About the ATM Surcharge Settlement
Payment card service giants Visa and MasterCard have agreed to a $197.5 million settlement in response to an ongoing lawsuit. Plaintiffs allege the companies violated federal antitrust laws by charging credit and debit cardholders unreimbursed ATM access fees (also known as surcharge fees). Visa and MasterCard deny any wrongdoings but have agreed to pay affected consumers $104.675 million and $92.825 million, respectively—for a total settlement of $197.5 million. This settlement is the most recent installment in the ATM surcharge lawsuit; previously, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America agreed to pay consumers nearly $67 million.
If you think you may be eligible for this settlement, it’s important to understand how to qualify and submit a claim.
Who is Eligible for the ATM Surcharge Settlement?
To qualify to submit a claim and receive part of the ATM surcharge settlement, there are a few requirements you must meet, such as:
- You must have paid an access fee to JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, or another Visa/MasterCard member bank to withdraw money from an ATM in the United States between October 1, 2007, and July 26, 2024.
- The surcharge fees must be unreimbursed (meaning you were not paid back) and assessed on cards issued by U.S. financial institutions.
You don’t need to provide proof to submit a claim form. By filing a claim, you are stating under oath that you were charged ATM access fees that meet the criteria. The lawsuit Claims Administrator may later request further documentation to verify your claim, like ATM receipts or electronic bank records.
The terms of the settlement and qualification standards are set forth in the class settlement notice and related paperwork. Please consult those documents to understand whether you qualify and what steps you must take to submit a claim. This page is not intended to provide legal advice.
How Do I Submit a Claim?
To claim your share of the ATM surcharge settlement, you can submit a claim form here.
If you have already filed a claim and received part of the previous ATM surcharge settlements, you are automatically eligible and do not need to complete this form. However, if you paid additional qualifying access fees since filing your initial claim, you should report them by submitting an updated form.
How Much Will I Receive?
Though no payment estimates are currently available, claimants should receive a share of the $197.5 million settlement proportionate to the amount of ATM access fees they paid during the class period. This means payment amounts will vary.
Deadline to File a Claim
To receive your portion of the ATM surcharge settlement, you must submit a claim form by the deadline of January 22, 2025. Those who received a part of the previous ATM surcharge settlements must claim any recently assessed access fees by filing an updated form before this deadline. You won’t be able to submit a claim form after this date, so it’s important to act within the settlement time limits.
ATM Surcharge Settlement Fast Facts
Deadline to File a Claim: January 22, 2025
Payout Amount: Varies
Proof Needed: Not Applicable
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