I-Team Update: Justice Stores Refunding Customers $51 Million
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STORY UPDATE: The CBS 11 News I-Team has learned more than one million Texans should be receiving postcards from Justice alerting them of a $50.8 million class action settlement involving Justice teen/tween stores. Nearly 19 million people nationwide are eligible for money back according court documents. Records show Texas has more customers getting refunds than any other state.
Hundreds of you have responded to our CBS 11 Facebook page saying you threw the postcard away or are now digging for bank records or receipts.
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NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 I-Team) - If you are a Justice shopper, you could be getting money back. Many North Texans are receiving postcards in the mail alerting them of a class-action settlement involving Tween brands and Ascena Retail Group.
Customers say the retailer misled shoppers with deceptive advertising.
The retailer reached the $50.8 million settlement in December. Shoppers can now opt in to receive a refund.
Years ago, an I-Team investigation raised questions about so called never-ending sales at Justice stores and other retailers. In 2011, customers complained to us about never-ending sales where items were almost always 40-percent off at Justice.
"I would call it deceptive," says Southern Methodist University Marketing professor Dr. Dan Howard. "I would call it criminal."
Dr. Howard says it's a common tactic among retailers which was highlighted in our 2011 investigation. The I-Team found 40% off the Justice sales signs were up 80% of the time we tracked the stores in North Texas.
"That's not fair!..." Dr. Howard told CBS 11 News.
The class action lawsuit alleges the sales were a "scheme" and the "prices were the same and never actually discounted."
Now, as part of the class action settlement, which is expected to be finalized on May 20, 2016, customers with a postcard and an access code can get $20 cash or a $30 voucher to Justice.
And, frequent shoppers can receive much more. If you have receipts or bank records, you should calculate your spending from January 1, 2012 to February 28, 2015. You can opt in for a 14-percent cash back reward or a Justice voucher for 20% of the money you spent.
The deadline to submit a claim is April 4, 2016. The money and vouchers will be mailed after May 20, 2016.
If you have lost, or if you believe you should have received a postcard with an Access Code to file your claim, call 1-877-854-5282.
For more information on filing a claim, click here.
The I-Team reached out to Justice. We have not heard back from the company yet, but the postcards customers are now receiving state Justice "denies all of the claims and did nothing wrong."
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