About the Canteen Settlement
A substantial $6.94M settlement has been reached with Compass Group USA, operating under the Canteen brand, to resolve allegations of systematic card payment overcharges at workplace vending machines across the United States.
The settlement addresses claims that Canteen charged customers more than the displayed price when using credit, debit, or prepaid cards without properly disclosing these additional transaction fees.
Alleged Hidden Transaction Fees on Card Payments
The consumer plaintiffs in this lawsuit say that when they selected items from workplace vending machines, the displayed price showed one amount, but Canteen charged their cards a higher price—typically $0.10 more per item.
According to the lawsuit, this practice occurred without any visible notification or warning to consumers about the price difference.
Canteen allegedly placed vending machines in office buildings, factories, and other employment locations, where plaintiffs claim became a source of unexpected charges for millions of workers who relied on the machines for daily snacks and beverages.
This discrepancy between displayed prices and actual charges forms the basis of breach of contract claims in this consumer fraud case.
Compass Group USA's Vending Machine Operations
Compass Group USA operates one of the largest vending networks in the country, with over 230,000 machines nationwide.
The alleged affected vending machines in the lawsuit span 31 states, including:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado
- Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana
- Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan
- Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey
- New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee
- Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Breach of contract claims
The plaintiffs' case primarily rests on breach of contract principles. When vending machines display prices, they create an offer consumers accept when inserting payment. Charging more than the displayed amounts violates this fundamental agreement. Attorneys in this lawsuit argue that Compass Group's overcharging practices violated state consumer fraud statutes and breach of contract laws.
Impact on vending machine users
Plaintiffs say Canteen's systematic overcharging mainly affected employees who relied on workplace vending as their primary food source during shifts. Workers purchasing two items daily could potentially face $0.20 in hidden fees each workday. Over a year, this totals approximately $50 in undisclosed charges—multiplied across millions of transactions.
Qualified Vending Machines Under the Settlement
Not all Canteen vending machines qualify for this settlement.
The subject vending machines must meet specific criteria including:
- Offered both cash and card payment options.
- Charged more than the displayed price for card transactions.
- Lacked proper disclosure about price differences.
Machines excluded from the settlement include but may not be limited to those displaying cash discount stickers that clearly informed customers about lower cash prices.
The settlement also bars Canteen machines with digital shopping carts that showed cash and credit prices before purchase completion.
Purchase timeline requirements
To qualify for possible compensation, your purchases must have occurred:
- Between January 1, 2014, and July 9, 2025.
- Within the United States.
- Using any credit, debit, or prepaid card.
- At machines meeting the subject vending machine criteria.
Proposed Settlement Fund Compensation
The settlement features an 11-tier compensation structure designed to provide higher payments to frequent users:
- Up to 250 purchases: $30
- 251-500 purchases: $60
- 501-750 purchases: $90
- 751-1,000 purchases: $120
- 1,001-1,250 purchases: $150
- 1,251-1,500 purchases: $180
- 1,501-1,750 purchases: $210
- 1,751-2,000 purchases: $240
- 2,001-2,250 purchases: $270
- 2,251-2,500 purchases: $300
- More than 2,500 purchases: $360
Settlement administrators may apply pro rata reductions if total valid claims exceed available funds after deducting administrative costs, attorney fees, and service awards.
Distribution process
Class members may choose from multiple payment methods: check, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or prepaid card.
Payment distribution may begin after the court grants final approval and any appeals conclude, typically several months following the fairness hearing.
Claim Process Explained
Eligible members may file an online claim at VendingMachineSettlement.com.
The online portal provides clear instructions to help potential claimants submit the following information:
- Contact information
- Estimated number of qualifying purchases
- Locations of subject vending machines
- Preferred payment method
The portal also saves progress, allowing claimants to return later if they need to gather additional information.
Additional verification requirements
The settlement administrator may request additional documentation to verify high-value claims or resolve questions about eligibility. Fraudulent claims can harm legitimate class members and may result in legal consequences.
Key Settlement Dates
- Opt-out deadline: October 17, 2025
- Objection deadline: October 17, 2025
- Claim submission deadline: November 14, 2025
- Final approval hearing: January 9, 2026
Missing the November 14 submission deadline generally means forfeiting rights to potential compensation, regardless of how many qualifying purchases the claimant made.
What happens after filing
Following claim submission, settlement administrators review each form for completeness and accuracy.
Participants will receive confirmation of submission via email or mail, and the review process continues through the final approval hearing.
Don't Miss Your Chance to Claim Your Share
The Canteen vending machine settlement resolves years of alleged hidden transaction fees that may have affected millions of workplace vending customers.
With potential payouts ranging from $30 to $360 and no initial proof of purchase required, eligible workers may possibly secure compensation for overcharges they've already paid.
Participation also helps hold companies accountable for transparent pricing practices. File a claim or check out the lawsuit for more details at https://www.vendingmachinesettlement.com.
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