A consumer stack for tracking purchases and settlement eligibility

Finding a possible class action match is only one step. The harder work is often reconstructing whether you used a brand or service during the period covered by a settlement, and locating records if the claim requires proof. A simple consumer claim tracking stack can combine three sources: a digital receipt folder, purchase and account histories, and Dibs on iOS.

These sources do different jobs. Receipts and account records can help you check your own history. Dibs helps identify open settlements matching brands and services you use, and provides tracking for submitted claims from court approval through payment. None replaces the settlement’s eligibility rules or the official claim process.

1. Make a small evidence folder

Start with a folder in the email or file system you already use. Save digital receipts, order confirmations, subscription notices and relevant account statements there. Organize by merchant or service, not by a settlement name you may not know yet. If you already use email folders or labels, a “Purchases and subscriptions” folder is enough to start.

Keep the records that help establish what you bought, when you bought it, and which account or household member was involved. You do not need to collect every receipt from every purchase. Focus on records for brands and services you actively use, and keep the original message or document when possible. A screenshot may be useful for your own review, but do not assume it will satisfy a settlement’s proof requirements.

The trade-off is straightforward: an archive can save time later, but it takes upkeep and will still have gaps. Some purchases happen in person, some records expire, and some settlements do not require purchase documentation at all. As the difference between receipt-free and proof-required claims shows, the settlement’s own terms determine what counts.

2. Search account histories when a match looks relevant

Check the merchant’s website or app directly for order history, invoices, subscription dates or transaction details. Search accounts for the name of the brand, a product, or a likely date range. For recurring services, check billing history as well as old confirmation emails. If you have more than one account or payment method, note which ones you checked so you do not mistake an incomplete search for a complete record.

Use bank or card statements as a cross-check, not as a substitute for the settlement’s requested evidence. A statement may establish that a payment went to a merchant, but it may not identify the item, account holder or transaction details the administrator needs. Keep copies of records you may need, and avoid sharing account passwords or unrelated financial documents as part of a claim unless the official process requires specific information.

3. Use Dibs to find open matches

Dibs is available as an iOS app and helps users identify open class action settlements matching brands and services they use. Enter or review the brands and services that reflect your actual history. Then compare any potential match against your receipt folder and account searches. Treat the result as a lead, not a ruling: you still need to check the settlement’s eligibility criteria, covered dates, deadline, proof requirements and payment terms.

A brand name alone does not establish eligibility. A settlement may cover only certain products, transactions, locations or time periods. If the claim is receipt-free, that does not remove the other eligibility rules. Dibs lists settlement information and matching claims, but the administrator reviews claims under the settlement’s terms.

The free tier includes matching, tracking and deadline reminders. Dibs takes 0% of a user’s settlement payout. Filing on an official settlement website is also free. For claims that require a form, Dibs offers a Pro tier with a Claim Agent feature to help fill out official claim forms. The feature is described as alpha. Review the completed answers, confirm eligibility, and sign and submit through the official process yourself. Do not treat form assistance as a guarantee that a claim qualifies or will be paid.

4. Track the claim after submission

Once you file, keep the submission confirmation and any claim identifier with your records. Use Dibs to track submitted claims through milestones such as court approval and payment. A filed claim, final approval and a payment are separate events; approval does not mean money arrives immediately. The milestones between filing and payout are worth tracking separately.

Keep any administrator notices, too. Dibs tracking can put claims in one place, but your own records remain useful if you need to check a submission or answer a follow-up. Payment comes directly from the settlement administrator, not from Dibs. If a claim is denied or a payment is delayed, consult the administrator’s instructions for that settlement rather than assuming the app can change the decision.

Where this stack helps—and where it does not

This setup is most useful when you have several everyday brands to check and want a repeatable way to find records before deadlines pass. Its limits are just as practical: old purchases may be hard to document, account histories may not show every detail, and no tracker can turn a weak match into an eligible claim. Start with a few brands you know you used, check the settlement terms, and keep a clear record of what you submitted. That is more reliable than treating a possible match or a saved receipt as the claim itself.