Court Grants Preliminary Approval of $38 Billion Visa, Mastercard ‘Swipe Fee’ Settlement

The decision follows a 2024 rejection of a proposed $30 billion settlement deemed insufficient.
Court Grants Preliminary Approval of $38 Billion Visa, Mastercard ‘Swipe Fee’ Settlement
Several Visa and Mastercard credit cards are shown in Buffalo Grove, Ill., on Feb. 8, 2024. Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo
Mary Prenon
Mary Prenon
Freelance Reporter
|Updated:
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The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has granted preliminary approval of a $38 billion settlement between Visa, Mastercard and nearly 12 million merchants over “swiping fees” when processing credit cards.

The litigation between the global credit card giants and merchants dates back to 2005, stemming from allegations that fees charged to merchants for accepting credit card payments were too high and that merchants were unable to reject certain cards carrying higher fees.

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Mary Prenon
Mary Prenon
Freelance Reporter
Mary T. Prenon covers real estate and business. She has been a writer and reporter for over 25 years with various print and broadcast media in New York.