By CE Critic - Buy Better Tech

Table of Contents

• Summary
• Background
  • Lawsuit Accusations
  • Vizio's Response
• Settlement Terms
  • Who is Eligible?
  • Compensation
  • Other Benefits
• Claim Filing
  • Deadline
  • Requirements
• Additional Information

Summary

Vizio has agreed to pay $3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading customers about the refresh rates of its TVs. The lawsuit alleged that Vizio advertised its TVs as having a higher refresh rate than they actually do, using terms like "effective refresh rate" to refer to motion smoothing features. Vizio denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to stop using these terms and to provide compensation to eligible customers who purchased affected TVs in California.

Background

• Lawsuit Accusations: In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against Vizio accusing the company of falsely advertising its 60 Hz and 120 Hz TVs as having an "effective" refresh rate of 120 Hz and 240 Hz, respectively. The lawsuit claimed that Vizio used backlight scanning, which can make the picture appear smoother but does not actually increase the refresh rate, to justify these claims.
• Vizio's Response: Vizio denied the allegations and claimed that it properly labeled its TVs with the correct refresh rates.

Settlement Terms

• Who is Eligible: Anyone who purchased a new Vizio television in California advertised as having a "120Hz effective refresh rate" or "240Hz effective refresh rate" after April 30, 2014, is eligible.
• Compensation: Each eligible claimant can receive up to $50, with the actual amount depending on the number of valid claims submitted.
• Other Benefits: Vizio has also agreed to stop using "effective refresh rate" marketing and to offer an enhanced service and warranty package to all class members.

Claim Filing

• Deadline: The deadline to submit a claim form is March 30, 2024.
• Requirements: To file a claim, you will need proof of purchase or the serial number of your TV.

Additional Information

• For more details and to file a claim, visit the official settlement website: https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-to-get-your-cut-of-vizios-3-million-false-refresh-rate-claim-settlement
• This settlement only applies to Vizio TVs sold in California.