Wells Fargo $33 Million Class Action Settlement, Free Trial Recurring Billing Eligibility, Claims & Deadline
URGENT: The claim deadline is TODAY, March 4, 2026. File at FreeTrialRecurringBillingSettlement.com immediately.
Consumers who were enrolled in recurring subscription billing programs by companies known as the Apex, Triangle, or Tarr entities — through Wells Fargo bank accounts — may be eligible for a cash payment from a $33 million class action settlement. The settlement received preliminary court approval on November 4, 2025, and the claim deadline is March 4, 2026. Wells Fargo has not admitted wrongdoing. This settlement covers consumers who were enrolled in recurring billing by any of these entities at any time since 2009.
Quick Facts
- Lawsuit Type: Class action / consumer protection — deceptive “free trial” recurring billing
- Defendant: Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
- Settlement Amount: $33 million
- Settlement Status: Preliminarily approved (November 4, 2025)
- Who May Be Affected: Anyone enrolled in recurring billing by Apex, Triangle, or Tarr entities from 2009 to the present
- Claim Deadline: March 4, 2026 (online or postmarked)
- Opt-Out / Objection Deadline: March 5, 2026
- Final Approval Hearing: March 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., Carter-Keep Courthouse, San Diego, CA
- Official Settlement Website: FreeTrialRecurringBillingSettlement.com
- Settlement Administrator Phone: 1-888-884-1172
- Administrator Email: [email protected]
Current Status and What Happens Next
A $33 million global settlement has been reached in a pair of consolidated lawsuits brought against Wells Fargo & Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., including a class action filed on behalf of consumers and another lawsuit filed by a court-appointed Receiver.
Here is where things stand right now and what comes next:
- Claim period is open — the deadline to submit a claim is March 4, 2026, online or by mail (postmarked).
- Opt-out and objection deadline — the deadline to exclude yourself from or object to the settlement is March 5, 2026.
- Final approval hearing — the court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on March 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at Carter-Keep Courthouse, 333 W. Broadway, Courtroom 14A, San Diego, CA 92101.
- Payments — the settlement administrator will issue payments to eligible class members approximately 60 days after the court grants final approval.
- If you do nothing — if you do nothing and you did not receive a payment from the FTC in connection with Triangle or Apex, or you were enrolled in recurring billing with a Tarr Entity, you will get no settlement benefits, and you will still be bound by the settlement.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the class action lawsuit, Wells Fargo assisted Apex, Triangle, and Tarr entities in misleading consumers into signing up for monthly subscriptions. The bank allegedly opened accounts for the companies and transferred millions of dollars into their accounts.
The Apex, Triangle, and Tarr entities allegedly ran “free” trial offers for personal care products, electronic cigarettes, and dietary, health, or beauty supplements. Consumers who signed up for these trials were allegedly charged the full price of the products and enrolled in monthly subscription plans without their consent.
The court-appointed Receiver’s complaint described the alleged conduct in stark terms. The complaint alleged that “Wells Fargo bankers were aware of the Enterprises’ risk-free trial schemes, understood the people listed as ‘owners’ of the Wells Fargo accounts did not actually own or control them, and knew the Enterprises were engaged in credit card laundering.” It further alleged Wells Fargo opened more than 150 bank accounts for shell companies, “sometimes opening as many as 6 bank accounts in one day.”
Wells Fargo denies all of these allegations. The lawsuit has not gone to trial, and the court has not decided whether the plaintiffs’ claims have merit or whether either side is right. Both parties agreed to settle to avoid the uncertainty and expense of further litigation.
Who Could Be Included — Class Definition
You are a class member if you were enrolled in recurring billing by any of the Tarr Entities, Triangle Entities, or Apex Entities from 2009 to present. A complete list of covered companies and products is available on the official settlement website.
Products involved include, but are not limited to: Miracle Garcinia Cambogia, Ripped Muscle X, Elite Test 360, Bella Labs Instant Wrinkle Reducer, and Miracle Green Coffee, among more than 70 different products.
Important exception for prior FTC recipients: If you are a class member and previously received a payment from the FTC in connection with the FTC’s lawsuit against Triangle or Apex, you do not need to submit a claim form to be eligible to receive settlement benefits related to Triangle or Apex. However, if you were also enrolled in recurring billing with a Tarr Entity, you must submit a timely and valid claim form for the Tarr Entity only to be eligible to receive settlement benefits related to Tarr.
Who is excluded: Excluded from the class are the defendants themselves and present and former officers and directors of Wells Fargo.
Settlement Details
Total Settlement Fund
A $33 million global settlement has been reached, covering consumers enrolled in recurring billing through Tarr, Triangle, or Apex entities via Wells Fargo accounts.
