Orlandi Valuta Company

A federal judge has approved a final settlement that could bring to an end years of politically charged consumer litigation against the nation's biggest money-transfer companies. The suits alleged the firms charged hidden and exorbitanxt fees to some of the country's most vulnerable consumers--Mexican immigrants wiring money home.

Mexican immigrants who sued money-transfer companies for allegedly charging them hidden transaction fees soon will be able to receive modest discounts from the companies. Class-action suits against the companies -- First Data Corp. subsidiaries Western Union Financial Services Inc. and Orlandi Valuta, and MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Viad Corp. -- alleged that they collected hidden charges for years from customers sending money from the United States to Mexico.

An appellate court has cleared the way for a settlement worth up to $400 million for people who sent money to Mexico through this country's biggest wire transfer companies from 1987 to 1999. Plaintiffs in three states had claimed the wire transfer companies--Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and MoneyGram--charged hidden and excessive fees to predominantly immigrant consumers, leading to a federal court settlement last year in which the companies agreed to give discount coupons to former customers.

Many Mexican immigrants are eligible for modest refunds as a result of settlements in a pair of class-action suits against three money-transfer companies. Here's a look at the process for making claims in those cases: Over the next month, claim forms will be mailed to people who wired money from the United States to Mexico between about 1987 and 1999 using Viad Corp.'s MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. or First Data Corp. subsidiaries Western Union Financial Services Inc. or Orlandi Valuta.

Support among California Latino leaders was crumbling Tuesday for an enhanced settlement to a federal class-action lawsuit alleging three money-wiring companies charged immigrants steep hidden costs to send money to Mexico. State Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), who helped broker the deal with Western Union, MoneyGram and Orlandi Valuta, opted out of a scheduled news conference in the 11th hour after a coalition of Latino groups accused him of selling out and betraying his constituents.

Lawyers for California immigrants who allege they were charged steep hidden fees to wire money to Mexico filed a new class-action lawsuit against Western Union, MoneyGram and Orlandi Valuta in an effort to circumvent a federal injunction that had blocked their original cases from moving forward.

Mexican immigrants who sued money-transfer companies for allegedly charging them hidden transaction fees soon will be able to receive modest discounts from the companies. Class-action suits against the companies -- First Data Corp. subsidiaries Western Union Financial Services Inc. and Orlandi Valuta, and MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Viad Corp. -- alleged that they collected hidden charges for years from customers sending money from the United States to Mexico.

Many Mexican immigrants are eligible for modest refunds as a result of settlements in a pair of class-action suits against three money-transfer companies. Here's a look at the process for making claims in those cases: Over the next month, claim forms will be mailed to people who wired money from the United States to Mexico between about 1987 and 1999 using Viad Corp.'s MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. or First Data Corp. subsidiaries Western Union Financial Services Inc. or Orlandi Valuta.

An appellate court has cleared the way for a settlement worth up to $400 million for people who sent money to Mexico through this country's biggest wire transfer companies from 1987 to 1999. Plaintiffs in three states had claimed the wire transfer companies--Western Union, Orlandi Valuta and MoneyGram--charged hidden and excessive fees to predominantly immigrant consumers, leading to a federal court settlement last year in which the companies agreed to give discount coupons to former customers.

A federal judge has approved a final settlement that could bring to an end years of politically charged consumer litigation against the nation's biggest money-transfer companies. The suits alleged the firms charged hidden and exorbitanxt fees to some of the country's most vulnerable consumers--Mexican immigrants wiring money home.

Lawyers for California immigrants who allege they were charged steep hidden fees to wire money to Mexico filed a new class-action lawsuit against Western Union, MoneyGram and Orlandi Valuta in an effort to circumvent a federal injunction that had blocked their original cases from moving forward.

Support among California Latino leaders was crumbling Tuesday for an enhanced settlement to a federal class-action lawsuit alleging three money-wiring companies charged immigrants steep hidden costs to send money to Mexico. State Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), who helped broker the deal with Western Union, MoneyGram and Orlandi Valuta, opted out of a scheduled news conference in the 11th hour after a coalition of Latino groups accused him of selling out and betraying his constituents.