{"id":529308,"date":"2025-10-26T14:38:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T14:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/529308\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T14:38:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T14:38:30","slug":"washington-users-can-claim-up-to-147-by-october-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/529308\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Users Can Claim Up to $147 by October 27"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Washington State Cash App users may be in for a payday this fall \u2014 and it\u2019s not from Bitcoin or stock trades. It\u2019s from a $12.5 million class action settlement<\/strong> that accuses Cash App\u2019s parent company, Block Inc.<\/strong>, of sending unsolicited promotional text messages<\/strong> to residents without consent. Eligible users could receive between $88 and $147<\/strong> \u2014 but only if they file a claim by October 27, 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The case, Bottoms v. Block Inc.<\/strong>, shines a spotlight on digital marketing ethics and how state privacy laws are catching up with Silicon Valley\u2019s biggest names.<\/p>\n

What the Cash App Settlement Is About<\/p>\n

At the heart of the case is Cash App\u2019s referral program<\/strong>, a popular feature that rewarded users for inviting friends. But according to the lawsuit, the system went too far. The app allegedly sent automated promotional text messages<\/strong> to people who had never opted in or consented<\/strong> \u2014 a clear violation of Washington\u2019s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA)<\/strong> and Consumer Protection Act (CPA)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

While Block Inc. denies any wrongdoing<\/strong>, it agreed to settle to avoid a drawn-out trial. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington<\/strong> approved the $12.5 million deal earlier this year, paving the way for refunds to Washington residents affected by the unauthorized texts between November 14, 2019, and August 7, 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\nSettlement Summary<\/strong>Details<\/strong><\/tr>\n\nCase Name<\/strong><\/td>\nBottoms v. Block Inc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSettlement Fund<\/strong><\/td>\n$12.5 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEligible Claimants<\/strong><\/td>\nWashington residents who received Cash App referral texts without consent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nText Period<\/strong><\/td>\nNov 14, 2019 \u2013 Aug 7, 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEstimated Payout<\/strong><\/td>\n$88 \u2013 $147<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nClaim Deadline<\/strong><\/td>\nOctober 27, 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nOfficial Website<\/strong><\/td>\nBottomsTextSettlement.com<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

How the Lawsuit Started<\/p>\n

The lawsuit was filed after Washington residents reported receiving Cash App referral messages<\/strong> they didn\u2019t authorize \u2014 short, catchy texts encouraging them to sign up for the platform.<\/p>\n

Plaintiffs argued these communications violated CEMA<\/strong>, which prohibits unsolicited commercial electronic messages, and the CPA<\/strong>, which safeguards consumers against deceptive or unfair business practices.<\/p>\n

Cash App\u2019s referral feature allegedly allowed users to trigger pre-written invitations to contacts, but those texts appeared to come directly from Cash App itself \u2014 not the user. That distinction, plaintiffs claimed, made them unsolicited corporate advertising, not peer-to-peer referrals.<\/p>\n

The case gained traction as part of a broader wave of privacy-related suits targeting tech companies for automated marketing without consent<\/strong> \u2014 a trend that\u2019s redefining how businesses handle user outreach.<\/p>\n

Who Qualifies for a Payment<\/p>\n

Only Washington residents<\/strong> qualify, and you must meet these criteria:<\/p>\nEligibility Requirement<\/strong>Description<\/strong><\/tr>\n\nResidency<\/strong><\/td>\nMust currently live in Washington State<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMessage Period<\/strong><\/td>\nReceived a Cash App referral text between Nov 14, 2019, and Aug 7, 2025<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nConsent Status<\/strong><\/td>\nDid not provide prior consent<\/strong> to receive promotional texts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nClaim Deadline<\/strong><\/td>\nMust submit claim by October 27, 2025<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

If you\u2019re unsure whether you\u2019re eligible, you can verify your phone number through the official settlement website<\/strong>: BottomsTextSettlement.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How to File a Claim<\/p>\n

You have two options: online submission<\/strong> or mail-in form<\/strong>. The online method is faster and strongly recommended.<\/p>\n

Online Submission<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Go to BottomsTextSettlement.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. Click \u201cSubmit Claim.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Enter your name, phone number, and mailing address.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Certify that you did not consent to Cash App marketing texts.<\/li>\n
  5. Submit the form no later than October 27, 2025.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Mail Submission<\/p>\n

