Guadalupe Credit Union $1,000 Class Action Settlement, Who Qualifies, How Payments Work and Key Dates

If Guadalupe Credit Union (GCU) sued you in a New Mexico magistrate court over a debt, and GCU did not use a New Mexico licensed attorney in that case, you may be owed $1,000 plus a refund of what GCU received from you after the lawsuit was filed. You do not need to file a claim form. Eligible people are paid automatically by check, as long as they do not opt out and the administrator has a good mailing address.

Official settlement website: SalasVGCUSettlement.com Official FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

The case is Kyle Salas, et al. v. Guadalupe Credit Union, No. D-101-CV-2019-02660, in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Judge Francis J. Mathew is presiding. The deadline to opt out or object is November 30, 2026, and the final fairness hearing is February 3, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.

This is not a typical debt collection abuse case. The plaintiffs did not claim GCU harassed anyone or got the debts wrong. They claim the credit union broke New Mexico law by filing collection suits in magistrate court without a lawyer. GCU denies the allegations and has not admitted wrongdoing. The settlement is not yet final.

Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Case name	Kyle Salas, et al. v. Guadalupe Credit Union
Case number	D-101-CV-2019-02660
Court	First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Judge	Hon. Francis J. Mathew
Defendant	Guadalupe Credit Union
Settlement fund	$565,532.00
Class size	197 people, based on GCU’s records
Payment to each class member	$1,000 plus the amount GCU received from them after the collection suit was filed
Payment method	Check
Official settlement website	SalasVGCUSettlement.com
Official FAQ and key dates	FAQ / Key Dates
Court documents	Official documents page
Claim form required	No
Claim deadline	None, because no claim is required
Address update	Recommended if your address has changed
Exclusion and objection deadline	November 30, 2026
Final fairness hearing	February 3, 2027, 10:00 a.m.
Settlement administrator	American Legal Claim Services, LLC
Status	Proposed settlement awaiting final approval
Does GCU admit wrongdoing	No

What the Salas v. Guadalupe Credit Union Lawsuit Alleges

On October 7, 2019, six people filed a class action against GCU: Kyle Salas, Vicky Islas, Stephanie Ortiz, Rhonda D. Sanchez, Jessica Sieters Martinez, and Lori Sieters. They alleged that GCU engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by filing collection lawsuits in New Mexico magistrate courts without being represented by a New Mexico licensed attorney. Corporations and similar entities generally must appear in court through authorized counsel unless a specific rule allows otherwise.

The claims arise under two New Mexico laws:

• The state’s unauthorized practice of law statutes, NMSA §§ 36-2-27 and following
• The New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, NMSA §§ 57-12-1 and following

GCU denies the material allegations and any liability. It settled to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.

What did the New Mexico Supreme Court say?

The case reached the New Mexico Supreme Court before the settlement. In October 2024, the court ruled that the plaintiffs had sufficiently alleged that GCU engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by starting and pursuing collection actions through employees who were not authorized to practice law. It also held that the plaintiffs had standing under the unauthorized-practice-of-law statute and the Unfair Practices Act, reversed the dismissal, and ordered the case reinstated.

That ruling was not a finding that GCU was liable for damages. It allowed the claims to proceed, and the parties later agreed to settle.

What did GCU say?

In an October 2024 statement, GCU said that since 2019 it had taken steps to ensure attorney representation in court proceedings and had provided additional staff training. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing or liability.

Who Qualifies for the Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement

The class includes all persons against whom GCU filed a collection action in a New Mexico magistrate court on or after October 7, 2015, without GCU being represented by a New Mexico licensed attorney in that action. GCU’s records identified 197 people who fit that description, and GCU gave the class list to class counsel. The list includes each class member’s name, phone number, address, and the amount GCU actually received from that person that was tied to the collection lawsuit.

That means eligible people generally do not need to gather old court papers or payment records to be paid.

A wording difference to be aware of: the settlement agreement and the website FAQ define the class by New Mexico magistrate courts generally, while the website’s summary text refers to Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. The agreement is the governing document, so this article follows its definition. If you were sued in another county’s magistrate court, check with the administrator.

Who is excluded

The class does not include GCU, any entity with a controlling interest in GCU, GCU’s current or former owners, directors, officers, and counsel, or their immediate families. People who opt out are also not in the class.

If you got a notice in the mail

The notice says that records show a lawsuit was filed against you in Magistrate Court by Guadalupe Credit Union without it being represented by an attorney. Notices go out in English and Spanish. If you received one, GCU’s records list you as a class member.

How Much Money Will You Get?

Each eligible class member gets two things:

1. $1,000.
2. The amount GCU actually received from you after the collection lawsuit was filed, specifically tied to that lawsuit. The parties agreed on these amounts using GCU’s records and gave them to the administrator.

