate a staggering 19,000% increase in fraudulent class-action claims from 2021 to 2023, underscoring the importance of secure data handling.
How to File a Claim
The claims process is straightforward, with different forms for residents of Quebec and those in the rest of Canada. Each form requires the following information:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Full address
- Phone number
- Email address
No purchase receipts are necessary, but claimants must provide details about their most recent packaged bread purchase. Interestingly, there is no cap on the number of claims from a single household. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have lived in Canada as of December 31, 2021.
Important Dates and Statistics
The claims process commenced on September 11 and has already seen over 1.4 million applications, not including claims from Quebec. Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP, the law firm managing the Ontario claims, reported receiving millions of submissions since the process began.
Contact Information for Assistance
For those seeking help with their claims, the following contact numbers are available:
- 1-833-419-4821 for residents outside Quebec
- 1-888-677-5770 for Quebec residents
The collected personal information is retained for auditing and compliance purposes and will eventually be destroyed, as stated by class action representatives. Despite these reassurances, skepticism regarding data security persists among potential claimants.
