Cambly $393,000 Settlement, Did You Tutor in California Between 2020 and 2022? Here Is What You Need to Know
Cambly Inc. has agreed to pay $393,000 to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the online English tutoring platform of misclassifying its California-based tutors as independent contractors instead of employees — and in doing so, denying them minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, expense reimbursements, and accurate wage statements required under California law. The settlement resolves claims brought under the California Labor Code, the state’s unfair competition law, and the Private Attorneys General Act.
If you tutored through Cambly in California any time between November 9, 2020 and May 26, 2022, a payment may be coming to you automatically — but there are important steps some tutors need to take before the May 4, 2026 deadline.
Quick Facts
- Case name: Waldrep v. Cambly Inc.
- Settlement amount: $393,000
- Who qualifies: Individuals who provided tutoring services through Cambly’s platform in California between November 9, 2020 and May 26, 2022
- No claim form required: Payments are automatic based on Cambly’s records
- Default payment method: PayPal — using the account on file with Cambly
- Opt-out deadline: May 4, 2026
- Dispute deadline: Within 60 days of receiving your settlement notice
- Official settlement website: camblySettlementAdministration.com
- Settlement administrator: Simpluris | 888-369-3780 | [email protected]
- Mailing address: Waldrep v. Cambly, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799
What Did Cambly Actually Do Wrong?
Cambly connects students around the world who want to practice English with native-speaking tutors available on demand. Tutors log in whenever they want, take calls, and get paid per minute of conversation. Cambly classified all of its tutors as independent contractors — not employees.
In California, that distinction carries enormous legal weight.
The plaintiff claimed Cambly’s misclassification of tutors as independent contractors rather than employees led to violations of California labor laws, including failures to reimburse business expenses, pay minimum wage and overtime, provide meal and rest breaks, and issue proper wage statements.
California’s AB5 law — one of the toughest worker classification laws in the country — uses what is called the ABC Test to determine whether a worker is truly an independent contractor. Under that test, a company must prove that the worker is free from the company’s control, performs work outside the company’s core business, and has their own independent trade or business. Many gig economy companies have struggled to meet that standard, and Cambly is the latest example.
Cambly denied all allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the risks and costs of continued litigation.
Do You Qualify?
You are a class member if you provided tutoring services through Cambly’s platform while located in California at any point between November 9, 2020 and May 26, 2022.
That is the full criteria. There is no minimum number of hours, no minimum earnings threshold, and no restriction based on how many students you taught. If you were a California-based Cambly tutor during that window — whether you tutored for one week or two full years — you are likely included.
If Cambly’s records identify you as a class member, you will automatically receive your share of the settlement unless you choose to opt out.
If you received a settlement notice in the mail or by email, that means Cambly’s own records confirm you as a class member. Do not ignore that notice — it contains your opt-out instructions and dispute information.
How Much Will You Receive?
Your payment is calculated based on the number of classroom minutes you logged on the Cambly platform during the covered period. The more minutes you tutored, the larger your proportional share of the net settlement fund.
After deductions for attorneys’ fees, administration costs, and a service award to the lead plaintiff, the remaining amount will be divided among all class members based on their individual minute totals relative to the total minutes across the entire class.
With $393,000 as the total fund and a class period covering nearly 18 months, individual payments will vary widely depending on how active each tutor was. Heavy users who tutored regularly could receive meaningfully more than occasional tutors.
What if Cambly’s minute records are wrong?
If a class member disagrees with Cambly’s record of their classroom minutes, they may submit documentation to the administrator within 60 days of receiving their notice to dispute the calculation.
If you kept records of your sessions — screenshots, app history, or payment receipts — and believe Cambly’s records undercount your actual tutoring time, submit your dispute promptly. That correction directly affects the size of your payment.
How Will You Get Paid?
The default payment method is PayPal, using the account on file with Cambly to distribute payments.
This means the payment goes to whatever PayPal account is linked to your Cambly profile. If that email address is outdated, no longer active, or linked to a PayPal account you no longer use, you need to update it now.
Contact the settlement administrator to update your payment details:
- Phone: 888-369-3780
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: Waldrep v. Cambly, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799
- Website: camblySettlementAdministration.com
Should You Opt Out?
Most tutors will want to stay in and receive their automatic payment. But opting out makes sense in one specific situation: if you believe your individual damages significantly exceed what this settlement will pay you and you want to pursue a separate legal claim against Cambly on your own.
If a class member wishes to opt out of the settlement, they must mail or email a written request for exclusion to the settlement administrator by May 4, 2026. Instructions for doing so are included in your settlement notice.
Once you opt out, you will not receive any payment from this settlement — but your individual legal rights remain intact. If you tutored for a significant number of hours during the covered period and believe your unpaid wages, overtime, and expense reimbursements add up to substantially more than your pro rata share, a free consultation with an employment attorney before May 4 is worth your time.
To understand exactly how California calculates what employers owe workers in situations like this — including unpaid overtime, missed breaks, and the deadlines that apply to each claim type — our guide on California wage and hour claims and statutes of limitations breaks it down in plain terms.
Why This Case Matters for Gig Workers
The Cambly settlement is part of a much larger wave of worker misclassification lawsuits targeting app-based platforms that rely on independent contractor workforces. Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart — and now online tutoring platforms like Cambly — have all faced versions of the same legal challenge in California.
The core question is always the same: does the company control how, when, and where the work gets done in ways that look more like employment than freelance work? In California, the answer has consequences. Misclassified workers are owed back wages, overtime, reimbursed expenses, and compensation for missed breaks — all of which add up quickly over a multi-year period.
If you currently work as an independent contractor for any app-based platform in California and believe you are being misclassified, understanding your rights is the first step. California has some of the strongest worker protections in the country and strict deadlines apply to wage claims — so acting sooner rather than later matters.
Key Terms Explained
Worker Misclassification: When a company labels a worker as an independent contractor to avoid paying employment benefits, overtime, and taxes — despite controlling the worker in ways that legally make them an employee.
California AB5: A 2019 California law that requires companies to use the ABC Test to classify workers, making it significantly harder to classify workers as independent contractors in the state.
PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act): A California law that allows workers to sue employers on behalf of the state for labor code violations, collecting a portion of the penalties.
Pro Rata Payment: Each class member receives a share of the net settlement fund proportional to their individual tutoring minutes relative to the total minutes across all class members.
Opt-Out: The right to exclude yourself from a class action settlement to preserve your individual right to sue. In this case, the deadline is May 4, 2026.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For questions about your eligibility, payment method, or dispute process, contact the settlement administrator at 888-369-3780 or visit camblySettlementAdministration.com.
Sources: Waldrep v. Cambly Inc., California Superior Court | Official settlement website: camblySettlementAdministration.com | ClaimDepot.com settlement report, March 2026 | Settlement administrator: Simpluris Inc.
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.
Read more about Sarah