Publishers Clearing House FTC refunds settlement
Federal Trade Commission v. Publishers Clearing House LLC (FTC refunds; not a class action)
Also known as Publishers Clearing House refund; PCH refund; PCH FTC checks; FTC v. Publishers Clearing House; PCH sweepstakes; 23-cv-4735
The FTC said Publishers Clearing House misled people about sweepstakes entries and added surprise fees.
Copied from the official notice. Last compared Nov 4, 2026.
- You could get
- A share of the fund $18.5 million fund, split among everyone who files.
Source
“Judgment in the amount of Eighteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($18,500,000)”
From the court record: Joint motion and Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, and Other Relief as entered by the court, E.D.N.Y. No. 23-cv-4735 (FTC copy). Last compared Nov 4, 2026.
- Payments
- Paid Payments issued; the settlement administrator (the company that handles claims) has not published the date. Has it paid yet? See payment status.
Source
“The FTC first sent checks in April 2025, which resulted in more than $13.3 million in refunds. Because there is still money remaining in the fund, the FTC is sending 204,408 checks totaling more than $4.4 million to people who accepted their first payment.”
From the administrator site: FTC refund page: Publishers Clearing House Refunds. Last compared Nov 4, 2026.
- Claims
- No claim form needed
Source
“If you get a check, please cash it within 90 days.”
From the administrator site: FTC refund page: Publishers Clearing House Refunds. Last compared Nov 4, 2026.
- Who can file
- Ordered from PCH after clicking an email the FTC said misled
Source
“Checks will be sent to people who ordered a product from Publishers Clearing House after receiving and clicking on one of the emails that the FTC alleged were deceptive. ... to people who accepted their first payment.”
From the administrator site: FTC refund page: Publishers Clearing House Refunds. Last compared Nov 4, 2026.
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S.
Source
“Checks will be sent to people who ordered a product from Publishers Clearing House after receiving and clicking on one of the emails that the FTC alleged were deceptive.”
From the administrator site: FTC refund page: Publishers Clearing House Refunds. Last compared Nov 4, 2026.
Quick answers
How much is the Publishers Clearing House FTC refunds settlement payout?
A share of the fund. $18.5 million fund, split among everyone who files.
Do I need to file a claim for the Publishers Clearing House FTC refunds settlement?
No claim form. Payment is automatic. Cash the check within 90 days.
When is the Publishers Clearing House FTC refunds settlement payout date?
Payments issued; the administrator has not published the date.
Is the Publishers Clearing House FTC refunds settlement legit?
The administrator is Federal Trade Commission, and the official site is www.ftc.gov. Real notices point there; if a link in a message goes anywhere else, do not use it.
The official site never asks you to pay to file.
Also ending this week
Related settlements
Confirm with the administrator before you act.
Case details
- Case
- Federal Trade Commission v. Publishers Clearing House LLC (FTC refunds; not a class action)
- Court
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- Case number
- 23-cv-4735 (ENV) (LGD)
- Administrator
- Federal Trade Commission
- Official site
- www.ftc.gov
- Settlement fund
- $18.5 million
- Full payout terms
- Share of $18.5M: $13.3M sent, then $4.4M more
Other dates
- Final approval granted
- From the court order we read.Date the court signed the FTC's Stipulated Order ('SO ORDERED this 30th day of June , 2023', Judge Eric N. Vitaliano), read on the FTC's copy of the order as entered by the court. It is a court-entered FTC order, not approval of a class settlement. Source: court record
The court’s exact words
Checks will be sent to people who ordered a product from Publishers Clearing House after receiving and clicking on one of the emails that the FTC alleged were deceptive.
Quoted from the official notice. Read the notice for the full definition.
Our notes: This is not a class action. It is an FTC lawsuit that ended in a court-entered Stipulated Order on June 30, 2023 requiring Publishers Clearing House to pay $18.5 million. The FTC chose who is paid: people who ordered a product after receiving and clicking one of the emails the FTC alleged were deceptive. There is no claim form; checks are mailed.
You may be included if you ordered from Publishers Clearing House after getting and clicking one of the emails the FTC said were deceptive.
It covers second-round checks only for people who accepted their first payment.
Sources and checks (2)
Every fact people act on was copied from the official source and compared with it. How we check
What changedLast change Nov 4, 2026
- Payment-status page created. The court signed the FTC's order on June 30, 2023; the FTC says it first sent checks in April 2025 and is now sending a second round of 204,408 checks. source document
Questions
I already filed. What now?
There is no claim form, so there was nothing to file. The administrator pays class members automatically, usually after final approval and any appeals. Never pay anyone to check on a payment.