“You snooze, you lose” is no longer the case for Groupon customers (a daily deals site).  A class-action lawsuit may result in a refund for Groupon customers who bought deals between November 1, 2008 and December 1, 2011.

Groupon, a Chicago based company notified customers via email on Friday, May 25th of a proposed $8.5 million dollar settlement after over a dozen lawsuits in several different courts claimed, for example, that Groupon vouchers had illegal and undisclosed expiration dates and other restrictions, and did not make that information clear on the Groupon website.  Among the claims include some of the wording in Groupon’s find print that alleged to violate the federal gift card law that prohibits selling gift cards that expire in less than five years.

A judge must approve the proposed settlement during a final approval hearing on July 20th. Groupon, which established the $8.5 million settlement fund to issue refunds, less plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs,  has not admitted fault  by agreeing to the proposed settlement.

For more information on the settlement, head on over the Groupon Voucher Settlement webpage HERE.  If you are a Groupon customer and want to participate in the settlement, you MUST submit a CLAIM FORM HERE to receive a settlement voucher.  The amount to be refunded has not yet been determined.

Customers who object to the settlement, including the requested attorney’s fees, and decide to opt-out of settlement must file with the US District Court for the Southern District of California by July 6th.  Doing so would allow those customers to pursue their own legal actions against Groupon.