Two Ways to Receive Compensation
Option 1 — With Documentation (higher potential payment): Class members with documentation of their losses, such as bank or credit card statements, emails, or receipts, may receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the amount of documented charges, subject to possible reduction depending on how many people claim.
Option 2 — Without Documentation (flat cash payment): Class members without documentation can seek a flat one-time cash payment of up to $20, which may also be reduced if there are many approved claims. The minimum payment threshold for all claims is $10.
Payment Allocation by Entity Group
Flat cash payments related to Tarr entities will total only 50% of the new settlement fund amount allocated to Tarr. Flat cash payments related to Apex entities will total only 25% of the net settlement fund amount allocated to Apex. Flat cash payments related to Triangle entities will total only 25% of the net settlement fund amount allocated to Triangle.
How to File a Claim
Consumers who believe they may be a class member but did not receive a settlement notice should contact the settlement administrator to confirm their identity and receive their login details.
- Online: Visit FreeTrialRecurringBillingSettlement.com and enter the unique ID and PIN from your settlement notice.
- By Mail: Print and mail the PDF claim form to the settlement administrator at: Free Trial Recurring Billing Settlement, Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 6397, Portland, OR 97228-6397.
- Phone: 1-888-884-1172
- Email: [email protected]
Prior FTC Actions — The Background You Need to Know
This settlement connects to prior government enforcement actions that already returned money to some consumers.
The FTC sent 153,940 payments totaling more than $2.8 million to people who were charged for “free trial” offers for personal care products and dietary supplements through Apex Capital Group. According to the FTC, Apex Capital Group told customers they could try the products for free, but instead billed them full price and enrolled them in a monthly subscription plan without their consent.
The Apex Capital defendants began the alleged online subscription scheme in early 2014. A court issued an order in November 2018 halting the scheme at the FTC’s request. Separate FTC actions also targeted the Triangle entities for similar conduct.
Over the course of that investigation, the court-appointed Receiver identified “troubling conduct by Wells Fargo Bank” in connection with the scheme, stating that the bank accounts “were essential in keeping the scheme open for years, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer losses.” After settlement attempts failed, litigation continued through to the summary judgment stage before the $33 million settlement with Wells Fargo was reached.
The current class action settlement is separate from those FTC actions but builds upon them — and those who already received FTC refunds may still receive additional settlement payments without filing a new claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a class action lawsuit?
Yes. The lawsuits include a class action filed on behalf of consumers by various individuals and another lawsuit filed by a court-appointed Receiver, both consolidated and resolved through this $33 million settlement.
Has the settlement been approved by the court?
The settlement received preliminary approval from the court on November 4, 2025. The final approval hearing is scheduled for March 26, 2026.
Who is eligible to file a claim?
You are eligible if you were enrolled in recurring billing by any of the Tarr Entities, Triangle Entities, or Apex Entities from 2009 to present. Check the official settlement website for the full list of covered companies.
What is the claim deadline?
Class members must submit a valid claim form by March 4, 2026. Online submissions must be completed by that date; mailed claims must be postmarked by March 4, 2026.
Do I need documentation to file a claim?
No. You can file without documentation and receive a flat cash payment of up to $20. Class members with documentation such as bank or credit card statements showing monthly subscription charges may receive a proportional share of the net settlement fund based on documented losses.
I already got an FTC refund — do I need to file again?
Class members who previously received a payment from the Federal Trade Commission’s refund programs in connection with the FTC’s prior lawsuits against the Triangle or Apex Entities do not need to submit a claim form to be eligible to receive settlement benefits. However, if you were also enrolled through a Tarr entity, you must file a claim for that portion.
Where is the official settlement website?
The official settlement website is FreeTrialRecurringBillingSettlement.com. The settlement administrator can also be reached at 1-888-884-1172.
When will payments be sent?
The settlement administrator will issue payments to eligible class members approximately 60 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement. Final approval is expected no earlier than late March 2026, meaning payments could arrive by mid-to-late 2026.
Similar Deceptive Subscription Billing Lawsuits
Negative-option billing — where a “free trial” converts to a paid subscription unless a consumer actively cancels — has drawn significant regulatory scrutiny. The FTC has pursued multiple enforcement actions in this space over the past decade, including against Apex, Triangle, and related entities. The Wells Fargo settlement reflects a growing area of litigation in which banks and payment processors that allegedly facilitate such schemes can face civil liability alongside the original perpetrators.
Consumers who received unexpected subscription charges on their bank or credit card statements from unfamiliar company names may want to review those statements carefully and cross-reference them against the entity list at the official settlement website.
Last Updated: March 4, 2026
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.
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.
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