If you ordered dinner through Grubhub over the past few years, check your mailbox. There might be a check sitting in there with your name on it.
On Aug. 12, the Federal Trade Commission started sending more than $23.8 million to people the agency says Grubhub cheated. That’s 640,038 separate refunds — some by mailed check, some through PayPal.
Here’s the part that stings: Plenty of folks will toss that check thinking it’s junk mail. Others will let it sit on the counter until it expires. Don’t be one of them.
Here’s what you need to know to grab your share before the clock runs out.
1. Why the FTC is sending you money
Back in December 2024, the FTC and the Illinois attorney general went after Grubhub, accusing it of a whole pile of shady practices.
The charges? The company deceived drivers about how much they’d actually earn, blocked diners from their own accounts and funds, and listed restaurants on its platform without permission.
Grubhub got hit with a $140 million judgment, but it only had to pay $25 million after claiming it couldn’t afford the rest. Most of that money is now heading back to the people who got burned.
2. Who’s actually getting paid
Two groups are on the list: drivers and diners.
If you delivered for Grubhub and got sold a rosy earnings pitch that didn’t match your paycheck, you might qualify. If you’re a customer who got locked out of your account or your money, you might qualify too.
You don’t have to apply for anything. The FTC already built the list from Grubhub’s own records. If you’re owed money, it’s coming to you automatically.
3. How the money shows up — and how fast you have to move
Most people will get a check in the mail. Some will get a PayPal payment instead.
And this is exactly where people lose out. If you get a check, you’ve got 90 days to cash it. If you get a PayPal payment, you’ve got just 30 days to claim it before it vanishes.
Quick aside — most internet financial advice comes from people who weren’t alive during the last recession. I’ve been writing about money for more than 35 years. Want rock-solid advice? Sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter. Takes 10 seconds. No fluff. No spam.
4. Don’t mistake the real check for a scam
I get it. After years of warnings about fake refund texts and phony government letters, your gut says this has to be a trick.
But here’s how to tell the difference. The real payment lands as a mailed check or a PayPal deposit, and it never asks you to pay a dime or hand over your bank login.
If it’s asking for money up front, it isn’t the FTC. Full stop.
5. How to spot the fakes circling this refund
Whenever the government sends out real money, the scammers swarm. They’ll call, text or email pretending to be the FTC, then demand a processing fee or your Social Security number to release your funds.
The FTC’s rule couldn’t be simpler: It will never make you pay money or share sensitive financial information to get a refund. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
Want to check on a payment? Skip the number in that random text. Go straight to ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds or call the official refund administrator instead.
6. Questions about your check? Here’s who to call
The FTC hired a company called Analytics Consulting LLC to handle these payments. You can reach them at 1-888-446-4992 if something looks off or you think you were missed.
While you’re at it, treat this as a nudge to rethink how you order takeout. Grubhub isn’t the only app that’s been accused of fee games. There are plenty of ways delivery apps overcharge you, and DoorDash has been accused of having hidden fees and misleading prices.
A few simple tricks can cut what you pay on food delivery for good — and it’s worth knowing which services charge the least before you order.
The bottom line
Getting cheated by a delivery app and then getting a check two years later isn’t much of a victory. The money’s nice, but the real lesson is to watch these apps like a hawk — and to treat every “surprise refund” with a heavy dose of suspicion.
Cash the real one fast. Ignore the fakes completely.
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