If you purchased one or more products subject to an Ecofee from a Dollarama store in Canada over the past few years, you could receive a gift card worth up to $15 as part of a proposed settlement to a class-action lawsuit.
What's happening?
A proposed national settlement of $2.5 million has been reached in a class-action lawsuit over prices advertised and charged by Dollarama for products subject to Ecofees. According to the Dollarama Ecofees Settlement website, the plaintiff in the lawsuit alleged that the company did not display the price of the products subject to Ecofees and charged a total price or Ecofees higher than displayed for the products or allowed by law.
Dollarama denies any liability or wrongdoing on its part and no court has concluded it did anything wrong. The Quebec Superior Court will hold a settlement approval hearing on April 9 to decide whether to approve the settlement before any compensation is issued.
What products does this apply to?
The settlement pertains to products subject to an Ecofee, such as batteries, electronics, light bulbs and/or battery-powered toys, to name a few examples, purchased from Dollarama between Dec. 11, 2019 and July 24, 2023.
How much could I receive?
Each person eligible for compensation may receive a Dollarama gift card worth up to $15. The gift card can be redeemed at any Dollarama store in Canada. The card will not expire and can be used for multiple transactions. It may also be linked to the Dollarama application on your mobile device.
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That said, the value of the gift cards may end up being worth less than $15 depending on the number of eligible claimants who apply for compensation and the total cost of the class-action lawsuit. Of the $2.5 million agreed to as a settlement, $825,000 plus taxes is earmarked to pay legal fees and expenses for class counsel and funds will also be used to pay fees and expenses for the settlement administrator.
How do I get compensated?
To claim a gift card as part of this proposed class-action settlement, you must provide your email address to the Dollarama Ecofees Settlement website by April 5. Should the settlement be approved by the court after the April 9 hearing, you will be notified by email that the claim form is available.
I don’t want to be part of this class action settlement or I have an objection. How do I register that?
The deadline to opt out of the proposed settlement or object to any part of it is April 5.
To remove yourself, you must send written notice to the court as well as a copy to class counsel. If you exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not receive compensation if it is approved.
If you simply object to part of the proposed settlement, you must send your objection to the court in writing. It will be considered as part of the decision on whether or not to approve the settlement. However, the court cannot change the terms of the settlement.
Where can I get more information?
To learn more about the settlement, visit https://reglementecofraisdollarama.com/en/
