Prestige Financial Services $6.5 Million Repossession Class Action Settlement, Who Qualifies, the $2,000 Debt Write-Off, and Automatic Payments

No claim form required • Opt-out deadline: December 17, 2026 • Objection deadline: December 24, 2026 • Final fairness hearing: January 7, 2027

Prestige Financial Services, Inc. has agreed to a class action settlement with three kinds of relief for borrowers whose financed vehicles were repossessed and who received allegedly defective pre-sale or post-sale notices:

1. A $6,500,000 Cash Fund, paid out as pro rata checks
2. A deficiency write-off (estimated to be worth at least $43.2 million) that reduces what Prestige may collect by $2,000, or wipes out the balance if it is $2,000 or less
3. A request to credit bureaus to delete the deficiency balance for those whose balance is $2,000 or less

Prestige denies that class members are legally entitled to the damages claimed. The court has preliminarily approved the settlement, but it is not final, and no payment date has been confirmed.

Time-sensitive (as of November 9, 2026): The opt-out deadline is about five and a half weeks away (December 17), and the objection deadline is about six and a half weeks away (December 24). Doing nothing is a choice with legal consequences: you receive the benefits but give up claims.

Key Takeaways

• No claim form and no claim deadline. If you are a class member and do nothing, you receive the benefits automatically once the settlement is final.
• The $43.2 million is not cash. It is the estimated value of the separate debt write-off. The cash fund is $6.5 million.
• $2,000 or less owed? Prestige waives the entire deficiency balance. More than $2,000? It subtracts $2,000, and you may still owe the rest.
• Credit-report relief is a request, not a guarantee. The credit bureaus decide for themselves.
• North Dakota residents are excluded, along with several other groups (see below).
• Doing nothing means you give up the right to sue Prestige over the notices (and similar defenses), unless you opt out.
• Taxes may apply to the payment and to the debt reduction.

Prestige Financial Services Settlement: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Cash Fund	$6,500,000
Deficiency write-off (estimated value)	At least $43,200,000 (non-cash)
Defendant / counterclaim defendant	Prestige Financial Services, Inc.
Class representative	Donald Mansell
Lawsuit	Prestige Financial Services, Inc. v. Donald Mansell, et al.
Case number	23LF-CV00623-01
Court	Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Lafayette County, Missouri
Judge	Dennis A. Rolf
Class counsel	Benjamin S. McIntosh, SWMW Law, LLC
Main allegation	Noncompliant pre-sale and/or post-sale repossession notices
Laws involved	State versions of UCC Article 9
Claim form required?	No
Claim deadline	None
Opt-out deadline	December 17, 2026 (postmarked)
Objection deadline	Postmarked 14 days before the hearing, i.e., December 24, 2026 (or appear at the hearing)
Final fairness hearing	January 7, 2027, 1:30 p.m. Central Time (2:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
Settlement administrator	American Legal Claim Services LLC
Administrator phone	1-877-312-9154
Status	Preliminarily approved; final approval pending

What Is the Prestige Settlement About?

When someone finances a car, the lender typically holds a security interest in the vehicle. If the borrower defaults, the lender may repossess and sell the car, but it must follow the law, including sending specific notices.

Repossession does not always end the debt. If the vehicle sells for less than what is owed, the lender may claim a deficiency balance.

Example: A borrower owes $20,000 when the car is repossessed. It sells for $14,000. After allowed expenses, the lender may claim the borrower still owes the difference.

The lawsuit claims Prestige violated statutory requirements for the notices it sent after repossessing or selling vehicles. Under the class representative’s theory, defective notices can mean statutory damages and can undermine the lender’s ability to collect a deficiency. Prestige disagrees, arguing the class is not entitled to anything and may even owe Prestige money. The parties settled to avoid the cost and uncertainty of trial.

An Unusual Case: The Lender Sued First

This did not start as a consumer class action. According to the court record as reported:

• June 28, 2023: Prestige sued Donald and Brenda Mansell in Lafayette County, Missouri, to collect a deficiency balance.
• August 16, 2023: The Mansells filed a counterclaim alleging erroneous and misleading pre-sale and post-sale notices.
• September 21, 2023: They filed an amended counterclaim adding class allegations. This date matters because it is the cut-off used to exclude some borrowers whose claims had already expired (see exclusions below).
• July 18, 2025: The court issued a class certification order (as reported).
• December 17, 2024: Brenda Mansell withdrew as a proposed class representative; Donald Mansell is the class representative.
• October 22, 2026: The court granted preliminary approval (as reported).

