Chick-fil-A offers $4.4 million for pricing lawsuit. Here's how Floridians can claim part of it

C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Updated ·5 min read
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If you just had to have a Chick-fil-A sandwich and some sweet tea during the pandemic and you had it delivered, you might be eligible for up to $29.95 in cash or a gift card as part of a class action lawsuit. But your time is running out to claim it.

A lawsuit filed in Georgia last year alleges that Chick-fil-A promised free or low delivery fees on its app or website but later secretly increased food prices for delivery "by a hefty 25-30%" compared to the same items bought at the restaurant.

Chick-fil-A denies the allegations and any wrongdoing, but has agreed to pay out $4.4 million to settle the lawsuit. Eligible customers will receive either cash or a gift card worth up to $29.95, depending on the number of customers requesting it.

Chick-fil-A was ranked America's favorite fast food chain in 2023 by the American Customer Satisfaction Index based on customer satisfaction and feedback.
Chick-fil-A was ranked America's favorite fast food chain in 2023 by the American Customer Satisfaction Index based on customer satisfaction and feedback.

Customers who placed a delivery order between Nov. 1, 2019, and Apr. 30, 2021, are eligible. If eligible, an email will be sent, and claims must be submitted by Feb. 15.

Why did Chick-fil-A get sued?

According to the lawsuit filed in Fulton County, Georgia, when Chick-fil-A began offering delivery at some locations it charged a delivery fee of $4.99. When the company moved "aggressively into the food delivery." the suit says, it began prominently advertising free or low delivery fees, usually $2.99 or $3.99, on its app and website.

However, the plaintiffs, who are from multiple states, say that the prices for food delivery were secretly marked up higher than in-store menu prices.

"In other words," the suit says, "the identical order of a 30-count chicken nuggets costs approximately $5-6 more when ordered for delivery than when ordered via the same mobile app for pickup, or when ordered in-store."

The class action lawsuit accuses the company of intentionally adopting this pricing strategy to mislead and exploit customers "during the COVID-19 crisis" who were already under tremendous stress from the pandemic" into making more purchases and compete unfairly with other food delivery services that advertised truthfully. If true, this would be a violation of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

How many people does the Chick-fil-A lawsuit represent?

Chick-fil-A will reportedly pay $4.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit charging the chain had misleading delivery fees amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Chick-fil-A will reportedly pay $4.4 million to settle a class action lawsuit charging the chain had misleading delivery fees amid COVID-19 pandemic.

There is no way to know for sure how many people will be represented, but the lawsuit claims that "hundreds of thousands of Chick-fil-A customers like Plaintiffs have been assessed hidden delivery charges they did not bargain for."

In a 2023 survey, Chick-fil-A was named as America's favorite fast-food chain and ranked No. 1 in customer service.

How much did Chick-fil-A agree to pay in its settlement?

Chick-fil-A is setting aside $1,450,000 for cash awards and $2,950,000 in gift card awards.

As part of the settlement, Chick-fil-A will also put disclosures on its app and website stating that prices on menu items may be higher for delivery orders.

Who is eligible to receive payments from the Chick-fil-A class action lawsuit?

Florida, California, Georgia, New Jersey, or New York residents who made a delivery order through the Chick-fil-A One app or website between Nov. 1, 2019, and Apr. 30, 2021, may be entitled to relief.

Chick-fil-A customers who are eligible should already have received an email notification from the settlement administrator that includes a Claim ID Number. You'll need that to submit your claim, object to the lawsuit or exclude yourself from it.

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How do I submit my claim for the Chick-fil-A lawsuit?

If you received an email notification and have a Claim ID Number, you can submit your claim online or via mail. You may select:

  • A cash payment up to $29.25.

  • A Chick-fil-A, Inc. e-gift card with a balance up to $29.25

Amounts may be adjusted downward depending on the number of claims received and award types selected.

The deadline for submitting your claim is 11:59 p.m. PST on Feb. 15. If you submit by mail, it must be postmarked by Feb. 15.

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When will I get my money or gift card from the Chick-fil-A lawsuit?

The court will hold a hearing on Feb. 29, 2024, to decide whether to approve the settlement. Settlement awards will not be distributed until any appeals are resolved.

Do I have to claim a settlement?

No. If you choose to do nothing you will still be part of the lawsuit but will not receive a settlement and will not be able to sue or be part of any other lawsuit against Chick-fil-A for the claims in this suit.

If you wish to avoid that, you may exclude yourself from the suit. Information on how to exclude yourself can be found here.

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Can I get a settlement if I ordered Chick-fil-A food through another delivery service such as DoorDash or GrubHub?

The lawsuit and settlement applies only to food deliveries ordered through the Chick-fil-A One app or the company website.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Chick-fil-A $4.4 million settlement deadline coming soon for Florida