Vanilla Gift Card California restitution fund
People of the State of California v. InComm Financial Services, Inc., et al. Not a class action.
Also known as Vanilla Prepaid Gift Card; CA Gift Card Settlement; San Francisco City Attorney Vanilla; CGC-23-610333
The lawsuit said Vanilla Gift Card balances were stolen via tampered packaging and some refunds were denied.
Copied from the official notice. Last compared Nov 3, 2026.
- You could get
- $15 or less a card, no proof Full lost amount with complete proof.
Source
“you will be eligible for a flat payment of up to $15 regardless of the value of loss reported in the claim.”
From the administrator site: Official restitution fund website FAQ. Last compared Nov 3, 2026.
- You need
- No receipt needed The card's 11-digit serial number and 16-digit card number, or photos of both sides if the number was scratched off Quick claim: describes the claim form only
Source
“The 11-digit serial number on the back of the Vanilla Gift Card; ... The 16-digit card number of the Vanilla Gift Card you are submitting a claim for, ... A statement that the Vanilla Gift Card’s 16-digit card number was altered or scratched off when you opened the card, along with a photo of the front and back of the altered card. ... The receipt for the Vanilla Gift Card purchase; ... Photos of the Vanilla Gift Card (front and back); ... The transaction history for the Vanilla Gift Card (available at”
From the administrator site: Official restitution fund website FAQ. Last compared Nov 3, 2026.
- Who can file
- Lost Vanilla Gift Card money to fraud, California, 2019-2024
Source
“(1) Be a California resident; ... (a) purchased a Vanilla Gift Card in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024; ... (b) received as a gift, or otherwise lawfully acquired, a Vanilla Gift Card that someone else purchased in California during that time frame; ... (3) have been unable to use the full balance of the Vanilla Gift Card due to one or more unauthorized transactions; ... (4) believe that the unauthorized transactions were caused by a person tampering with the card’s packaging; ... (5) not yet have received a refund for the funds you were unable to access”
From the administrator site: Official restitution fund website FAQ. Last compared Nov 3, 2026.
- Where
- California only
Source
“(1) Be a California resident; ... (a) purchased a Vanilla Gift Card in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024; ... (b) received as a gift, or otherwise lawfully acquired, a Vanilla Gift Card that someone else purchased in California during that time frame; ... (3) have been unable to use the full balance of the Vanilla Gift Card due to one or more unauthorized transactions; ... (4) believe that the unauthorized transactions were caused by a person tampering with the card’s packaging; ... (5) not yet have received a refund for the funds you were unable to access”
From the administrator site: Official restitution fund website FAQ. Last compared Nov 3, 2026.
- Time to file
- About 4 minutes
Source
Our estimate of how long the official claim form takes. The notice does not say.
From the official site: cagiftcardsettlement.com. Last compared Nov 3, 2026.
Free. The official site never charges.
Quick answers
How much is the Vanilla Gift Card California restitution fund payout?
$15 or less a card, no proof. Full lost amount with complete proof.
Where is the Vanilla Gift Card California restitution fund claim form?
On the official site, www.cagiftcardsettlement.com. Filing is free. The last day to file is Feb 19, 2027.
When will the Vanilla Gift Card California restitution fund pay?
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Is the Vanilla Gift Card California restitution fund legit?
The settlement administrator (the company that handles claims) is Verita, and the official site is www.cagiftcardsettlement.com. 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.
Compare yourself to the official class definition
You may be included if you live in California and bought, or got as a gift, a Vanilla Gift Card bought in CA, 11/1/2019-9/30/2024.
It covers cards you could not fully use because of charges you did not authorize that you believe came from tampered packaging.
You are not included if InComm already refunded you for the money lost on that card.
Check each condition yourself. The boxes are only for you; nothing is sent or stored.
(1) Be a California resident; ... (a) purchased a Vanilla Gift Card in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024; ... (b) received as a gift, or otherwise lawfully acquired, a Vanilla Gift Card that someone else purchased in California during that time frame; ... (3) have been unable to use the full balance of the Vanilla Gift Card due to one or more unauthorized transactions; ... (4) believe that the unauthorized transactions were caused by a person tampering with the card’s packaging; ... (5) not yet have received a refund for the funds you were unable to access
From the administrator site: Official restitution fund website FAQ
This checklist is for guidance only and can be wrong. Only the court's definition decides. Read the official wording before you file.