    If you prefer to mail your claim:
    Send your completed form to:<\/p>\n

    Bottoms v. Block Settlement Administrator<\/strong>
    P.O. Box 2631
    Baton Rouge, LA 70821<\/p>\n

    For questions, you can email [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/strong> or call 877-540-7545<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    How Much You Could Get<\/p>\n

    Each eligible claimant will receive between $88 and $147<\/strong>, depending on the total number of valid claims filed. The fewer people who file, the larger the per-person payment.<\/p>\nSettlement Component<\/strong>Details<\/strong><\/tr>\n\nTotal Fund<\/strong><\/td>\n$12.5 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEstimated Payment Range<\/strong><\/td>\n$88 \u2013 $147<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDistribution Method<\/strong><\/td>\nDirect deposit or check<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPayment Date<\/strong><\/td>\nAfter claim approval and court\u2019s final review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    Payments are expected to be sent shortly after the claim deadline, once all submissions are validated by the Settlement Administrator<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    The Legal Teams Behind the Case<\/p>\n

    Two major consumer law firms represented the plaintiffs:<\/p>\nLegal Role<\/strong>Representation<\/strong><\/tr>\n\nPlaintiffs\u2019 Counsel<\/strong><\/td>\nTerrell Marshall Law Group PLLC (Beth E. Terrell, Jennifer Rust Murray, Eden B. Nordby) and Berger Montague PC (Sophia M. Rios, E. Michelle Drake, Colleen Fewer)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDefense Counsel<\/strong><\/td>\nPerkins Coie LLP (Cody W. S. Harris, Tana B. Glass, Manoj S. Samal Jr.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSettlement Administrator<\/strong><\/td>\nBottoms v. Block Settlement Administrator<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    The firms negotiated the payout and compliance terms under court supervision, ensuring a fair and transparent claims process.<\/p>\n

    Why This Settlement Matters<\/p>\n

    Beyond the refunds, this case signals a turning point in digital privacy enforcement.<\/strong> Washington\u2019s consumer protection laws are among the toughest in the country, and this settlement underscores that consent in marketing is not optional<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    For tech companies, it\u2019s a wake-up call: automated messages \u2014 even through referral systems \u2014 can violate state and federal privacy laws if sent without explicit permission.<\/p>\n

    For consumers, it\u2019s proof that privacy rights have real value.<\/strong> Every unsolicited ping or promotional text could cost companies millions in legal exposure.<\/p>\n

    What Washington Residents Should Do Now<\/p>\n

    If you live in Washington and received a Cash App text that seemed unsolicited:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Go to BottomsTextSettlement.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n
    2. Use the eligibility verification tool<\/strong> to check your phone number.<\/li>\n
    3. File your claim by October 27, 2025.<\/strong><\/li>\n
    4. Choose your preferred payment method \u2014 direct deposit or check.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Missing the deadline means forfeiting your share of the settlement, so act early.<\/p>\n

      Broader Context: The Rise of Digital Consent Laws<\/p>\n

      Washington\u2019s CEMA<\/strong> and CPA<\/strong> are part of a growing web of state-level privacy protections, similar to California\u2019s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)<\/strong> and new frameworks in Colorado, Virginia, and Utah. Together, these laws are tightening the leash on how apps, retailers, and fintech firms handle customer communication.<\/p>\n

      The FTC<\/strong> has also ramped up scrutiny, warning tech companies that \u201crefer-a-friend\u201d features must adhere to truth-in-advertising and consent standards.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Cash App\u2019s settlement is likely just the start \u2014 legal experts expect more cases challenging unwanted texts, push notifications, and in-app marketing campaigns across multiple platforms.<\/p>\n

      FAQs<\/p>\n

      Who qualifies for the Cash App settlement?<\/p>\n

      Washington residents who received a Cash App referral text between Nov. 14, 2019, and Aug. 7, 2025, without giving prior consent.<\/p>\n

      How much will I get?<\/p>\n

      Between $88 and $147<\/strong>, depending on how many valid claims are approved.<\/p>\n

      When will payments be issued?<\/p>\n

      After the claims are verified and the court gives final approval \u2014 likely late 2025 or early 2026.<\/p>\n

      What if I miss the deadline?<\/p>\n

      You\u2019ll lose your right to receive payment under the settlement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Join on WhatsApp Get the latest updates directly on WhatsApp \u2013 motivation, news & more! Join On WhatsApp…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":529309,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3159],"tags":[547,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-529308","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115440983174340723","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529308\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}