Class Members of a Google AdWords class action lawsuit settlement reached in 2009 started receiving Settlement Notices this week instructing them that they have refunds for overcharges waiting for them. Class Members have until July 29, 2012 to elect to receive their refunds in the form of a check, or else they will receive the money owed to them in the form of AdWords Credits.

The Google AdWords settlement resolves a class action lawsuit, entitled CLRB Hanson LLC v. Google, that accused Google of unlawful billing practices concerning its AdWords program. Google denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to a $20 million class action lawsuit settlement to avoid ongoing litigation.

Class Members of the AdWords class action settlement include all persons or entities in the U.S. who participated in Google’s AdWords program who (a) became AdWords advertisers between June 1, 2005 and February 28, 2009, and who were charged more than their per-day daily budget on any day during that time period; or (b) who paused their AdWords advertising campaigns on any day(s) during the period from January 1, 2002 to February 28, 2009, and during the same billing period when their AdWords advertising campaigns were paused, they were charged more than the amount equal to their per-day daily budget multiplied by the number of days that their advertising campaigns were not paused during that billing period. 
The amount you will receive from the Google AdWords class action settlement will depend on the amount of total overcharges you incurred during the Class Period, and is explained in the Settlement Notice. If you did not receive a Settlement Notice, and believe you are a Class Member, you can contact the Settlement Administrator at www.AdWordsSettlement.com.

Class Members of the Google AdWords settlement do not need to do anything to qualify for a payment from the settlement fund – no Proof of Claim Form is required. Class Members will automatically receive AdWords Credits if they have a balance due on their AdWords account. However, if you wish to receive a check in lieu of AdWords Credits, you must make an Election online at www.AdWordsSettlement.com by July 29, 2012. If you do not make an Election, your class action settlement benefit will be applied to your AdWords account as credit. Instructions for making your Election, and a PIN that you will need to make your Election, will be provided on a Notice of Final Approval and Election Eligibility sent to you in the mail.

More information on your rights in the Google AdWords Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found at www.AdWordsSettlement.com or www.AdWordsCustomerSettlement.com.