What Are Pre-Sale and Post-Sale Notices?

Pre-sale notice: Tells the borrower the lender plans to sell the repossessed vehicle, typically explaining the right to redeem, how to find out the redemption amount, when and where a sale may occur, and whether the borrower may owe a deficiency.

Post-sale explanation: Explains the result: the balance before sale, sale proceeds, expenses, credits and the resulting deficiency or surplus.

These notices let borrowers protect their interests and check the lender’s math.

Which Laws Are Involved? UCC Article 9

The claims rely on state versions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, which governs loans secured by personal property such as cars. Missouri’s version is codified at RSMo Chapter 400, Article 9. The class covers borrowers nationwide (except North Dakota), and state versions differ, so exact wording, limitation periods and remedies vary by state.

UCC section	What it covers
§ 9-610	Disposition of collateral must be commercially reasonable in every aspect
§ 9-611	Reasonable authenticated notice before disposition (Missouri: RSMo § 400.9-611)
§ 9-613 / § 9-614	Contents and form of the notice, with extra requirements for consumer-goods transactions
§ 9-616	Explanation of calculation of a surplus or deficiency in consumer-goods transactions
§ 9-623	Debtor’s right to redeem the collateral
§ 9-625	Remedies when a secured party fails to comply: actual damages, plus a statutory minimum in consumer-goods transactions (generally the credit service charge plus 10% of the principal, or the time-price differential plus 10% of the cash price, § 9-625(c)(2))
§ 9-626	How noncompliance affects the deficiency. For consumer transactions, the UCC leaves it to courts whether the lender loses the deficiency entirely or faces a rebuttable presumption, so state law differs
§ 9-602	Many of these debtor protections cannot be waived by contract

This explains the class representative’s view that class members could recover “10% of the Amount Financed plus the Finance Charge,” which is also the basis of the settlement’s cash allocation formula.

Related federal laws: The Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2, imposes duties on companies that furnish information to credit bureaus. Negative items such as a charged-off or deficiency account can generally be reported for up to seven years (15 U.S.C. § 1681c). Class actions in Missouri state court proceed under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 52.08.

These summaries are for context. The settlement agreement, not these statutes, controls your rights here, and rules differ by state.

Who Qualifies for the Prestige Settlement?

The court-approved class is:

Individuals who were residents of the United States at the time they received pre-sale and/or post-sale notices sent by Prestige within the applicable statute of limitations.

You may be included if you had a finance agreement held by Prestige for a vehicle that Prestige later repossessed, you received a covered pre-sale and/or post-sale notice, and you do not fall into an exclusion. Former borrowers and family members of borrowers can be included. If you got a settlement notice by mail or email, Prestige’s records indicate you may be a class member.

Who Is Excluded?

You are not a class member if:

1. Prestige obtained a final deficiency judgment against you.
2. You filed for bankruptcy after the date of your pre-sale notice and the consumer debt was discharged (not just dismissed).
3. The only pre- or post-sale notices mailed to you were mailed on dates when the statute of limitations for a UCC claim would have expired by September 21, 2023.
4. You were sent a notice based on one of the excluded templates, Bates-labeled PF 0003171, 3175, 3469, 3230, 3253 and 3490.
5. You resided in North Dakota when Prestige sent you a pre-sale or post-sale notice.

Not sure? Ask for free help

Call 1-877-312-9154 or email the administrator. The class list is not public because it contains personal information.

How Much Cash Can You Receive?

The $6.5 million Cash Fund pays for (a) pro rata payments to class members, (b) attorneys’ fees and expenses the court awards, and (c) any incentive award to Donald Mansell. The FAQ says your payment depends on the Cash Price and Amount Financed on your finance agreement and the size of the class.

The Allocation Formula

According to the settlement agreement as summarized in public materials (confirm in the agreement):

Your share = (10% of your Amount Financed + your Finance Charge) ÷ (10% of the class’s total Amount Financed + the class’s total Finance Charges)

The administrator multiplies that percentage by the Net Distributable Settlement Fund (the $6.5 million plus interest, minus court-approved fees, expenses, the class representative award and administration costs). No guaranteed average payment has been published.

