Quick Answer: A $17.5 million class action settlement against American Express is open for claims. If you used a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card in Illinois between 2015 and 2022, you can file a claim by May 19, 2026. Most debit card holders in nine eligible states are part of the settlement class but do not receive a cash payment.
American Express has agreed to pay $17.5 million to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging its merchant agreements prevented retailers from steering customers toward lower-fee payment cards — which plaintiffs say kept prices artificially high for non-Amex cardholders.
The case involves what the payments industry calls “anti-steering” rules. Under those rules, merchants who accepted American Express were contractually prohibited from encouraging customers to pay with a different card. The plaintiffs alleged that by preventing this steering, American Express protected its higher interchange fees at the expense of consumers paying with Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards.
Who Actually Gets a Payment
Read this carefully — because the settlement class is broad but the group eligible for a cash payment is narrow.
Most class members receive no money. Only members of the Illinois non-rewards credit card class may submit a claim form and receive a cash payment. All other class members — including debit card holders in nine states — are covered by the settlement (meaning they release their claims against Amex) but do not receive a payment.
Here is the full breakdown of who is in the settlement class:
The Daily Money Brief — Free, at 10 AM
Money you may be owed, scams to dodge, and the fine print decoded — the consumer money news that affects your wallet, every weekday.
Non-Rewards Credit Card Class
Visa, Mastercard, or Discover cardholders with a general-purpose card carrying no rewards and no annual fee who made purchases from qualifying merchants in:
- Illinois
- Washington, D.C.
- Kansas
Between January 29, 2015 and June 1, 2022 (January 29, 2016 for Kansas)
Illinois members only may file for a payment.
Debit Card Class
Visa or Mastercard debit card holders who made purchases from qualifying merchants in:
- Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Maine
- Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon
- Utah, Washington D.C.
Between January 29, 2015 and June 1, 2022 (January 29, 2016 for Kansas, Illinois, and Mississippi)
No payment available — class members are still bound by the settlement.
If you fall into any of these classes, you are part of the settlement. That means you cannot file a separate lawsuit against American Express over these claims. If you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit card group, you have the additional option of filing a claim for money.
Key Dates to Know
How to File a Claim
If you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit card class, you can submit a claim at AmexAntitrust.com. Claims can be filed online or by mail, postmarked no later than May 19, 2026.
The payment amount per eligible Illinois claimant will be calculated after the claim period closes and attorney fees are deducted. Attorneys are seeking up to 33% of the $17.5 million settlement fund, plus up to $8 million in expense reimbursement.
For questions, the settlement administrator can be reached at 1-877-315-0587.
What the Case Was Actually About
American Express historically required merchants who accepted its cards to sign agreements that prohibited “steering” — nudging customers at checkout toward lower-cost payment methods. The legal theory underlying this lawsuit is that those anti-steering provisions suppressed competition between payment networks.
The U.S. Supreme Court addressed a related question in Ohio v. American Express Co. (2018), ruling in Amex’s favor in that case. This class action, filed in state and federal courts, pursued a different set of claims under state consumer protection and antitrust laws in specific jurisdictions.
American Express has not admitted wrongdoing as part of this settlement.
Why does this settlement affect Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cardholders — and not Amex cardholders? The theory is that Amex’s anti-steering rules protected Amex from competition. Merchants couldn’t offer discounts to customers who paid with lower-fee Visa, Mastercard, or Discover cards. The argument is that this kept prices higher for everyone and specifically harmed non-Amex cardholders who couldn’t benefit from steering-based price competition.
What to Do Right Now
- If you used a non-rewards, no-annual-fee Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card in Illinois between January 29, 2015 and June 1, 2022 — visit AmexAntitrust.com and file a claim before May 19, 2026
- If you are a debit card user in one of the nine eligible states — you are part of the settlement class. Review the settlement notice. You can object by April 29, 2026 if you believe the settlement is unfair
- If none of these apply to you — this settlement does not affect you
Settlement details and court documents are available at AmexAntitrust.com. (Source: PR Newswire, Berman Tabacco)
Key Takeaways
- American Express settled a $17.5 million antitrust class action over anti-steering merchant agreements
- Only Illinois-based holders of non-rewards, no-annual-fee Visa, Mastercard, or Discover cards can file for a payment
- Debit card holders in nine states (AL, DC, IL, KS, ME, MS, NC, OR, UT) are class members but receive no payment
- Claim deadline is May 19, 2026; file at AmexAntitrust.com
- American Express has not admitted wrongdoing
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can actually receive a payment from this settlement?
- Only members of the Illinois non-rewards credit card class — people who used a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card with no rewards and no annual fee to make purchases from qualifying merchants in Illinois between January 29, 2015 and June 1, 2022. All other class members are bound by the settlement but receive no money.
- Why does a lawsuit against American Express involve Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cardholders?
- The lawsuit alleged that American Express’s anti-steering merchant rules prevented merchants from encouraging customers to pay with lower-fee cards. The theory is that this suppressed price competition and harmed Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cardholders who couldn’t benefit from lower prices that steering would have enabled.
- What if I used a rewards credit card?
- Rewards credit cards and cards with annual fees are excluded from the non-rewards credit card class. The settlement class is limited to general-purpose cards without rewards programs or annual fees.
- I am a debit card holder in one of the nine eligible states. What does this mean for me?
- You are a member of the settlement class, which means you cannot file a separate lawsuit against American Express over these claims. You can review the settlement notice at AmexAntitrust.com and submit an objection by April 29, 2026 if you believe the terms are unfair. You will not receive a payment.
- How much will Illinois credit card class members actually receive?
- The per-person payment is not fixed — it will depend on how many valid claims are submitted. Attorney fees of up to 33% of the $17.5 million fund, plus up to $8 million in expenses, will be deducted first. The remainder is divided equally among eligible Illinois claimants who file valid claims.
Dealing With Debt? Understanding your options is the first step. See how all your debt relief options compare — including ones most sites won’t tell you about. The Find Your Path quiz gives a recommendation based on your actual numbers, and the Scam-O-Meter checks any company’s complaint history before you sign. Federal Reserve research shows bankruptcy filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
Claiming money you are owed is one good day. What you do over the following year is what actually changes your position.
In the latest issue (Sep 7): Somebody had to let that scam charge your card. On Thursday the FTC fined them $4.85 million
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — what I am watching in debt and money, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
