Are You Eligible for a Portion of the $5.5 Billion Visa/Mastercard Settlement?

If your business accepted Visa or Mastercard payments at any point between January 1, 2004, and January 25, 2019, you may be able to recoup some of the interchange fees you paid during that period.

A major class action lawsuit against Visa, Mastercard, and major banks alleged that merchants were forced to pay excessive interchange rates or "swipe" fees when accepting those card brands for payment. After years of legal battles, a $5.5 billion settlement was approved in 2019 to compensate eligible merchants.

The settlement fund will be divided up and distributed to businesses that accepted Visa or Mastercard during the covered period and file a valid claim. While the total payout could be significant for larger merchants, every business that pays interchange fees could receive at least some reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are interchange fees?

When a customer uses a credit or debit card, merchants pay interchange fees to the card issuer, typically around 1-2% of the total transaction amount. These fees represent the bulk of the "swipe" fees merchants pay to accept card payments.

Why is this a class action lawsuit? 

This was a class action case brought on behalf of millions of merchants against Visa, Mastercard, and major banks over allegedly excessive interchange fees. By being a class action, one group of merchants was able to represent all eligible businesses impacted by the same conduct.

How do I know if I'm eligible?

If you accepted Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards as payment between January 1, 2004, and January 25, 2019, you are likely part of the settlement class and eligible for compensation - even if you no longer accept those cards.

How to File a Claim

Claim forms started being sent to eligible businesses in December, and should have been received prior to the end of January. If you did not receive one, or you aren't sure if you are eligible, contact the Class Administrator at:1-800-625-6440 or  info@PaymentCardSettlement.com. To receive a payment, businesses will need to submit information documenting their Visa and Mastercard transaction volumes and interchange fees paid between 2004-2019. 

This data can span multiple merchant IDs, store locations, and processor accounts over the 15-year period covered by the settlement. Collecting and organizing these records promises to be a tedious process for many merchants.

Paystri Can Help  

Visit our Help Center:

How to file a claim for the Visa/Mastercard Interchange Fee Settlement Recovery

If your business accepted Visa and/or Mastercard between 2004 - 2019, you're now eligible to claim your share of a $5.5 billion Settlement.

https://help.paystri.com/how-to-file-a-claim-for-the-2024

Go to the Official Court-Authorized Settlement Website.

 Updated February 6, 2024: Claim forms mailed throughout December 2023 and January 2024. If you received a Claim Form in the mail and want to file a claim online using the Claimant ID provided, please click the "Submit a Claim" button below. If you did not receive a claim form, you can start the claim filing process by clicking the "Submit a Claim" button below and providing your Taxpayer Identification Number.

https://www.paymentcardsettlement.com/en