MacKeeper customers can file claims for refund

MacKeeper customers can file claims for refund from class action suit

Purchasers of MacKeeper are now able to file a claim to be reimbursed for the software, it has been revealed. Lawyers representing parties in a class action lawsuit against ZeoBit over the software have launched a site allowing customers to claim their share of a proposed $2 million settlement, with respondents potentially receiving the entire $40 cost in full, depending on how many of the 513,000 eligible customers successfully apply.

The proposed settlement involves ZeoBit, the original developer of the questionable toolkit, paying $2 million into a fund, but with the company not admitting fault. Out of that $2 million, Macworld reports one third will be going towards attorney fees, with the rest going towards the refunds and administration costs. As well as sending emails out to affected customers, settlement administrators Rust Consulting apparently plans to buy millions of ad impressions on Facebook and other platforms to try and get the word of the refund out to as many people as possible.

The suit itself was originally filed in May 2014, with ZeoBit accused of a "common deceptive scheme to trick consumers into purchasing and continuing to use its MacKeeper software, which ultimately fails to deliver the utility that ZeoBit promises." It was also alleged MacKeeper was "intentionally designed" to "ominously report that a user's Mac needs repair, and is at-risk due to harmful (but fabricated) errors." Current software owner Kromtech Alliance was not included in the suit, but it is possible it could be sued at a later date.

Customers who acquired the software before July 8 are eligible for the refund under the proposed settlement, and have until November 30 to apply. Interested parties can also file an objection to the settlement with the court by September 21, ahead of a final approval hearing on October 16.