Vistaprint Class Action Claims Company Sends Emails With Misleading Subject Lines, Maryland And Washington Residents Could Get $500 Per Illegal Email
VistaPrint may have run afoul of Maryland’s Commercial Code and Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA), which specifically prohibit companies from sending residents commercial emails with “false or misleading information” in the subject line. Attorneys are investigating whether Vistaprint’s marketing practices violated Maryland and Washington consumer protection laws, with affected residents potentially eligible for up to $500 per illegal email received.
As of February 2026, no lawsuit has been filed yet—but the investigation is actively gathering evidence from consumers who received Vistaprint’s allegedly deceptive “limited time” sale emails.
The “Limited Time” Sales That Never End
Attorneys are looking into whether VistaPrint has violated Maryland and Washington law by sending emails that potentially mislead consumers about the terms of its supposedly “limited time” deals.
You know these emails. Subject lines screaming urgency:
- “Ends Tonight!”
- “Today Only!”
- “Last Chance – Sale Ends at Midnight!”
- “Final Hours – Don’t Miss Out!”
Then the exact same “limited time” sale runs again next week. And the week after. And somehow Vistaprint’s “Today Only” deals last for months.
Similar to the patterns exposed in the Venmo Class Action Lawsuit, Users Hit With Hidden Credit Card Cash Advance Fees, companies face serious legal consequences when marketing practices deceive consumers about costs, terms, or urgency.
Why This Investigation Matters Now
This new wave of litigation began with Brown v. Old Navy LLC, Case No. 102,592-1 (Wash. Sup. Ct. Apr. 17, 2025). The Supreme Court of Washington agreed, finding the conduct actionable under CEMA, and held that CEMA prohibits the use of any false or misleading information in the subject line of a commercial email.
Since Brown, at least 20 new putative class actions have been filed in Washington courts (many now in federal court), collectively seeking tens of millions of dollars in statutory damages.
The April 2025 Old Navy decision opened the floodgates. Suddenly, what seemed like typical marketing became actionable fraud under state law.
The Legal Framework: CEMA And Maryland Law
Washington’s CEMA (RCW 19.190.020) makes it illegal to send commercial emails that “[c]ontain false or misleading information in the subject line” and carries statutory penalties of $500 to $1,500 per message.
Maryland’s Commercial Code contains nearly identical language prohibiting deceptive email subject lines, also providing $500 per violation.
Here’s why these state laws matter: Because the federal email law, Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (“CAN-SPAM”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 7701-13, doesn’t provide a private right of action, CEMA has quickly become a favorite tool for plaintiffs’ lawyers.
Translation: You can’t sue under federal email spam laws. But you CAN sue under Washington and Maryland state laws—and win $500 per email.
Just like consumers in the Cash App Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, where Washington residents recovered payments for unsolicited text messages under CEMA, Vistaprint customers could see similar compensation for deceptive emails.
Recent “Misleading Subject Line” Settlements Show Big Payouts
Recent complaints span a wide range of subject-line practices, including: False time-limited sales. Plaintiffs allege that brands used subject lines like “Ends Tonight!” or “Today Only!” but later extended the same promotions, creating false urgency.
Inflated discounts. Plaintiffs allege that percentage-off claims were based on inflated list prices, rendering subject-line savings misleading. Defendants include Catalyst Brands and JCPenney.
“Free” offers that weren’t free. Other suits challenge subject lines promising free products where higher-priced purchases were required, including in the case against Catalyst Brands.
Related article: Toyota Tundra Recall Affects 162K Trucks, Backup Camera Failure Increases Crash Risk
Vistaprint’s Long History Of Consumer Complaints
In August 2008, four class-action lawsuits were filed against Vistaprint. The four complaints alleged that the defendants were in violation of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (which protects from unauthorized charges) and the federal Electronic Communications and Privacy Act (which prohibits the unlawful access of financial information) for charging relatively small amounts from customers accounts “hoping that consumers just won’t notice”.
Vistaprint settled a class action lawsuit in 2005 in California after consumers rallied over excessive shipping and handling charges — a direct violation of law in the state.
The company faced yet another class action lawsuit in 2009, but that one was dismissed. The heart of that fledgling Vistaprint class action lawsuit concerned discount programs.
Who Qualifies For This Investigation
Maryland and Washington residents who receive promotional emails from VistaPrint may qualify. Specifically:
You received emails with subject lines like:
- “Ends Tonight” (but the sale continued)
- “Today Only” (repeated weekly)
- “Last Chance” (not actually the last chance)
- “Limited Time Offer” (unlimited time offers)
You live in Maryland or Washington: These investigations currently focus only on residents of states with strong anti-spam laws.
You still have the emails: Save them as evidence. Screenshots showing the subject line, date received, and that the promotion continued beyond the stated deadline are critical.
Critical Questions Answered
Has a lawsuit been filed yet?
No. As of February 2026, attorneys are still investigating and gathering consumer information. It’s possible a class action lawsuit could be filed on behalf of Maryland and Washington consumers who received the sales emails.
How much money could I get?
Maryland’s Commercial Code and Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) stipulate that residents could be owed $500 for any illegal emails they were sent. If you received 20 emails, that’s $10,000 potential compensation.
Do I need to hire a lawyer?
No. If a class action is filed and you’re eligible, you’ll be automatically included. Attorneys typically work on contingency in these cases.
What should I do right now?
If you live in Maryland or Washington and get marketing emails from VistaPrint, fill out the form on this page at ClassAction.org to provide your information to investigating attorneys.
Are other companies being investigated for this?
Yes. Attorneys are investigating potential class action lawsuits against retailers and other companies for using misleading subject lines in promotional emails, such as “Today Only,” “Ends Tonight,” or “Deal Ending Day,” across dozens of brands.
What if I live in California?
Like Washington, California has a law that prohibits deceptive commercial emails—Business & Professions Code § 17529.5. As in Washington, we are seeing a recent flurry of lawsuits filed against retailers alleging violations of this statute. Vistaprint investigations may expand to California residents.
Will this stop Vistaprint’s endless “sales”?
If filed and successful, a class action lawsuit could make the company modify its business practices and help VistaPrint customers recover money for any unlawful emails they received.
Last Updated: February 14, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides informational content only and does not constitute legal advice. No lawsuit has been filed yet—this is an active investigation.
Next Steps: If you live in Maryland or Washington and received Vistaprint marketing emails with “limited time” subject lines, preserve those emails and submit your information to attorneys investigating at ClassAction.org.
Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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