$63 million in refunds ready for LCD TV, computer, iPod or phone buyers

If you purchased a liquid crystal display TV, monitor, notebook computer or color-screen iPod or cellphone between Jan. 1, 1998, and Dec. 1, 2006, then you could be eligible for a refund.

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced last May that his office had secured a $63 million settlement from nine LCD screen manufacturers involved in what the office described as a “price-fixing conspiracy.”

The office announced Thursday that it has established a claims process for affected consumers, whether individuals or businesses.

The maximum refund is $108 for a television, $75 for a notebook computer and $70 for a flat-screen monitor, with lesser amounts available for cellphones and iPods.

To be eligible, consumers must have purchased a LCD flat-panel product between the dates above and must have resided or had headquarters in Washington at the time of purchase. They must have purchased the product from a retailer or source other than the manufacturer, and must have purchased the product for their own use and not for resale.

Ferguson’s office also warned consumers against using a third-party agent, Financial Recovery Services, which will charge a fee of one-third of the money recovered. Consumers can file their own claims for free.

Claim forms may be filed online or by mail. Claim forms are available at lcdsettlement.atg.wa.gov or by calling 866-778-9468.

The deadline to submit a claim is June 17. Consumers are not required to submit documentation when filing, but they may be asked to verify their claim during the audit process.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 6:36 AM with the headline "$63 million in refunds ready for LCD TV, computer, iPod or phone buyers."