For illustration only: if GCU collected $1,500 from someone in connection with a qualifying lawsuit, the formula would give $1,000 plus $1,500, or $2,500. Your actual payment depends on the amount recorded for you.

If the collection suit named more than one person, the refund portion is paid jointly unless acceptable arrangements are made with the administrator. The notice says the payment amount is final and cannot be challenged by the class member who receives the check.

Where the $565,532 goes

The Settlement Fund covers the class payments, the service awards to the six plaintiffs, and the costs of administration and notice. Based on the 197-person class, the $1,000 payments alone come to $197,000. That is our own arithmetic from the agreement, and the refund amounts GCU actually collected are not published. Whatever is left after all payments goes to a cy pres recipient and does not return to GCU. The agreement names the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty as that recipient.

What is paid on top of the fund

• Attorney fees and costs: the court decides the amount, and GCU pays it separately. The settlement says class counsel’s fees do not reduce what class members receive. The amount sought was not stated in the settlement documents.
• Service awards: the plaintiffs will ask the court to award each of them up to $5,000 for their work on the case. The agreement says these are paid from the Settlement Fund.
• Administration costs: the agreement provides for up to $20,000, and says any amount above $20,000 would be paid solely by the settlement class.

GCU’s $565,532 payment is its total financial obligation under the agreement, apart from the separately awarded attorney fees and costs.

Do You Need to File a Claim Form?

No. The settlement agreement says class members are not required to do anything other than not exclude themselves. The administrator mails a check, so do not look for a claim form just to get the $1,000.

The one practical step is to make sure the administrator has your current address. A class member with an outdated address could have trouble receiving the notice or the check.

How to update your address

Use the Update Address page on SalasVGCUSettlement.com with the Notice ID and PIN from your notice. You can also email the administrator with “Change of Address” in the subject line, including your full name, previous address, current address, and Notice ID, or mail the change to:

Salas v Guadalupe Credit Union c/o Settlement Administrator PO Box 23668 Jacksonville, FL 32241

Name changes and deceased class members

• Name change: send a copy of your marriage license, divorce decree, or court order, with your Notice ID, old name, and new contact details.
• Deceased class member: the agreement allows payment to an heir or the estate on acceptable proof. The website asks for a death certificate and documents showing who the legal beneficiary is, such as a will or estate papers. Where no estate exists, an affidavit identifying the heirs and their percentages can work.

When will checks go out?

The agreement sets a Distribution Date of no later than 14 days after Final Approval. Final Approval requires the court to enter the judgment, make its final award of fees and service awards, and wait 31 days with no appeal, or resolve any appeal. So checks do not go out right after the February 3, 2027 hearing, and there is no guaranteed delivery date yet.

Cash your check quickly

Checks are valid for only 60 days after issue and say so on their face. Any check not cashed in that window is paid to the cy pres recipient. The administrator does not have to re-mail a returned check.

What GCU Must Change: The Injunctive Relief

If the settlement becomes final, GCU is barred from filing lawsuits in any New Mexico court unless it is represented at every stage by a New Mexico licensed attorney it believes in good faith is in good standing with the State Bar. The ban becomes part of the court’s final judgment. GCU can still sue people if it uses a licensed New Mexico lawyer. Within 10 days of the final judgment, GCU must file an affidavit from a person of appropriate authority confirming that it has implemented the changes.

Your Options and Deadlines in the Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement

Option	What happens	Deadline
Do nothing	You get paid and are bound by the settlement if the court approves it	n/a
Exclude yourself	No payment; you keep the right to sue GCU yourself	Postmarked by November 30, 2026
Object	Tell the court what you dislike about the deal; you stay in the class	Sent by November 30, 2026
Attend the hearing	Ask to speak about fairness	February 3, 2027, 10:00 a.m.

Doing nothing is enough to stay in the class and get paid, but it also means you are bound by the settlement and its release. The absence of a claim form does not mean there is nothing important to review.

How to exclude yourself from the Guadalupe Credit Union settlement

Send a written request that specifically says you want to be excluded. It must be postmarked by November 30, 2026, and mailed to:

Salas v Guadalupe Credit Union c/o Settlement Administrator PO Box 23668 Jacksonville, FL 32241

If you opt out, you get no payment and you are not bound by the settlement’s release.

How to object to the Guadalupe Credit Union settlement

Send your objection in writing to all three of the following so it arrives by November 30, 2026:

• The court: Honorable Francis J. Mathew, First Judicial District Court, 225 Montezuma Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
• Class counsel: Treinen Law Office PC, 500 Tijeras Ave NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
• GCU’s counsel: Stevan Douglas Looney, Sutin Thayer & Brown APC, PO Box 1945, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103

Objecting is different from opting out: you stay in the class and can still be paid. You do not have to go to the hearing. If you take part in the settlement and do not object, you do not have to appear at all.

