Did you use SmileDirectClub teeth aligners? You may be eligible for refund.
Thousands of SmileDirectClub customers, including many who used clear teeth aligners, are eligible for refunds under a new legal settlement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said.
The refunds, which total $4.8 million, will go to about 28,000 customers who were improperly charged by the telehealth company SmileDirectClub after it went bankrupt and stopped providing services, James said.
All eligible consumers should be contacted by email with details on the refund process. These notices will be sent to the most recent emails that customers have on file with Healthcare Finance Direct, the third-party payment processor involved with SmileDirectClub, according to a website established for the refund outreach.
Any New Yorkers who believe they are eligible for these refunds and did not receive an email should call the state Office of Attorney General's complaint hotline at 1-800-428-9071.
What happened to SmileDirectClub clear aligners?
SmileDirectClub offered dental services, including aligner treatment to help straighten teeth, through its online platform, James noted in a statement.
The majority of SmileDirectClub’s customers paid for their aligner treatment through its “SmilePay” program, which generally involved a $250 up-front payment, followed by 26 monthly installment payments of about $89 per month, for a total of more than $2,500, James said.
In September 2023, SmileDirectClub filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Then in December 2023, while tens of thousands of consumers were still receiving aligner treatment, the company announced it was shutting down its platform, canceling outstanding aligner orders, and ceasing all other business operations effective immediately, James said.
But despite SmileDirectClub’s permanent closing, the company’s website continued to misleadingly advise consumers, including those who had not completed their aligner treatment, that they must make any remaining monthly installment payments in full, James said, noting consumer complaints about the situation led to the settlement.
How to get SmileDirectClub refunds
An unspecified portion of the $4.8 million in SmileDirectClub refunds will be issued automatically, James noted.
Additional refunds will be issued to consumers who submit an online refund request to Healthcare Finance Direct. Eligible consumers will be contacted by Healthcare Finance Direct by email with information on the automatic refunds and how to submit a request for an additional refund.
For more information on refunds and eligibility, please visit Healthcare Finance Direct’s FAQ page at gohfd.com/smile-direct-club-faq/
David Robinson is a veteran health reporter for the Paste BN Network's New York State Team. Reach him at Drobinson@lohud.com.