Claim money from the Visa, Mastercard & Discover class action settlements

One of the largest antitrust settlements in U.S. history stands to benefit millions of small businesses. The ongoing class action lawsuits against Visa, Mastercard and Discover are landmark victories for small merchants who have no alternative but to accept the card processing fees assessed by much larger corporations. A major victory for fair practices in the payment processing industry, the settlements also present a significant opportunity for merchants who have accepted debit and credit card payments over the past two decades to recover their losses.

These settlements have sweeping implications for the future of small businesses and hold potential value for businesses of all sizes. This article originally discussed 2025 claims opportunities. Its filing instructions are historical. Check each official administrator’s current notices before assuming that a claim can still be filed or that a payment is due.

Visa and Mastercard Class Action Lawsuits

The class action lawsuit against Visa and Mastercard dates back to 2005, when a group of merchants filed suit claiming that Visa and Mastercard operated under restrictive rules and, working with several major banks, conspired to artificially inflate interchange (or “swipe”) fees, thereby violating antitrust laws.

While these fees are an accepted part of how credit cards work, merchants further alleged that Visa and Mastercard’s restrictive rules also prevented them from rejecting higher-fee cards or surcharging clients. Since merchants who do not accept credit cards are at a significant disadvantage, lawyers argued these rules insulated Visa and Mastercard from competitive forces.

Ultimately, Visa and Mastercard reached a settlement and agreed to pay somewhere between $5.54 billion and $6.24 billion to nearly 19 million merchants.

Settlement Scope

The monetary settlement class generally covers persons and entities that accepted Visa or Mastercard in the United States between January 1, 2004 and January 25, 2019, subject to the settlement’s exclusions. Accepting both brands is not required.

The administrator determines eligibility and payment amounts under the settlement plan. Transaction records and estimated interchange fees are relevant. A particular payout is not guaranteed and the size of your business alone does not establish your award.

Do not confuse the monetary settlement with separate litigation and proposed settlements over card-network rules. State law, current network rules and acquirer agreements still control surcharge permissions.

Claims Process

Claim forms were distributed to potentially eligible merchants. Eligibility is defined by the official class notice and exclusions, not by this article. Use the official administrator to review an existing claim, notices or available procedures. Do not assume filing is still open.

For an existing claim, preserve historical processing statements, transaction records and claim identifiers. Ask the administrator about missing data, reconciliation or any available procedure rather than assuming a new claim can be filed.

The claim-filing period ended February 4, 2025. Current official indexed notices describe rolling partial distributions in 2026, including a second initial partial distribution approved June 15, 2026 and scheduled to begin in September. Existing claimants should use the Merchant Portal for individual status. A distribution notice does not reopen filing or guarantee your payment timing.

Discover Settlement

Discover’s merchant litigation concerns alleged overcharges from consumer cards misclassified as commercial cards. The official settlement notice describes a fund between $540 million and $1.225 billion plus interest. The administrator determines individual recovery amounts.

Merchants alleged that misclassification resulted in higher interchange fees and inadequate transparency. Settlement eligibility and distribution are governed by the court-approved terms. A settlement resolves claims and should not be described as an adjudication of every allegation.

Settlement Scope

The settlement concerns qualifying misclassified Discover transactions from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2023. The official class notice defines affected merchants, intermediaries, exclusions and allocation rules. Simply accepting Discover during this period does not by itself establish a payment amount.

The court-approved terms govern the settlement’s obligations. Do not treat it as a guarantee against future processing errors.

Claims Process

The claim deadline was May 18, 2026. The official indexed notices report final approval on May 20, 2026, ongoing claim processing and payment-allocation notices expected in late 2026. Most class members had to submit a claim or, where applicable, a Payment Information Form by the deadline. Doing nothing generally does not result in payment, subject to limited exceptions. Read the official Discover settlement website for your situation and any updates. Expected allocation notices are not confirmation that payments have already issued.

Why Expert Help Matters

It’s crucial for merchants to take advantage of these opportunities. For some small business owners with limited resources, it may feel like the reward is not worth the time and frustration of filing.

Experts at VeriFee can:

• Identify opportunities like these in the first place, with a demonstrated track record of helping clients capitalize on dozens of class action lawsuit opportunities.
• Save clients time by supporting them through the lawsuit, eligibility, claim submission process, reconciliation and follow-ups.
• Validate claim amounts using advanced AI analysis tools.
• Find ongoing cost reduction opportunities with your existing credit card processing company without making changes to your existing processor, hardware, software or internal processes.

VeriFee can help assess payment records and ongoing costs. Whether any settlement-related assistance is available depends on the applicable administrator’s rules, deadlines and the agreed scope of service.

Savings beyond refunds: VeriFee’s value proposition

Recovering settlement funds can make a big impact on your business. Record review may help identify errors or questions for an administrator. No service can guarantee a maximum refund, eligibility or payment timing. But as a leader in credit card processing fee analysis and cost optimization, VeriFee offers much more in a post-settlement landscape including:

• Comprehensive Claim Assistance: Any documentation, reconciliation or claim-support services must be agreed separately and follow official administrator instructions. Free administrator and class-counsel assistance may be available.
• Ongoing Expense Reduction: VeriFee uses advanced AI-powered analysis to identify areas of inefficiency and hidden fees within your current credit card processing structure, raising opportunities to reduce fees and save more money over time.
• Work with the existing provider: Almost every client stays with their existing processor. The aim is to identify avoidable costs without replacing essential systems. Account-specific process changes and requirements should be agreed before implementation.
• Performance-Based Fees: VeriFee’s standard savings-split engagement is governed by the agreed terms. Do not assume the same fee arrangement applies to settlement refunds. See VeriFee’s current pricing and confirm the scope and fees before engaging a paid service.

Payment processors don’t play fair, but VeriFee is here to even the odds. Leveraging cutting-edge AI, we help you uncover hidden costs, recover refunds and maximize savings, turning the industry’s complexity into your advantage.

How To Get Started With VeriFee

For an agreed record review or a separate processing-cost assessment, useful information may include:

• Business Name (Tax Filing Name)
• Company Contact Information
• Tax identification information, only through a verified secure administrator or agreed secure process. Do not send it through ordinary email or site chat.
• Recent Credit Card Processing Statement
• A Short Questionnaire About Current Payment Processing Setup
• Contact Us Today

Ongoing processing-cost reviews are separate from settlement eligibility and can be considered even when a claims window is closed.

Check official notices before taking action

Review current official notices, preserve existing claim identifiers and contact the administrator directly about your situation.

Potential settlement payments and future processing savings are different opportunities. A paid filing service is not required merely to obtain monetary relief. Confirm any available action with the official administrator.

Use official settlement information first. Then consider whether a separate payment-cost review would benefit your business.

Claim forms have been distributed and made available since December 1, 2023. It’s important to note that class members do not need to use third-party services to access monetary relief. Free assistance is provided by the Class Administrator and Class Counsel throughout the claims-filing process. VeriFee.com is a private company providing claims-filing services. For more details on the claim, visit the official claims website at paymentcardsettlement.com