FTC Refunds April 2026, Four Programs Sent Money and One Big Car Dealer Case You Should Know About

In April 2026, the Federal Trade Commission sent out another wave of consumer refunds across multiple programs and announced a major new settlement that could put money back in the pockets of car buyers in Maryland and Virginia. If you used FloatMe, bought Hey Dude shoes, filed a Credit Karma time-compensation claim, or submitted an NGL refund request — check your mailbox and your accounts. And if you bought a car from a Lindsay dealership between 2020 and 2025, your name may already be in a refund database.

Here is every program active in April 2026, who qualifies, and exactly what to do.

April 2026 FTC Refunds — Quick Overview

Program	Who Gets Paid	How	Status
FloatMe	Consumers who accepted Sept. 2024 payment	Check or PayPal	Payments sent — 255,739 people
Hey Dude Shoes	Shoppers who accepted Aug. 2024 payment	Check or PayPal	Payments sent — 27,916 people
Credit Karma	Time-compensation claimants who didn’t cash check or accept PayPal	Zelle	Payments sent
NGL Labs	Users who filed before April 6 deadline	TBD — payment method chosen at filing	Claims closed; FTC reviewing; payments later in 2026
Lindsay Auto Group	Car buyers at Lindsay dealerships, April 2020–Dec. 2025	Notices mailed by Maryland AG	Settlement announced April 2, 2026; refund amount TBD
Last Updated	May 7, 2026

FloatMe: $1 Million in Second-Round Payments Going Out

If you downloaded FloatMe — the cash advance app that promised quick, free advances up to $50 — and accepted your first refund check in September 2024, you may have a second payment waiting for you right now.

The FTC first sent payments in September 2024, which resulted in more than $1.5 million in refunds. Because there is still money remaining in the fund, the FTC is sending 255,739 payments totaling more than $1 million to people who accepted their first payment.

The FTC sued FloatMe alleging it deceived consumers with promises of fast, free cash advances and then routinely delivered less than advertised, charged hidden fees for instant access, lied to customers who complained, and made it deliberately hard to cancel. FloatMe agreed to a $3 million settlement to resolve those claims.

Who gets this second payment: You must have accepted the original September 2024 refund — check or PayPal. If you did not accept that first payment, you do not qualify for this round. Consumers who receive a check are asked to cash it within 90 days, while those who receive a PayPal payment are asked to accept it within 30 days. Do not let it expire.

If you used a cash advance app and lost money to unexpected fees or shortfalls, you may also want to review our guide to FTC refunds issued in January 2026 for other active programs that may apply to you.

Hey Dude Shoes: Second Round of Checks for $386,000

Bought a pair of Hey Dude shoes online and had a frustrating experience — delayed shipment, a gift card instead of a refund, or a bad review that mysteriously disappeared from the product page?

The FTC sent a second round of refund checks to consumers who bought shoes from online shoe seller Hey Dude and who accepted a previous payment in August 2024. More than $1.4 million in refunds was initially sent to consumers in August 2024. Now, since there is still money in the fund, the FTC is sending an additional 27,916 payments totaling more than $386,000 to consumers who accepted the first payment.

Related article: Thermos Recalls 8.2 Million Food Jars and Bottles After Stoppers Eject and Cause Permanent Vision Loss

The FTC’s complaint against Hey Dude alleged the company failed to disclose shipping delays, illegally substituted gift cards for cash refunds on out-of-stock items, and suppressed negative product reviews from its website — all violations of consumer protection law.

Who gets this payment: You must have cashed or accepted the August 2024 first-round payment. If you did, watch for a check or PayPal notification now. Cash any check within 90 days. Accept any PayPal payment within 30 days.

Credit Karma: Zelle Payments for Time-Compensation Claimants

Did you get a “pre-approved” credit offer from Credit Karma — only to apply and get rejected? If you filed a time-compensation claim and your check or PayPal payment went unclaimed, the FTC is now reaching you through Zelle.

The FTC sent Zelle payments to consumers who requested compensation for their time spent responding to credit offers from Credit Karma and who did not cash their check or accept their PayPal payment. Consumers who receive a Zelle payment will have the payment deposited directly into their bank account with a note about the settlement.

The underlying settlement resolved FTC claims that Credit Karma sent consumers targeted “pre-approved” credit card and loan offers that many did not actually qualify for, causing people to waste time applying for credit they were then denied. More than $2.3 million in refunds was previously sent to consumers via check and PayPal payments in October 2024.

Who gets this Zelle payment: Only consumers who previously filed a time-compensation claim and never cashed their check or accepted a prior PayPal payment. If you get a Zelle deposit with a note referencing the Credit Karma settlement, it is legitimate — you do not need to do anything except confirm the deposit in your account.

