Coming Soon: Instacart Customer $60M FTC Settlement

Consumers who were charged certain Instacart fees or had difficulty receiving a requested refund may be eligible to claim a refund from a $60 million refund from an FTC settlement.

Maplebear Inc., doing business as Instacart, has agreed to pay $60 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The lawsuit alleged that Instacart engaged in deceptive business practices, including misleading advertising about delivery fees, failing to provide full refunds as promised, and enrolling consumers in paid subscriptions without obtaining their express informed consent.

The proposed order for the $60 million judgment is pending approval from a District Court judge. More information about the refund process will be released by the FTC after the refund settlement is granted approval.

Who is eligible to receive an Instacart refund?

Individuals receiving an Instacart refund may include:

• Consumers who paid mandatory service fees on their first order, which was advertised as "free delivery."
• Consumers who were denied full refunds despite Instacart’s advertised “100% satisfaction guarantee,” and instead received only partial credits or were unable to locate the refund option
• Consumers who signed up for a free trial of Instacart+ and were automatically enrolled in a paid subscription without clear and conspicuous disclosure of the terms

How much will the FTC Instacart settlement payment be?

The payment amount each qualifying Instacart customer receives may be determined by:

• The number of eligible consumers identified by Instacart and the FTC
• The specific amount each person was charged for mandatory services fees on their first order, unauthorized Instacart+ memberships or denied as a refund
• Any administrative costs associated with distributing the refunds

Will there be a claim form?

The FTC will announce the refund claim process after the settlement receives court approval.

$60 million settlement fund

The $60,000,000 settlement fund will include:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees and expenses: Not yet specified
• Payments to eligible Instacart customers: Remaining settlement funds

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: TBD

When is the Instacart settlement payout date?

The timeline for Instacart refund payments to qualifying customers will be determined at a later date.

Why did this refund settlement happen?

The FTC filed a lawsuit against Instacart alleging that the company engaged in deceptive and unfair practices. In addition to the $60 million settlement, Instacart will be prohibited from making delivery service costs and satisfaction guarantee misrepresentations. The company must also disclose subscription terms more clearly and and obtain express informed consent for transactions where consumers are automatically charged unless they opt out.

Sources

1. FTC press release, Dec. 18, 2025
2. FTC legal complaint and stipulated order