Co-borrowers

If two people are on the same finance agreement, the payment is split equally and each gets a separate check.

Fees, Expenses and Incentive Award

Class Counsel will ask the court for:

• Attorneys’ fees not exceeding 15% of the value of the settlement benefits
• Costs and expenses not exceeding $90,000
• An incentive award of up to $50,000 for Donald Mansell

These are requests only; the court decides. Note that the fee cap is measured against the value of the settlement benefits, not only the cash fund, and the cash fund is the stated source of payment, so the real-world effect on checks depends on the court’s order and the agreement’s terms. Read the Settlement Agreement.

The Deficiency Write-Off (Estimated at Least $43.2 Million)

Apart from the cash fund, if the court grants final approval, Prestige will reduce what it may collect from you by $2,000 on any deficiency it claims. Every class member with a deficiency balance receives this benefit. The FAQ estimates the value to the class at at least $43.2 million. That number is an estimate of debt relief, not a cash pool.

Owe $2,000 or less: the whole balance is waived

Deficiency balance	Debt relief	Left to pay
$500	$500	$0
$1,000	$1,000	$0
$1,500	$1,500	$0
$2,000	$2,000	$0

Under the agreement, Prestige closes these accounts and stops collection.

Owe more than $2,000: $2,000 is subtracted

Deficiency balance	Reduction	Left to pay
$2,500	$2,000	$500
$4,000	$2,000	$2,000
$6,000	$2,000	$4,000
$10,000	$2,000	$8,000

Is my whole car loan forgiven?

No. The relief applies only to deficiency balances left after a covered repossession and sale. It does not cancel any other loan.

Credit Reporting Relief

For class members whose deficiency balance is $2,000 or less, the FAQ says Prestige will “seek the removal” of the deficiency balance information from credit reports at Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis. According to the agreement as summarized in public materials, Prestige also stops reporting a balance as owed and submits electronic deletion requests within 60 days after the agreement becomes effective.

Limits: Prestige cannot guarantee that the bureaus will delete the information or that it won’t reappear. Check your credit reports after the request. If the item remains or returns, the agreement’s remedy is to ask Prestige in writing to submit another deletion request. The deletion benefit applies to balances of $2,000 or less, not larger ones. You can get free annual reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Do You Need to File a Claim?

No. The FAQ says: “By doing nothing, you will receive the benefits that come from the settlement, including money.” There is no claim form and no claim deadline. The administrator uses Prestige’s records, and checks go to your last known address.

Update your address now

Use the official address-update page (you will need the Notice ID and PIN from your notice), or email the administrator with “Change of Address” in the subject line and include your full name, previous address, current address and Notice ID. Or mail the information to:

Prestige Financial Services v Mansell c/o Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 23489 Jacksonville, FL 32241

The administrator can also handle name changes (marriage, divorce or court order, with documents) and deceased class members (death certificate plus proof the new payee is the legal beneficiary).

Can You Opt Out?

Yes, by December 17, 2026 (postmarked). If you opt out, you receive no benefits, you cannot object, and you are not bound by the case, so you may sue (or continue suing) Prestige on these claims.

Send a letter by mail stating you want to be excluded from Prestige Financial Services, Inc. v. Donald Mansell, et al., Case No. 23LF-CV00623-01, and include:

1. Your name and address
2. Your telephone number
3. The last four digits of your Social Security number
4. The name of any other person on your finance agreement
5. Your signature, and the signature of any co-borrower (if a co-borrower has died, include a copy of the death certificate)

Mail to Prestige Financial Services v Mansell, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 23489, Jacksonville, FL 32241. You cannot opt out by phone or email, and a lawyer or agent cannot sign for you or for a group.

Pending lawsuit? If Prestige has sued you, or you have your own case, speak to your lawyer immediately. The FAQ says you must exclude yourself to continue your own lawsuit.

Can You Object?

Yes, if you stay in the class. Your objection must be postmarked no later than 14 days before the January 7, 2027 hearing (December 24, 2026), or you may appear in court at the hearing. Mail it to all three addresses:

Court	Class Counsel	Prestige’s Counsel
Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s Office<br>116 S. 10th St., P.O. Box 10<br>Lexington, MO 64067	Benjamin S. McIntosh<br>SWMW Law LLC<br>701 Market St., Suite 1000<br>St. Louis, MO 63101	Michael Hargens<br>Husch Blackwell<br>4801 Main Street, Suite 1000<br>Kansas City, MO (confirm ZIP on the official site)

(The official FAQ lists a ZIP code for Prestige’s counsel that appears to contain a typo. Confirm the correct ZIP before mailing.)

