Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions Class Action Settlement

A $15 million settlement has been reached in a Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions class action which claimed that the service charged unauthorized fees.

The eight merchants who filed the Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions class action claim that the defendant caused businesses to unknowingly enroll in the company’s payment card processing services.

The defendant allegedly tricked merchants into enrolling by misrepresenting facts or omitting material information during business talks.

The merchants also claim that Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions added unauthorized charges to monthly invoiced including: annual fees; batch header fees; PCI program/compliance fees; PCI non-compliance/non-validation fees; gateway access fees; foundry/e-merchant fees; monthly minimum discount fees; non-qualified fees; discount rates; other discount fees (including signature debit rates; and paper statement fees. Due to these fees, merchants were allegedly overcharged.

These claims have been resolved through a $15 million settlement benefiting those who contracted with Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions between Dec. 22, 2013 and Sept. 18, 2018 and were charged fees.

Class Members who are current customers with Merchant’s Choice Payment Solutions are not required to submit a Claim Form and will automatically receive payment.

However, former customers are required to complete and submit a valid Claim Form by March 4, 2019.

If former customers fail to submit a valid Claim Form by this date or exclude themselves by Jan. 2, 2019, they will forfeit their right to payment or future litigation.

In addition to payments for Class Members, the Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions settlement will also provide up to $10,000 in service awards for each plaintiff in the case.

Additionally, class counsel intends to ask for $75,000 in attorneys’ fees plus reimbursement for expenses and costs.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who contracted with or through Merchants’ Choice for payment processing services between Dec. 22, 2013 and Sept. 18, 2018 and were charged the following fees:

• Annual fees;
• Batch header fees;
• PCI program/compliance fees;
• PCI non-compliance/non-validation fees;
• Gateway access fees;
• Foundry/e-merchant fees;
• Monthly minimum discount fees;
• Non-qualified fees;
• Discount rates;
• Other discount fees (including signature debit rates); or
• Paper statement fees.

Potential Award

$65 – $70

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

3/4/2019

Case Name

Al’s Pals Pet Care LLC, et al. v. Woodforest National Bank NA, et al., Case No. 4:17-cv-3852, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Final Hearing

1/30/2019

Settlement Website

www.MerchantsChoiceProcessingSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Merchants’ Choice Settlement Administrator
c/o Epiq
P.O. Box 5110
Portland, OR 97208-5110
1-877-877-2385
info@MerchantsChoiceProcessingSettlement.com

Class Counsel

E. Adam Webb
Matt Klase
WEBB KLASE & LEMOND LLC

Andrew K. Meade
John Neese
Leann Pinkerton
MEADE & NEESE LLP

Defense Counsel

Behnam Dayanim
William K. Whitner
PAUL HASTINGS LLP