#USA #San Francisco #Visa #Mastercard #Berman Tabacco

Understanding the Class Action Settlement from Berman Tabacco

Recently, Berman Tabacco announced a significant class action settlement that could affect numerous individuals who used Visa or Mastercard debit cards, as well as non-rewards credit cards from these financial giants. This settlement is particularly relevant to transactions made between 2015 and 2022, signaling a potentially major financial recovery process for eligible consumers.

Who is Affected?

If you utilized a Visa or Mastercard debit card or a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card during the specified timeframe, it is pertinent to ascertain your eligibility for a share in the settlement. Specifically, individuals who made purchases in Illinois using any of the mentioned cards are particularly encouraged to review their eligibility. In fact, consumers may qualify for compensation from a settlement fund totaling $17.5 million.

This case stems from allegations against American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. The lawsuit accused these entities of implementing certain rules in their merchant agreements that placed undue restrictions on merchants. This effectively prevented merchants from 'guiding' or encouraging customers to choose credit cards with lower fees. As a consequence, retailers adjusted their prices to cover the additional charges incurred from accepting American Express, which ultimately led to consumers paying higher prices.

Details of the Settlement

To elaborate, individuals who are eligible for the class action settlement include:

• - Debit Card Group: If you hold a Visa or Mastercard debit card and made purchases at qualified merchants in certain states, including Alabama, Washington D.C., Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah during the specified periods.
• - Non-Rewards Credit Card Group: This applies to consumers with Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general credit cards that do not offer rewards and were used in Illinois or Kansas between the set dates.

What Compensation is Available?

American Express is set to contribute $17.5 million to the settlement fund, which will be allocated for various costs including taxes, notification and administration fees, legal fees, and ultimately for distribution to qualifying members of the affected groups. Depending on how many claims are approved, the compensation each individual receives may vary, but it is anticipated to be distributed on a per capita basis.

How to Claim Compensation

For individuals included within the settlement's scope, actions must be taken to ensure successful compensation. Claims must be filed by May 19, 2026, either online or through postal mail. Potential claimants are advised to ensure their submission is valid to receive their fair share from the settlement fund after the deduction of applicable fees.

Your Rights and Options

For those who have not opted-out previously from the lawsuit, the court's decision will be binding. If you have concerns or wish to contest any part of the settlement, you have until April 29, 2026, to formally raise your objections.

The court will hold a final hearing on June 17, 2026, to approve the settlement and the associated attorney's fees, allowing interested parties to be present at their own expense.

For further details or to check eligibility, claimants can visit www.AmexAntitrust.com or call 1-877-315-0587 for assistance in navigating through this settlement process. This provides an essential opportunity for affected consumers to reclaim some of what was overpaid due to these practices.

Through this settlement, Berman Tabacco aims to address the imbalances caused by unfair trade practices in the credit card industry, thereby offering justice and compensation for consumers potentially affected by these historical actions.