Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Update:
- The United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit unanimously upheld a record $5.6 billion settlement in a class action lawsuit against Visa and Mastercard over fees charged to a class estimated to include 12 million merchants.
- Visa and Mastercard were accused of violating the 130-year-old Sherman Antitrust Act by setting non-competitive fee prices with member banks to charge merchants who accepted credit or debit cards.
- The settlement includes $900,000 in service awards for the lead plaintiffs in a case that ran nearly 15 years before the 2019 settlement agreement.
- Co-lead counsel Robins Kaplan LLC says there could be further proceedings and then administrative work before funds can be distributed to the class.
Visa, Mastercard transaction fee class action lawsuit overview:Â
- Who: Multidistrict litigation against Visa, Mastercard and several U.S. banks has been granted class action status by a New York judge.Â
- Why: Visa and Mastercard have been accused of conspiring with some U.S. banks to overcharge merchants on transactions made using their company’s credit or debit cards.Â
- Where: The multidistrict litigation is being heard in New York federal court.Â
(Oct. 1, 2021)
Partial class action status has been granted for a longstanding multidistrict litigation (MDL) accusing Mastercard, Visa and some U.S. banks of working together to overcharge merchants on transaction fees.
Plaintiffs in the MDL allege the financial services companies collaborated with several banks, including JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Barclays, to maintain anti-competitive regulations which led to merchants being assessed higher transaction fees.Â
The Class will consist of individuals or businesses in the United States that accepted payment from Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards issued between Dec. 18 and the eventual date of final judgement, Law360 reports.
The MDL was originally consolidated back in 2005. In 2012, Visa and Mastercard, along with multiple banks, paid $6 billion to end claims they worked together to inflate transaction fees, at which time the focus became the setting of interchange fees in general.Â
Prior to class authorization, Visa and Mastercard settled with companies over transaction fee dispute
Dozens of companies have settled with Visa and Mastercard over the years for various amounts, including, among others, Radioshack Corp., Orbitz Worldwide LLC and the Men’s Wearhouse Inc.Â
Last year, multiple companies — including Exxon, United Airlines, Avon and the New York City transit authorities — settled with Visa and Mastercard over the allegations and similarly left the litigation.Â
In 2014, hundreds of merchants appealed a $7.25 billion class action settlement agreement, arguing it was unlawful and provided Visa and Mastercard with too much protection from future litigation.Â
Do you believe your business has been overcharged while accepting payment from Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards? Let us know in the comments!Â
The plaintiffs are represented by Richard E. Norman and R. Martin Weber Jr. of Crowley Norman LLP and Jeffrey J. Angelovich of Nix Patterson & Roach LLP.
The Visa, MasterCard transaction fee class action lawsuit is In re: Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:14-md-01720, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Axos Bank Unfairly Charges Customers OD, NSF Fees, Class Action Alleges
- Student Loan Debt Co Tricked Borrowers Into Paying Hundreds in Fees, Class Action Alleges
- Chick-fil-A Delivery Customers Served With Secret Upcharges, Says Class Action
- Northwestern COVID Tuition Class Action Lawsuit Dumped by Federal Judge
41 thoughts onAppeals court upholds $5.6 billion Visa, Mastercard antitrust litigation
Add me
Include me
Add me to
Add me
Yes! Since before 2008, We have experienced these companies combined powers to create, organize and harm the small to large business with fees over which we have been forced to pay on each and every transaction regardless how small or large. At one time we paid a flat fee based on the amount the customer charged,
now the fees are all over the place and if the customer doesn’t have great credit that fee is higher than other customers but passed onto us the merchant of small business and now Pay-pal along with the aforementioned companies during the Pandemic when business has been reduced has increased the fees we paid to cover their loss in income.
add me
Add me it’s is a shame that I was over charged
Plz add me. I am shocked to hear I have been overcharged
Add
Add me
Add me