COSTCO shoppers can get their share of a $2 million pot if they buy a defective product and don’t even have to show a receipt.
The wholesale company did not admit any wrongdoing, but agreed to pay $2 million to settle a false advertising class action lawsuit regarding its Kirkland Signature disposable wipes.
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Shoppers who purchased the wipes between July 1, 2011 and May 31, 2017 are eligible to claim the pot payment, according to Top Class Actions.
“Plaintiffs allege the discharge caused damage to pipes, septic systems, sewer lines and other plumbing fixtures,” Top Class Actions he said.
“Consumers argue that they would not have purchased the wipes if they had known that they were not actually flushable as advertised.”
Students can receive US$1.30 for each product purchased, with a minimum payment of US$7.50 and a maximum payment of US$55.90 – which is equivalent to around 43 products.
Proof of purchase is not a requirement to receive a payment, but a valid claim must be submitted in this website until August 9th.
Flushable wipes have been a source of controversy for several maintenance experts because the product can cause damage to plumbing.
Alexander Kraus, a maintenance worker at Kenosha Water Utility in Wisconsin, said Fox Business that he doesn’t believe baby wipes are actually washable.
“They cling to small deposits or spots where tree roots reach the sides of the sewer,” he said.
“It’s only a matter of time before a backup occurs, especially in apartment complexes.”
Kraus explained that clearing backups due to cleanings can be done by flushing the pipe, which takes about an hour of work, however, the work is a “slap until it clogs and we’re ready to do it all over again.”
Sometimes workers will have to dig and repair the sewer lateral to replace it, which is a full eight-hour project.
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies released a report in 2020, saying wipes cost utilities all over the country million extra dollars.
The report stated that not all wipes cause harm when washed and not all wipes are labeled “flushable.”
“The wipes industry has already taken steps to encourage wet wipe manufacturers to label their products as flushable or non-flushable based on whether those products meet a series of tests.”
However, a 2019 study conducted at Ryerson University in Toronto examined 101 disposable cleaning products — including 23 products labeled as “flushable” by the manufacturer.
How to file a complaint
To receive a settlement payment, you must be a member of the Settlement Class.
To be a member, you must:
- Have purchased the product between July 1, 2011 and May 31, 2017
- Be a consumer, not a commercial entity
- To live in the USA
- Purchased one or more products in New York State
To file a complaint:
- You don’t need to be a Costco member
- You must fill this way
If you are a Costco member, you do not need to submit a claim.
Costco will identify Settlement Class Members to determine the number of products that were purchased and will issue a check for the appropriate amount using the mailing address on file.
Source: Costco Baby Wipes Clearance
“None of these products fell apart or dispersed enough to
safely pass through the average household’s plumbing system to the public sewer and sewage system for 30 minutes without ‘risk of clogging or causing damage to infrastructure,'” the report said.
Costco still sells the wipes, however, the packaging appears to have been changed with a warning that now says, “Never wash more than one wipe at a time.”
The US Sun reached out to Costco to comment.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
