Consumers in 31 US states may be entitled to receive payments of up to $360 each from a $6.94 million settlement fund linked to allegations against Compass Group USA Inc., doing business as Canteen. The company operates thousands of vending machines nationwide, and the claims relate to transactions allegedly involving charges higher than the price displayed at the point of sale.
According to The Sun, the settlement covers purchases spanning a period of more than 10 years, from 2014 through July 9, 2025, and applies only to certain card-based transactions that meet the eligibility criteria set by the agreement.
Background on the Settlement
The settlement addresses claims that Canteen charged customers more than the displayed price when they used a credit, debit, or prepaid card for vending machine purchases. The alleged overcharges occurred without notifying buyers, leading to a legal challenge spanning over a decade of transactions.
While Canteen denies any wrongdoing, it has agreed to the financial settlement to resolve the case.
Eligibility Requirements
The settlement applies to purchases made from Compass Group USA vending machines between 2014 and July 9, 2025. To be eligible, participants must have paid using a debit, credit, or prepaid card and must have been charged more than the listed price on the vending machine. While no proof of overcharge is required to submit a claim, applicants must still meet these specific criteria to qualify.
The vending machines at the center of this case are located in several states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, New York, Texas, Washington, and more. In total, machines in 31 states are covered by the settlement.
Compensation Details
Payout amounts will range from $30 to $360, depending on:
- The total number of valid claims submitted
- The number of eligible purchases made by each claimant
Because the $6.94 million settlement will be divided among all approved claimants, higher participation could reduce individual payments.
Participants must be aware of the specific timelines set by the settlement agreement, as missing a date could result in losing eligibility for payment. Each deadline serves a different purpose in the process — from formally excluding yourself from the case, to submitting your claim for consideration, to the court’s final review of the agreement.
- October 17, 2025 – Deadline to opt out of or object to the settlement
- November 14, 2025 – Final date to submit a claim form
- January 9, 2026 – Scheduled final approval hearing
Those submitting claims are advised to provide accurate information, as fraudulent claims could impact legitimate payouts.
Next Steps for Consumers
Potential claimants can file online through the official settlement website before the November 14 deadline. The process does not currently require purchase receipts or detailed transaction records, but additional information may be requested later.
This settlement offers affected vending machine users a chance to recover funds for past overcharges, closing a legal dispute that has spanned more than a decade.
