A $15,000,000 settlement covers people who bought a Bestway-branded pool 48 inches or taller with compression straps outside the support poles. They can receive 10% of the purchase price with valid proof of purchase, or a $40.00 payment without it, by October 30, 2026. The court has not yet approved the settlement.
Benefit Summary
Claimants with Valid Proof of Purchase: available benefits include 10% of qualifying price.
Claimants without Valid Proof of Purchase: available benefits include $40.
Payments come from the $15,000,000 settlement fund and may change after approved deductions.
Available Awards
Claimants with Valid Proof of Purchase: 10% of qualifying price; Claimants without Valid Proof of Purchase: $40
Who Is Included
The settlement covers qualifying purchases in the United States, its territories and the District of Columbia. The pool must be Bestway-branded, at least 48 inches tall, and have compression straps outside its support poles. It must have been sold during 2008 through 2024 and bought for personal use, rather than resale. Second-hand purchases do not qualify. The judge and immediate family, the defendants and specified related businesses and people, the lawyers representing the class, wholesalers, distributors and retailers are excluded. People who properly leave the settlement, and successors or assignees of excluded people, are also excluded. Question 6 of the notice gives the complete exclusions. The current claim form adds a purchase cutoff and a household limit, explained in the Q&A below.
- Products included: Bestway-branded pools at least 48 inches tall with compression straps outside the support poles. Examples in the notice include Power Steel, Steel Pro and Coleman Power Steel.
- Purchase window: Sold from 2008 through 2024.
- Proof required: You need to send a signed claim form by the deadline. Purchase records, such as a receipt, determine whether your payment uses the 10% calculation. An eligible person without accepted purchase records can claim $40. The notice gives a receipt as an example but does not list every acceptable type of record.
Claim and Payment Information
- Claim method: Online or mail
- Claim deadline: 2026-10-30
- Instructions: Fill out and sign the claim form. Submit it on the official settlement website by October 30, 2026, or mail it to the address on the form with a postmark by that date. You can download a paper form or request one from the administrator. See question 11 of the notice for the submission instructions. Check the Q&A for the online Claim ID and current form requirements.
Questions & Answers
How can I tell whether my pool qualifies?
Check the brand, height and strap placement. The settlement covers Bestway-branded pools at least 48 inches tall with compression straps outside the support poles, sold from 2008 through 2024. You must have bought the pool for your own use, not to resell it.
Power Steel, Steel Pro and Coleman Power Steel are examples named in the notice. A model name alone is not enough; the height and strap requirements still matter. Used-pool buyers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers are excluded. Questions 5 and 6 cover eligibility and the other exclusions.
What if I have a receipt, and what if I do not?
Accepted purchase records let the administrator calculate a payment of 10% of what you paid. If the record identifies your pool but omits the price, the calculation uses the model’s average retail price. An eligible claim without accepted purchase records receives $40.
A receipt is the notice’s example of purchase evidence. The notice does not give a complete list of acceptable records. In either situation, send a signed claim form by the deadline.
Is the entire $15 million paid directly to pool buyers?
The fund also pays the costs of notifying buyers and running the settlement, court-approved legal fees and expenses, and service awards for the people who brought the case.
The lawyers may ask for fees of up to one-third of the settlement amount, excluding administration costs and service awards, plus reasonable litigation expenses. The judge decides what to approve and may allow less. The notice does not give final totals for each use of the fund; see question 16 for the fee request.
Can I choose a check or an electronic payment?
Yes. The claim process offers electronic payment choices and a paper-check option. The notice does not name the individual electronic services.
Use a current, complete email address for an electronic payment. If you choose a check, the administrator will try to mail it to the physical address on your claim. Tell the administrator if your contact details change after you apply.
When could I receive the money?
The notice does not give a payment date. The judge must first approve the settlement, and any appeals must be resolved before money can be sent.
The approval hearing is scheduled for November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Its date or format may change, so use the official website for updates. The hearing date itself is not a promised payment date.
How do I leave the settlement?
Leaving is called opting out. You receive no settlement payment, but keep any right you have to pursue the claims covered by this case separately. You cannot opt out by telephone or on someone else’s behalf.
Send your request through the official website by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on October 30, 2026, or mail it with a postmark by October 30. It must name the case, give your full name, phone number and current address, confirm that you bought a qualifying pool, clearly ask to leave, and include your physical signature. Follow question 17 of the notice for the exact instructions and mailing address.
How can I tell the judge I disagree with the settlement?
If you remain in the settlement, you may submit an objection explaining what you disagree with. You may still claim a payment. Someone who opts out cannot object.
Question 20 of the notice lists the required information, supporting records, signature and any lawyer details. It also explains the additional steps if you want to speak at the hearing. Use that full list when preparing your objection.
Mail the objection, deliver it to the court clerk, or file it through the court’s electronic system. The notice specifies an October 30, 2026 postmark for mailed objections or electronic filing by that date. Use the court address and delivery instructions in question 20.
Does this settlement affect injury claims or the pool recall?
The notice says personal-injury and property-damage claims are not released. Its detailed release discussion also preserves bodily injury, emotional distress, wrongful death and other physical or emotional harm claims. Recall rights remain separate.
Staying in the class does mean you are bound by the settlement if it is approved and becomes final, including giving up the claims it resolves. Section 8 of the settlement agreement contains the full legal release. Read it for the exact scope of the rights affected.
What additional rules does the current claim form give?
The official claim form, checked September 10, 2026, says one claim per household (people sharing an address), for a qualifying pool purchased from a retailer before May 4, 2026. This adds detail to the notice’s description of qualifying models sold during 2008–2024. Ask the administrator about any uncertainty over your purchase.
- The form accepts verifiable purchase records, including store or online receipts. It asks for a Settlement Claim ID and offers help locating it. Contact the administrator at 1-855-789-5948 if you need help. The online filing cutoff is October 30, 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time. See https://poolsettlementbw.pnclassaction.com/ for the complete instructions.
Other Important Dates
- Exclusion deadline: 2026-10-30
- Objection deadline: 2026-10-30
- Final approval hearing: November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CT
- Hearing location: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 219 South Dearborn Street, Courtroom 2119, Chicago, IL 60604
Case Details
- Total settlement fund: $15,000,000
- Case name: In re: Bestway Above-Ground Pools Litigation
- Case number: 1:25-cv-09570
- Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Administrator: Bestway Settlement Administrator
- Official Settlement Website: https://www.PoolSettlementBW.com
Sources
Claim form, FAQ, deadlines, administrator information
Court-approved notice describing eligibility and benefits