NGL Labs: Claims Closed April 6 — Payments Coming Later in 2026

If you used NGL — the anonymous messaging app — and paid for NGL Pro between January 2022 and July 2024, the window to file for a refund closed on April 6, 2026.

The FTC in early April stopped accepting claims to be a part of a $4.5 million settlement made by NGL Labs to end claims it sent fake messages that appeared to come from real people and tricked users into signing up for paid subscriptions. NGL was also accused by the FTC and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office of charging a recurring, weekly fee of $9.99 without its users’ knowledge or consent, and then often ignoring requests for refunds.

The FTC is not accepting any new claims. If your claim is approved, your payment amount will depend on several factors, including how many people file a claim. The FTC expects to send payments in 2026 after reviewing all claims.

If you filed before April 6: You do not need to do anything else. The FTC will contact you when payments go out. Monitor ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/ngl-settlement for updates.

If you missed the deadline: You cannot file now. The claims window is permanently closed. This is why checking your eligibility during open windows matters.

Lindsay Auto Group: Over $75 Million in Car Buyer Refunds Coming

This is the biggest April 2026 FTC action — and it affects a completely different group of consumers: anyone who bought or leased a vehicle at a Lindsay dealership in Maryland or Virginia between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission and Maryland Attorney General announced Lindsay Automotive Group and its executives will return money to resolve allegations that they deceived consumers for years with falsely advertised low prices and unwanted add-ons that led to buyers paying thousands of dollars more for their vehicles. Consumers who were charged a total of more than $75 million between April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, may be eligible for redress.

A random sample of transactions found that 88% of consumers paid more than the advertised price. Most of those consumers paid more than $2,000 above the advertised figure. The complaint also alleged Lindsay pushed buyers to use dealership financing even when customers had their own credit union financing — including military consumers who had financing through their branch’s credit union.

Eligible consumers are to be reimbursed for the difference between the advertised price and the price paid, as well as for add-on products or services they did not agree to purchase or believed were mandatory.

Who may qualify:

• You bought or leased a vehicle at Lindsay Ford (Maryland), Lindsay Chevrolet of Woodbridge (Virginia), or Lindsay Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram (Virginia) between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025
• You are a Maryland resident who purchased at a Lindsay dealership in Virginia during that window
• You were charged more than the advertised vehicle price, or enrolled in add-ons you did not agree to

What to do now: Under the order, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office will be sending notices to consumers who may be eligible for redress. Consumers can confirm their eligibility by answering a handful of questions in the notices and returning them to the refund claims administrator. Watch your mail for an official notice from the Maryland Attorney General’s office. You can also contact the Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662.

Lindsay denies wrongdoing and chose to settle to avoid prolonged litigation.

One Rule That Applies to Every FTC Refund Program

The FTC will never call you, email you, or text you asking for payment to process your refund. It will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account details, or any fee to release your money.

If someone contacts you claiming to be the FTC and asks for payment to release a refund — that is a scam. Hang up. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Always verify refund programs directly at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds.

Frequently Asked Questions

I received a check from the FTC. Is it real?

Yes, if it came from a known settlement administrator and you were part of a covered program. Always verify the program name on your check against the active list at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. Cash it within 90 days — FTC refund checks expire.

I got a Zelle deposit mentioning a settlement. Should I accept it?

Yes, if you previously filed a claim in the Credit Karma time-compensation program and the deposit note references the Credit Karma settlement specifically. Consumers who receive a Zelle payment will have the payment deposited directly into their bank account with a note about the settlement.

I missed the NGL deadline. Can I still get paid? 

No. The NGL claims window closed April 6, 2026. The FTC is not accepting new claims. If you filed before that date, your claim is under review and payments are expected later in 2026.

Will FTC refund payments affect my taxes?

 Possibly. Reimbursements for actual documented losses are generally not taxable. Flat cash payments may be treated as taxable income depending on your situation. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your refund.

How do I know if Lindsay Auto owes me a refund? 

Watch your mail for a notice from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. If you bought or leased a vehicle at a Lindsay dealership in Maryland or at Lindsay Chevrolet, Lindsay Ford, or Lindsay Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in Virginia between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025, you may be included. Call 410-528-8662 if you have questions.

Is there a complete list of all active FTC refund programs? 

Yes. The FTC maintains a full, updated list at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. Programs come and go — check it regularly if you think you may qualify for any ongoing program.

Sources & References

• FTC — FloatMe Refunds: ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/floatme-refunds
• FTC — Hey Dude Refunds: ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/hey-dude-refunds
• FTC — NGL Settlement: ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds/ngl-settlement
• FTC Press Release — Lindsay Automotive Group, April 2, 2026: ftc.gov
• FTC — Active Refund Programs: ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against official FTC press releases, the FTC enforcement/refunds program page, and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office announcement on May 7, 2026. Last Updated: May 7, 2026