If you used a Visa or Mastercard debit card, or a no-rewards Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card to make purchases at select major retailers between 2015 and 2022, you may be eligible for a cash payment of up to $200 from a $17.5 million class action settlement against American Express.
Claim Deadline: May 19, 2026 | No Proof of Purchase Required
What Is This Settlement About?
A jury found that American Express maintained “anti-steering” rules in its merchant agreements that prohibited retailers from encouraging customers to pay with lower-fee payment methods. These rules allegedly inflated costs for consumers across all payment types, because merchants could not incentivize cheaper payment options like basic debit cards over high-fee credit cards.
The $17.5 million settlement resolves claims under Illinois consumer protection law related to these anti-steering provisions.
Who Qualifies for a Payout?
There are two certified classes:
Debit Card Class (9 states/jurisdictions):
Persons who held a Visa or Mastercard debit card and used it to make purchases from qualifying merchants with a billing address in Alabama, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah between January 29, 2015 and June 1, 2022.
Non-Rewards Credit Card Class (3 jurisdictions):
Persons who held a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general-purpose credit or charge card without rewards and without an annual fee, and used it at qualifying merchants with a billing address in the District of Columbia, Illinois, or Kansas during the same time period.
Which Stores Are Included?
The settlement covers purchases at 38 major retailers including:
- Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy
- Kroger, Albertsons, Publix, CVS, Walgreens
- BJ’s Wholesale, Rite Aid, Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Gap Inc., H&M, Kohl’s, TJX Companies, Ross
- Academy Sports, Advance Auto Parts, Big Lots, Burlington, IKEA, Ulta Beauty, and more
How Much Can I Get?
- Estimated payment: Up to $200 per claimant (depends on number of valid claims filed)
- No proof of purchase required — simply submit the claim form affirming eligibility
- Payments will be distributed as equal per capita shares from the net settlement fund
How to File a Claim
You can file your claim online at the official settlement website or by mail. The claim form requires you to affirm that you meet the class definition. No receipts or proof of purchase are needed.
Important Dates
- Objection Deadline: April 29, 2026
- Claim Filing Deadline: May 19, 2026
- Final Approval Hearing: June 17, 2026
Case Details
| Case Name | Moskowitz v. American Express Company |
| Case Number | No. 19-CV-566 |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York |
| Settlement Amount | $17.5 Million |
| Final Approval Hearing | June 17, 2026 |
Sources
- Official Settlement Website: AmexAntitrust.com
- Court Case: U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, Moskowitz v. American Express Company, No. 19-CV-566
See the full Visa Mastercard credit card fees settlement on OpenClassActions.com.
Updated: February 26, 2026
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please submit only truthful information. False claims can be rejected and may carry penalties. If you are unsure whether you qualify, review the official notice or contact the settlement administrator. OpenClassActions.org is a consumer news site and is not a settlement administrator or a law firm.