What You Give Up in the Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement

If you stay in the class, you release GCU and a long list of related parties from claims that were alleged or could have been alleged in the case, including claims from the same facts. The agreement’s definition of released claims is broad. It also covers claims that could arise in the future from any conduct or omissions before the date of preliminary approval that might be attributable to GCU.

If you have your own claims against GCU, read the release language in the settlement agreement on the website before the November 30 deadline, or talk to a lawyer.

Key Dates in the Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement

Date	Event
October 7, 2015	Class period begins (collection actions filed on or after this date)
October 7, 2019	Class action filed in Santa Fe County
October 2024	New Mexico Supreme Court reinstates the case
November 30, 2026	Exclusion and objection deadline
February 3, 2027, 10:00 a.m.	Final fairness hearing
Within 14 days of Final Approval	Payments due

The court can change dates, so check SalasVGCUSettlement.com before acting.

Who Represents the Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement Class

The settlement agreement names Treinen Law Office PC and Humphreys Law Firm PC as Class Counsel. The class representatives are the six named plaintiffs. You do not pay class counsel. Their fees are paid by GCU in the amount the court approves.

What to Do Now

1. Check the name and address on your settlement notice.
2. Update your address if you have moved.
3. Do not submit a claim form unless the administrator specifically tells you to.
4. If you want to stay in the settlement, do not request exclusion.
5. If you disagree with the settlement, review the objection steps before November 30, 2026.
6. Keep your notice and Notice ID.
7. Watch for your check after final approval, and cash it within 60 days.

Guadalupe Credit Union Settlement FAQ

Do I have to file a claim?

 No. You only need to avoid opting out and keep your address current with the administrator.

How much will I get?

 $1,000, plus the amount GCU received from you after it filed the collection suit. The refund part differs by person.

Who qualifies? 

People against whom GCU filed a collection action in a New Mexico magistrate court on or after October 7, 2015, without being represented by a New Mexico licensed attorney in that action, subject to the exclusions.

How many people are in the class?

 197, according to the settlement agreement and GCU’s records.

I was sued by GCU but had a lawyer on the other side. Am I included?

 The class is about GCU lacking a New Mexico licensed attorney in the collection action. It does not turn on whether you had a lawyer.

Was the debt wiped out?

 The settlement documents do not say that any debt is forgiven. They provide $1,000 and a refund of amounts GCU collected after filing suit. Ask the administrator about your individual account.

What is the deadline? 

There is no claim deadline. The deadline to exclude yourself or object is November 30, 2026.

When is the hearing, and do I have to go? 

February 3, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. You do not have to attend unless you object and want to speak.

What if my check is lost or I miss the 60 days?

 Uncashed checks are paid to the cy pres recipient after 60 days. Contact the administrator quickly if you have a problem.

Has the settlement been approved?

 Not yet. The court has not entered the final judgment.

Did GCU admit it did anything wrong? 

No. GCU denies the allegations.

Who do I contact with questions? 

Email [email protected] or write to Salas v Guadalupe Credit Union, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 23668, Jacksonville, FL 32241. Do not contact the court, because it cannot give legal advice.

Bottom Line

The Guadalupe Credit Union settlement gives eligible class members $1,000 plus a refund of qualifying amounts GCU collected after it filed the collection lawsuit. It covers 197 people who were sued in New Mexico magistrate courts on or after October 7, 2015 without GCU using a New Mexico licensed attorney. There is no claim form. Keep your address current, cash your check within 60 days, and decide before November 30, 2026 whether to opt out or object. The final fairness hearing is February 3, 2027, and GCU has not admitted wrongdoing.

Official settlement website: SalasVGCUSettlement.com

Sources

1. Official settlement website, SalasVGCUSettlement.com (case home, FAQs, key dates, and documents pages), run by American Legal Claim Services, LLC.
2. Class Action Notice, posted on the official settlement website.
3. Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims, posted on the official settlement website.
4. New Mexico Supreme Court decision in Salas v. Guadalupe Credit Union (October 2024), caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nm-supreme-court/116648714.html.
5. Guadalupe Credit Union press release, October 30, 2024, guadalupecu.org/pressrelease10302024.

Written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher at AllAboutLawyer.com. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. This article is general information, not legal advice, and the author is not an attorney. Figures and dates come from the class notice, the settlement agreement, and the official settlement website as of October 7, 2026. The settlement remains subject to final court approval. Confirm deadlines with the settlement administrator before acting.