Your letter must include:

• Your name, address, telephone number, fax and email (if available) and the last four digits of your Social Security number
• A statement of your objections and the reasons and facts supporting them, with supporting documents and the identity of any witnesses
• An expert report for any expert you plan to use
• Whether you intend to appear at the hearing
• Your signature, date and a statement under penalty of perjury that the information is true (the FAQ gives sample wording)
• If an attorney submits it, the attorney’s contact information and a detailed description of the legal authorities for each objection

Be aware: The FAQ says Class Counsel or Prestige’s counsel may take your deposition and request documents. If you do not comply, the court may strike your objection, and it may tax costs to you or your lawyer if it finds the objection frivolous or improper. Think carefully, and consider consulting a lawyer before objecting.

Can You Speak at the Hearing?

Send a letter titled “Notice of Intention to Appear in Prestige Financial Services, Inc. v. Donald Mansell, et al., Case No. 23LF-CV00623-01,” with your name, address, telephone number, last four Social Security digits and signature, postmarked at least 14 days before the hearing, to all three addresses above. You cannot speak if you opted out.

What Happens If You Do Nothing?

You receive the benefits (cash, deficiency write-off and credit-reporting request), and you:

• Give up the right to sue Prestige, or continue or join another lawsuit, over the legal issues in this case
• Cannot make independent claims arising from the pre-sale and post-sale notices at issue, or raise similar defenses
• Are legally bound by the court’s orders

Per the agreement as summarized in public materials, for deficiency balances remaining above $2,000, class members may keep other defenses available under applicable law, but not a defense based on the bankruptcy-disclosure language in Prestige’s statutory notice. If you are in a collection dispute, a deficiency lawsuit or bankruptcy, have a lawyer review the full agreement before the opt-out deadline.

When Is the Final Fairness Hearing?

Detail	Information
Date	January 7, 2027
Time	1:30 p.m. Central Time (2:30 p.m. Eastern Time)
Court	Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Lafayette County, Missouri
Address	116 S. 10th Street, Lexington, MO 64067
Judge	Dennis A. Rolf

The judge will decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate and will consider fees, expenses, the class representative award and any objections. You do not have to attend to receive benefits. The hearing may be postponed.

When Will Checks Arrive?

No payment date has been set. You receive payment only if the court approves the settlement and the approval becomes a final judgment (after any appeals are resolved or the time to appeal passes). The FAQ warns that some appeals take more than a year.

According to the agreement as summarized in public materials (confirm in the agreement):

• Prestige funds the cash settlement within 12 business days after the Effective Date (and receipt of required tax paperwork).
• The administrator distributes checks within 30 days after the Effective Date.
• First-issued checks void 90 days after the Effective Date; reissued checks void 180 days after.
• Leftover money goes to the National Consumers League (cy pres).

Could the Settlement Affect Your Taxes?

Yes, possibly. The FAQ strongly encourages consulting a tax professional, and says the lawyers cannot give tax advice. Some points to discuss with a professional:

• Cash payments may be reportable income.
• Canceled debt can be taxable income under 26 U.S.C. § 61(a)(11), subject to exclusions such as insolvency or bankruptcy (26 U.S.C. § 108). Lenders may issue a Form 1099-C for canceled debts of $600 or more, so a waived deficiency may generate one.
• If you are in bankruptcy, settlement money or debt relief may need to be reported to the trustee or court. The agreement places that responsibility on the class member.

Related Repossession Settlements

• Hughes FCU $7M Repo Settlement, Who Qualifies And Deadlines
• State Farm Bank & Afni $110M Repossession Settlement, Cash, Debt Write-Off & Credit Relief
• Credit Acceptance Settlement Dealer Disclosure Rules Explained

Each case has different defendants, theories and eligibility rules.

