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AMEX Antitrust Settlement

This settlement is closed to new claims — the deadline was May 19, 2026. You can still see what it was about and follow the case in court below. Looking for money you can still claim? Browse open settlements →

What happened

American Express had rules in its merchant agreements that prohibited merchants from encouraging customers to pay with a different card that charged lower fees. Plaintiffs alleged these anti-steering rules caused merchants to raise prices to cover Amex fees, resulting in all customers—including those not using Amex cards—paying more. American Express denies wrongdoing.

Do you qualify?

You qualify if you held a Visa or Mastercard debit card, or a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card without annual fees, and used it to make purchases from qualifying merchants in specific states (Alabama, DC, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah) during the class period. For Illinois non-rewards credit card holders, purchases must have been made from January 29, 2016 to June 1, 2022.

How to file

If you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit card class, complete and submit a valid Claim Form online or by mail postmarked no later than May 19, 2026. The claim form link is available on the settlement website.

Common questions

How much does the AMEX Antitrust Settlement pay?
The total settlement fund is $17.5M. Actual amounts depend on how many valid claims are filed — most settlements divide a fixed fund pro rata, so a higher claim rate means a smaller individual check. An "up to" figure is a cap, not a guarantee.
What is the claim deadline for the AMEX Antitrust Settlement?
This settlement is closed to new claims — the deadline was May 19, 2026. Once a claim deadline passes you generally forfeit your share, even if you qualified.
Is the AMEX Antitrust Settlement notice real, or a scam?
Claims are filed at amexantitrust.com. Filing a class action claim is always free — no legitimate settlement charges you to claim, and no administrator will ask for payment, a gift card, or your full Social Security number by email or text. If a notice asks for any of those, it is not from the administrator. When in doubt, ignore the link you were sent and go to the official settlement website directly.
When will payments from the AMEX Antitrust Settlement be sent?
Class action payouts typically take 12 to 24 months after the claim deadline, and longer if the settlement is appealed. The final approval hearing for this case is set for July 7, 2026; no payments can be issued before a settlement receives final approval.

This summary was generated from public settlement documents and may contain errors. Confirm eligibility, deadlines, and payment terms on the official settlement website before filing. ClaimWatch is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Filing a claim is free.

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