Bright Lending $15M Settlement: No Claim Form Needed
Bright Lending borrowers may get automatic payments or loan cancellation from a $15M settlement. Who qualifies, excluded states, deadlines and what to check.
A $15 million Bright Lending settlement provides automatic payments or cancellation of qualifying unpaid loan balances. The settlement website says no claim form is required.
The settlement has two groups of borrowers. The Monetary Relief Class covers eligible borrowers who fully repaid at least one Bright Lending loan. The Debt Relief Class covers certain borrowers with an unpaid loan who are not in the Monetary Relief Class. The settlement website's FAQ says December 21, 2026 is the deadline to opt out, object, choose electronic payment or report a wrong address.
Cash payments and loan cancellation depend on the settlement becoming final. The final approval hearing is set for January 19, 2027, but the hearing date may change. The settlement website gives no payment date.
Who Qualifies for the Bright Lending Settlement and Do You Need a Claim Form?
The settlement website says no claim form is required for either Bright Lending settlement class. Eligible Monetary Relief Class members receive an automatic cash payment of at least $15. Debt Relief Class members have a qualifying unpaid balance cancelled after the settlement becomes final. Nevada and Utah residents are excluded from both classes, and all benefits depend on final approval.
According to the settlement website, the Monetary Relief Class includes U.S. residents who took at least one Bright Lending loan between October 1, 2020 and June 4, 2026 and fully repaid at least one loan. A member may also receive cancellation of a separate unpaid loan taken between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024. The settlement website does not say that every Monetary Relief Class member has a loan eligible for cancellation.
The Debt Relief Class covers borrowers with a Bright Lending loan from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024 who did not fully repay at least one loan and are not in the Monetary Relief Class. The difference matters if a borrower has had several loans: fully repaying at least one loan can place that borrower in the Monetary Relief Class even if a separate loan remains unpaid.
Bright Lending Settlement Status
The settlement website identifies a $15,000,000 fund in Dixon v. Gatzke, No. 1:24-cv-11834. The case is before Judge Matthew F. Kennelly in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Final approval remains undecided.
| Item | What the Settlement Website Says | What Is Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Case and court | Dixon v. Gatzke, No. 1:24-cv-11834, before Judge Matthew F. Kennelly | Whether the court will grant final approval |
| Fund | $15,000,000 | Each member's final cash payment |
| Who is covered | Two classes defined by Bright Lending loan dates and repayment history | How a particular borrower's loan history will be classified |
| Benefits | Automatic cash payments, qualifying loan cancellation and other settlement terms | The payment date |
| Excluded states | Nevada and Utah residents are excluded | Not applicable |
| December 21, 2026 | Deadline for exclusions, objections, electronic payment elections and address corrections | No deadline is named for other contact updates |
| January 19, 2027 | Final approval hearing set for 9:00 a.m. by telephone | Whether the hearing date will change or anyone will appeal |
ClassAction.org reported approximately 180,926 Monetary Relief Class members and 443,697 Debt Relief Class members. It also reported that the court granted preliminary approval on September 21, 2026. Those are reported figures and a reported approval date from a secondary source.
What Each Class Gets
The Bright Lending settlement website describes different relief for the two classes. Monetary Relief Class payments are calculated pro rata, meaning in proportion to the alleged usurious interest paid above principal. The website says no payment will be less than $15, but the administrator holds the information needed to calculate each person's amount.
| Item | Monetary Relief Class | Debt Relief Class |
|---|---|---|
| Who is in it | Eligible U.S. residents who fully repaid at least one Bright Lending loan | Borrowers who did not fully repay at least one qualifying loan and are not in the Monetary Relief Class |
| What a member gets | An automatic pro rata cash payment of at least $15 | Cancellation of a qualifying unpaid balance after the settlement becomes final |
| Loan dates | At least one loan taken October 1, 2020 to June 4, 2026 | A loan taken October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024 |
| Cancellation wording | A member with a separate unpaid loan from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024 may also receive cancellation | The qualifying balance will be cancelled after the settlement becomes final |
| Form needed | No claim form required | No claim form required |
The settlement website says cash payments are automatic. A member who does not elect electronic payment can receive a check. The electronic choices are Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer, Venmo, PayPal and Zelle. An electronic payment election must be submitted by December 21, 2026.
Borrowers comparing news about debt cancellation should keep the cases separate. The page about another lender settlement with debt forgiveness concerns a different lender and different relief. Bright Lending eligibility depends on the Bright Lending loan dates and repayment rules shown above.
Credit Reports, Collection and Data
The settlement website lists credit-reporting, collection and data terms for both Bright Lending classes. After the settlement is final, Bright Lending will ask consumer reporting agencies to delete negative entries tied to class-period loans. The stated term is a request to the agencies. The website does not give a date when a borrower's credit report will change.
The settlement terms also say collection stops on covered balances and covered loans will not be sold. Class members' personal information will not be sold to third parties for marketing. These terms apply to covered loans and class members as described by the settlement website, so a borrower should not assume that every entry or balance associated with Bright Lending is covered.
A credit report, collection letter or loan statement may help identify which Bright Lending loan is in question. Keep those records if the balance or loan dates appear inconsistent with the settlement notice. The administrator can address questions about a particular loan history through the official settlement site or by telephone at 1-800-797-0699.
