Vanilla Gift Card California Restitution Settlement
InComm Financial Services, the company behind Vanilla Prepaid Gift Cards, agreed to a $1.525 million restitution fund to settle a lawsuit by the San Francisco City Attorney claiming that card numbers were stolen from insecure packaging before purchase and drained by scammers. California residents who bought or received a non-reloadable Vanilla gift card purchased in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024, and lost money to unauthorized charges that InComm never refunded, can file a claim by February 19, 2027.
Restitution fund
$1.525M
Set aside for California Vanilla card holders
Top payout
Up to 100% of loss
With full proof; up to 75% with partial proof, or up to $15 without proof
Claim deadline
Feb 19, 2027
107 days remaining
You may be owed money
Get claim instructions and more information directly from the official settlement website. Deadline: Feb 19, 2027.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You are a current California resident who bought a non-reloadable Vanilla Prepaid Gift Card in California, or received one that was bought in California, between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024.
- You could not use some or all of the money on the card because of charges you did not authorize.
- Excluded: Anyone who already received a refund from InComm for the lost money.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Claims Administrator at 1-888-808-2479, email info@CAgiftcardsettlement.com, or get more information from the settlement website directly at CAGiftCardSettlement.com.
What happened
In 2023, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sued InComm Financial Services on behalf of the People of the State of California in San Francisco Superior Court. The lawsuit claims that Vanilla gift card information was accessed through insecure packaging before the cards were sold, allowing scammers to drain the balances, and that some cardholders were improperly denied refunds.
InComm denies any wrongdoing. This is a government enforcement action, not a private class action, so the restitution fund is distributed through a claims process run by a third-party administrator. Unclaimed money goes to the City Attorney's Office for future consumer protection enforcement.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You must currently live in California and have bought or received a non-reloadable Vanilla gift card purchased in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024 that lost money to unauthorized charges InComm never refunded.
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2. Gather what you have
With complete proof (purchase receipt, front and back photos of the card, and its transaction history) you may recover all of the money lost. With incomplete proof you may receive up to 75% of the loss. Without proof you may receive a flat payment of up to $15, which is paid at a lower priority. All amounts depend on total claims.
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3. Get the details from the settlement website
Get claim instructions and file through the official settlement website at CAGiftCardSettlement.com by February 19, 2027. The claim form asks for the card's 11-digit serial number, its value, approximate purchase date and location, and the amount lost, and you must sign an attestation under penalty of perjury. Mail claims go to: Gift Card Claims Administrator, PO Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132.
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4. Receive your payment
News coverage reports that payments are expected around June 19, 2027, after the administrator reviews all claims. Check the settlement website for the latest timing.
Key dates
- Feb 19, 2027 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
Because this is a government enforcement settlement rather than a class action, there is no fairness hearing and no opt-out process listed in public materials. The only deadline is the February 19, 2027 claim deadline. Check CAGiftCardSettlement.com for updates.
Where the money is going
InComm agreed to fund $1,525,000 in restitution for eligible California Vanilla gift card holders. Claims with full proof are paid first, then claims with partial proof, then flat payments for claims without proof. Any money left after the claims period goes to the San Francisco City Attorney's Office for future consumer protection enforcement.
Payment amounts depend on the documentation submitted and the total number of valid claims. Flat payments for claims without proof are up to $15 and may be less.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
It depends on your documentation. Valid claims with a complete proof of claim may recover all of the money lost, claims with incomplete proof may receive up to 75% of the loss, and claims without proof may receive a flat payment of up to $15. All payments are subject to adjustment based on total claims.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
Proof is optional but increases your payment. Helpful proof includes the purchase receipt, front and back photos of the card, and the card's transaction history. Every claim needs the card's 11-digit serial number and a signed attestation. Get more information from the settlement website directly at CAGiftCardSettlement.com.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
You do not need a notice to file. If you meet the eligibility requirements, get more information from the settlement website directly at CAGiftCardSettlement.com or call 1-888-808-2479.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
This settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by the government, not a class action. Public materials do not describe any release of individual claims. Check the full notice at CAGiftCardSettlement.com or consult an attorney about your situation.
When will payments be sent out?
News coverage reports that payments are expected around June 19, 2027. Check CAGiftCardSettlement.com for updates.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with InComm Financial Services, Inc., the Settlement Administrator, or the San Francisco City Attorney's Office. The case is People of the State of California v. InComm Financial Services, et al., Case No. CGC-23-610333, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. It is a government enforcement action brought on behalf of the People of the State of California, not a private class action. InComm denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.