Contact and Official Resources

Settlement administrator: American Legal Claim Services LLC Phone: 1-877-312-9154 Mail: Prestige Financial Services v Mansell, c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 23489, Jacksonville, FL 32241 Email: [email protected] (use the address shown on the official site)

• Official Settlement Website
• Important Court Documents and Settlement Agreement
• Official FAQ
• Key Dates
• Update Your Address

Is the Prestige Settlement Legitimate?

Yes. It is a court-authorized settlement. Class members are not asked to pay anything and, since there is no claim form, no one should ask for your bank details or a fee to “claim” a payment. Use only the official website and contacts above.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Prestige $6.5 million settlement real?

Yes. It is documented for Prestige Financial Services, Inc. v. Donald Mansell, et al., Case No. 23LF-CV00623-01 (Lafayette County, Missouri). It is preliminarily approved; final approval is pending.

2. Who qualifies?

U.S. residents who received covered pre-sale and/or post-sale notices from Prestige within the applicable statute of limitations, unless excluded.

3. Do I need to file a claim?

No. Doing nothing gets you the benefits.

4. Is there a claim deadline?

No. The key dates are December 17 (opt-out), December 24 (objection) and January 7 (hearing).

5. How much cash will I get?

It depends on the Cash Price and Amount Financed on your finance agreement and the class size. No amount is guaranteed.

6. Will my deficiency balance be erased?

If it is $2,000 or less, yes, entirely. If it is more, it is reduced by $2,000.

7. Is the $43.2 million cash?

No. It is the estimated value of the debt write-off. The cash fund is $6.5 million.

8. Will my credit report be cleaned up?

For balances of $2,000 or less, Prestige will seek deletion from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis. Deletion is not guaranteed.

9. Are North Dakota residents covered?

No.

10. Do former borrowers qualify?

Yes, if they meet the class definition.

11. What if I filed bankruptcy?

You are excluded if you filed after the date of your pre-sale notice and the consumer debt was discharged. Ask your bankruptcy attorney.

12. How do I opt out?

Mail a signed letter, postmarked by December 17, 2026, with the required details, signed by all co-borrowers.

13. What is the objection deadline?

Postmarked 14 days before the hearing (December 24, 2026), or appear at the hearing.

14. When is the hearing?

January 7, 2027, 1:30 p.m. Central (2:30 p.m. Eastern).

15. When will I be paid?

After final approval and any appeals. No date is set.

16. How do I update my address?

Use the official update page with your Notice ID and PIN, or email or mail the administrator.

17. Did Prestige admit it broke the law?

No. Prestige denies that the class is entitled to the damages claimed.

18. Can I still sue Prestige if I stay in?

Generally no, for the claims and similar defenses resolved by the settlement. Opt out to keep that right.

19. Do attorneys’ fees reduce my check?

Court-approved fees, expenses and the incentive award are paid from the settlement, per the FAQ, so they can reduce what is available for checks.

20. Who do I call?

The administrator at 1-877-312-9154.

Final Takeaway: What Should Prestige Borrowers Do Now?

If you had a vehicle repossessed by Prestige and received a pre-sale or post-sale notice, you may be a class member. You do not have to file a claim.

1. Confirm your mailing address with the administrator so a check can reach you.
2. Decide by December 17, 2026 whether to stay in or opt out. Staying in means giving up the right to sue over the notices.
3. If you have a deficiency lawsuit, collection dispute or bankruptcy, speak to a lawyer now.
4. Check your credit reports after the deletion request, and talk to a tax professional about the cash and any canceled debt.

Official settlement website: prestigenoticeclass.com

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, Legal Content Researcher, AllAboutLawyer.com. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent legal-information website and is not a law firm, is not affiliated with Prestige Financial Services, the court, Class Counsel or the Settlement Administrator, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Settlement terms, deadlines and hearing details can change. The official notice, Settlement Agreement and court orders control eligibility, deadlines, payments and your legal rights. If you have legal questions, consult a licensed attorney.

Sources: Official settlement FAQ and website (prestigenoticeclass.com); Settlement Agreement and court documents; Prestige Financial Services, Inc. v. Mansell, No. 23LF-CV00623-01 (Lafayette Cnty., Mo.); UCC Article 9 (§§ 9-602, 9-610, 9-611, 9-613, 9-614, 9-616, 9-623, 9-625, 9-626) and RSMo ch. 400, art. 9; Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681c, 1681s-2; 26 U.S.C. §§ 61(a)(11), 108; Missouri Supreme Court Rule 52.08.