What the December 21 Deadline Covers
December 21, 2026 is the settlement website's deadline for four actions: postmarking an exclusion request, postmarking an objection, submitting an electronic payment election or reporting a wrong address. It is not a claim deadline. The settlement website says no claim form is required and names no deadline for other contact updates.
Opting out removes a borrower from the settlement benefit and preserves the right to sue separately. An objection instead tells the court that a class member disagrees with the settlement terms. A class member who does nothing remains in the class and will be bound by the settlement if the court approves it.
The fairness hearing is where the court decides whether to grant final approval. The hearing is set for January 19, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. by telephone, subject to a possible date change. The guide to how class action settlements work explains the general distinction between approval, objections and exclusions.
A borrower expecting a check should use the settlement FAQ to report a wrong address by December 21, 2026. A borrower who prefers ACH, Venmo, PayPal or Zelle should make that election by the same date. Neither action requires filing a claim for benefits.
Fees, Timing and What Is Not Settled
The settlement website says Bright Lending and its operators deny wrongdoing and liability. They agreed to settle to avoid the costs and risks of continued litigation. No court has found that the defendants broke the law.
According to the settlement website, class counsel is Berger Montague P.C. Class counsel will ask the court for up to 33.33% of the $15,000,000 fund plus expenses. The requested service awards are $10,000 and $1,000 for class representatives. Approved fees and awards reduce the fund available for relief.
The settlement website identifies the administrator as Dixon v Gatzke (956), P.O. Box 23459, Jacksonville, FL 32241-3459, telephone 1-800-797-0699. A borrower can use those contact details to ask about a settlement notice or loan history.
No payment date has been announced on the settlement website. ClassAction.org reports that benefits arrive only after final approval and any appeals. The court has not yet decided whether to grant final approval, and whether anyone will appeal is unknown.
The settlement FAQ does not address taxes, so this page cannot say whether a Bright Lending cash payment or loan cancellation is taxable for a particular borrower. A tax professional can advise on that question.
What to Do Next
A Bright Lending borrower does not need to buy or submit a claim form. The immediate tasks are to identify any action due December 21, 2026 and keep records that may help with questions about loan dates or repayment.
| Step | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Use the official Bright Lending settlement site or call 1-800-797-0699 | Ask the administrator about a notice or a particular loan history |
| Report a wrong mailing address by December 21, 2026 if a check is wanted | Helps the administrator send a check to the correct address |
| Choose electronic payment by December 21, 2026 if preferred | Allows payment by an available electronic method instead of check |
| Keep Bright Lending loan paperwork and settlement letters | Provides records if questions about loan dates or repayment arise |
No one should charge a fee to file for this settlement because the settlement website says there is no claim to file. A fee request is a red flag. For questions about individual legal rights rather than settlement administration, a borrower can find a lawyer.
A borrower who fully repaid at least one qualifying Bright Lending loan may be due an automatic cash payment of at least $15 and may also receive cancellation of a separate qualifying unpaid loan. A Debt Relief Class member's qualifying balance will be cancelled after the settlement becomes final. Nevada and Utah residents are excluded. Before December 21, 2026, use the official settlement website or call the administrator to address a wrong address, choose electronic payment, or ask about a Bright Lending loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a claim form for the Bright Lending settlement?
No. The settlement website says no claim form is required for either class. Eligible cash payments are automatic, and qualifying Debt Relief Class balances will be cancelled after the settlement becomes final.
Am I in the Monetary Relief Class or the Debt Relief Class?
The Monetary Relief Class covers eligible U.S. residents who took a Bright Lending loan between October 1, 2020 and June 4, 2026 and fully repaid at least one loan. The Debt Relief Class covers borrowers with a loan from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024 who did not fully repay at least one loan and are not in the Monetary Relief Class.
Are Nevada and Utah residents covered?
No. The settlement website excludes Nevada and Utah residents from both the Monetary Relief Class and the Debt Relief Class. The other class requirements depend on Bright Lending loan dates and repayment history.
When will Bright Lending settlement payments arrive?
No payment date has been announced on the settlement website. The final approval hearing is set for January 19, 2027, but that date may change. ClassAction.org reports that benefits arrive only after final approval and any appeals.
What is the December 21 deadline for?
December 21, 2026 is the deadline to postmark an exclusion request or objection and to submit an electronic payment election or address correction. It is not a claim deadline because the settlement website says no claim form is required. The settlement website names no deadline for other contact updates.
Will my credit report change?
The settlement website says Bright Lending will ask consumer reporting agencies to delete negative entries tied to class-period loans after the settlement is final. It does not give a date when a borrower's credit report will change. The stated term concerns negative entries tied to covered loans.
Can I opt out, and what does it cost me?
Yes. An exclusion request must be postmarked by December 21, 2026. Opting out preserves the right to sue separately but gives up the settlement benefit, including any settlement payment.
Do I owe taxes on a Bright Lending settlement payment?
The settlement FAQ does not address taxes. Whether a payment or loan cancellation is taxable for a particular borrower is not stated there. A tax professional can advise on the borrower's circumstances.
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