Official payout table
The amounts the settlement itself sets. We do not work out a personal amount.
| Option and condition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Each card claimed without Proof of ClaimUp to 2 per claim | Up to $15 |
| Most per claimThe most one claim can get | $30 |
No-proof claims only. With a complete Proof of Claim you can get the full lost amount (partial proof: up to 75%). No-proof payments may be reduced depending on how many people file.
you will be eligible for a flat payment of up to $15 regardless of the value of loss reported in the claim. ... for a maximum total payment of $30. ... you may be eligible for up to 75% of your reported lost funds for each Vanilla Gift Card at issue depending on the amount of documentation provided. ... In this instance, claimants will receive less than $15 per claim without Proof of Claim but claims with Proof of Claim will not be affected. ... The Claims Administrator will make payment by approximately
From the administrator site: Official restitution fund website FAQ
Estimates can change with the number of valid claims and court deductions. Guidance only.
How to file
-
Gather what you need
No proof of purchase is required.
- The card's 11-digit serial number and 16-digit card number, or photos of both sides if the number was scratched off
- The card's value, rough purchase date and place, the amount lost, and your address when you bought it
- For a bigger payment: the receipt, photos of both sides of the card and its transaction history from balance.vanillagift.com
- If you asked InComm for a refund before: its claim number and your messages with InComm
-
File online, or by mail
At www.cagiftcardsettlement.com, by Feb 19, 2027. Filing is free.
Or mail a paper claim form to:Gift Card Claims Administrator, PO Box 301132, Los Angeles CA, 90030-1132
The deadline note says: “Online or by mail between October 23, 2026 and February 19, 2027; for mail, the postmark date counts as the submission date.” -
Save your confirmation
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again.
Confirm with the administrator before you act.
After you file
Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval and any appeals are over.
For context: First payments were issued 52 to 875 days after final approval, based on 15 settlements. Half were paid within 119 days. 1 of the 15 waited on appeals after approval.
Also ending this week
Related settlements
Case details
- Case
- People of the State of California v. InComm Financial Services, Inc., et al.
- Court
- Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco
- Case number
- CGC-23-610333
- Administrator
- Verita
- Official site
- www.cagiftcardsettlement.com
- Settlement fund
- $1,525,000 Restitution Fund (also pays the Claims Administrator's costs)
- Full payout terms
- Full lost amount with proof; up to $15 a card withoutWith a complete Proof of Claim (receipt, photos of both sides of the card, the card's transaction history, and refund-request records if you asked InComm for a refund): the full lost amount you report, for any number of cards. With an incomplete Proof of Claim: up to 75% of reported losses per card. With no Proof of Claim: a flat payment of up to $15 per card, for up to 2 cards ($30 total). If the fund runs short, only the no-proof payments are reduced pro rata. Payment by Venmo or PayPal (online claims) or check, by about June 19, 2027.
- Effort
- Easy, about 4 minutes
- States
- California
The court’s exact words
(1) Be a California resident; ... (a) purchased a Vanilla Gift Card in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024; ... (b) received as a gift, or otherwise lawfully acquired, a Vanilla Gift Card that someone else purchased in California during that time frame; ... (3) have been unable to use the full balance of the Vanilla Gift Card due to one or more unauthorized transactions; ... (4) believe that the unauthorized transactions were caused by a person tampering with the card’s packaging; ... (5) not yet have received a refund for the funds you were unable to access
Quoted from the official notice. Read the notice for the full definition.
Our notes: Not a class action: this is a restitution fund from a lawsuit the People of the State of California brought through the San Francisco City Attorney against InComm Financial Services, the company that sells Vanilla Gift Cards. The SF City Attorney oversees the fund and does not represent claimants. To claim you must (1) be a California resident; (2) have bought a Vanilla Gift Card in California between November 1, 2019 and September 30, 2024, or have received as a gift or otherwise lawfully acquired one that someone else bought in California in that period; (3) have been unable to use the full balance because of one or more unauthorized transactions; (4) believe those transactions were caused by someone tampering with the card's packaging; and (5) not already have received a refund for the lost funds. You affirm these under penalty of perjury. Claims may be shared with InComm to check against its records.
Sources and checks (4)
Every fact people act on was copied from the official source and compared with it. How we check
- Official restitution fund website home page administrator site
- Official restitution fund website FAQ administrator site
- Notice of Vanilla Gift Card Restitution Fund (PDF on official site) administrator site
- Official restitution fund website Important Dates page administrator site
What changedLast change Oct 29, 2026
- Page created. Claims open until February 19, 2027. source document
Questions
I already filed. What now?
Keep your confirmation number or email. You do not need to file again. Payment can only happen after the court gives final approval; once it does, the payment status page shows what is known.