Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether LINQ Connect improperly charges parents additional fees when they pay for their children’s school meals and other school-related expenses.
LINQ Connect is an online payment platform used by schools across the country. Parents can use it to add money to their children’s school meal accounts, schedule automatic payments, and pay certain school fees.
Depending on the school district, parents may be charged an additional fee each time they make an online payment. For example, Central Kitsap School District reports a $2.60 fee for certain LINQ Connect payments, while Hillsboro School District reports a 3.95% fee with a $2.85 minimum for certain transactions. Fees and payment options vary by district.
Migliaccio & Rathod is investigating whether LINQ Connect clearly explains its fees before parents complete payments, whether families are informed about ways to pay without additional charges, and whether certain fee practices may violate consumer-protection laws.
Why Consumers Should Be Concerned
Many families make repeated deposits into school meal accounts throughout the school year. When an additional fee applies to each payment, those charges can add up over time.
Parents also generally have limited control over which payment platform their school district chooses. Clear information about fees and alternative payment methods is therefore important.
A 2024 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau raised broader concerns about school payment fees and how easily families can find and use payment methods that do not carry additional charges. The report does not establish that LINQ Connect has violated the law.
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether LINQ Connect clearly discloses its fees and whether parents have practical access to alternative ways to make payments.
Signs You May Be Affected
- You used LINQ Connect to pay for school lunches or other school-related expenses.
- You were charged additional processing or convenience fees.
- You incurred repeated fees when depositing money into a school meal account.
- You were not clearly informed about the fees before completing a payment.
- You were not adequately informed about available alternatives that do not involve additional charges.
If you paid additional fees through LINQ Connect for school lunches or other school-related expenses, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, email [email protected], or call (202) 470-3520.