Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get a Redemption Certificate or Alternative Storage Device?
- What are Redemption Certificates and what can I use them for?
- How do I use my Redemption Certificate?
- When will I receive my Redemption Certificate and Alternative Storage Device (if eligible)?
- Why didn’t I receive a Redemption Certificate?
- What are the lawsuits about?
- How can I get more information about the lawsuit and the approved Settlement?
1. How do I get a Redemption Certificate or Alternative Storage Device?
The claims deadline has passed. No claims received at this time will be approved. If you submitted a timely and complete Claim Form, and you are eligible, a Redemption Certificate and an Alternative Storage Device (if requested) will be mailed to you separately on or before October 31, 2008. Please allow three weeks to receive these items in the mail.
2. What are Redemption Certificates and what can I use them for?
The Redemption Certificate represents your settlement award in this lawsuit.
The Redemption Certificate will be mailed to approved claimants in the form of a postcard. The postcard contains a Redemption Certificate Code that can be used towards the purchase of a new Compaq or HP desktop (including monitor) or notebook computer at www.hp.com pursuant to the terms of the approved Settlement. The Code will expire on October 20, 2010. After that date, it will be void and will not be reissued.
The value of the Redemption Certificate determines which computers are eligible to be purchased, as follows:
- Codes worth $175 may only be used to purchase a new desktop (including monitor) or notebook computer having a purchase price of $1,200 or greater at www.hp.com.
- Codes worth $100 may only be used to purchase a new desktop (including monitor) or notebook computer having a purchase price of $501 or greater at www.hp.com.
- Codes worth $50 may be used to purchase any new desktop (including monitor) or notebook computer at www.hp.com.
The price of the newly purchased computer shall be determined by first deducting discounts and rebates offered on www.hp.com for the Compaq or HP desktop (including monitor) or notebook being purchased; it is that net price that will determine if your Redemption Certificate can be used. The online price of the newly purchased desktop computer will include the monitor and all internal hardware upgrades such as increased hard disk capacity and memory and the price of the newly purchased notebook computer will include all internal hardware upgrades such as increased hard disk capacity and memory.
Your code is not stackable, transferable or assignable and has no cash value. It may be used with any other applicable online discounts, promotions, coupons and rebates for the Compaq or HP desktop (including monitor) or notebook computer being purchased, but may not be used with any other discounts, promotions, coupons or rebates that are not available for use online.
3. How do I use my Redemption Certificate?
To use your Redemption Certificate, please visit www.hp.com to purchase an eligible computer subject to the terms of the Barrett-Grider v. HP-Compaq Class Action Settlement. To read about which computers you may use your Redemption Certificate for, click here to be directed to Frequently Asked Question 2.
The Redemption Certificate provides detailed instructions on how to use the certificate. Please review those instructions prior to making any purchases.
4. When will I receive my Redemption Certificate and Alternative Storage Device (if eligible)?
If your claim was approved, Redemption Certificate will be mailed out on October 20, 2008. Please allow three weeks to receive your Redemption Certificate Code by mail.
If you elected to receive an Alternative Storage Device by checking the appropriate box on your Claim Form, this benefit will be mailed separately, on or before October 31, 2008.
5. Why didn’t I receive a Redemption Certificate?
If you did not receive a Redemption Certificate, either the claim was not approved, or we do not have a valid address for you on file.
If you did not receive an Alternative Storage Device, one or more of the following may have occurred:
- you did not submit a claim
- you did not check the appropriate box on your Claim Form
- your claim was not approved
- the Settlement Administrator does not have a valid address for you on file
If you believe your claim was approved, but you moved subsequent to submitting your Claim Form, please provide the Settlement Administrator with your new address.
To do so, send a letter that includes your first name, your last name, your old address, your new address, your ClaimID, and your signature. Your ClaimID can be found next to the barcode on the Claim Form you created online or received through the mail.
Mail your request to:
Barrett-Grider v. HP-Compaq Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 6104
Novato, CA 94948-6104
6. What are the lawsuits about?
The consolidated action in Oklahoma claims that the defendants, Compaq and HP, sold computers with a defective part that could cause the loss or corruption of data written to or read from a floppy disk. Plaintiffs to the consolidated action further claim that the presence of the allegedly defective part in the computers entitles Class Members to remedies under a warranty. The lawsuits listed below made similar allegations against Compaq and HP and have been dismissed, due to the approval of the Barrett-Grider v. HP-Compaq Settlement:
(a) Penny Schultz v. Hewlett-Packard Company, No. CV-025620 (California Superior Court, San Joaquin County);
(b) Alesia Batiste v. Hewlett-Packard Company, No. CV-025102 (California Superior Court, San Joaquin County);
(c) Hal LaPray et al. v. Compaq Computer Corporation, Cause No. A-162, 152 (In the District Court of Jefferson County, Texas, 60th Judicial District); and
(d) Muzette Alvis et al. v. Hewlett-Packard Company, Cause No. A-164, 880 (In the District Court of Jefferson County, Texas, 58th Judicial District);
Compaq and HP deny the claims made in the consolidated action and the lawsuits listed above. The Court did not rule in favor of plaintiffs or defendants in any of the cases. Instead, the parties agreed to the approved Settlement in order to avoid the expense and risks of continuing the consolidated action and the related cases.
7. How can I get more information about the lawsuit and the approved Settlement?
More details are in the documents filed in these class actions and in the Settlement Agreement. To view these documents, please visit the Court Documents Related to the Settlement page of this website.
Court Orders and the Settlement Agreement supersede any contrary information provided on this website or any other source of information regarding the settlement.