![\"Stuttgart,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_243160859-5613.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe decision comes after a long-running legal case brought by Walter Merricks (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe decision comes after a long-running legal case brought by Walter Merricks (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Shoppers will have six months to claim a share of \u00a3100,000,000 in compensation over Mastercard fees now judged to be unfair.<\/p>\n
A court judgment published today<\/a> approved a \u00a3200,000,000 settlement.<\/p>\n Of this, half of this has been earmarked for UK claimants, who can receive up to \u00a370 each.<\/p>\n The decision comes after a long-running legal case brought by Walter Merricks, a\u00a0former financial ombudsman, who first took action almost a decade ago. <\/p>\n The \u00a3200,000,000 figure was agreed in principle in February, and it has now been divvied up to show how much is available for consumer claimants.<\/p>\n Who can claim compensation from Mastercard?<\/p>\n It is not only those who used Mastercard themselves.<\/p>\n Anyone who made purchases from businesses selling in the UK between 1992 and 2008 could be affected by the class action claim.<\/p>\n \t\t This is because the case centred on fees charged to businesses who accepted their credit cards or debit cards.<\/p>\n The European Commission found the transaction fees were unlawful.<\/p>\n Around half a million businesses in the UK paid the fees, including major supermarkets, and it is alleged that they passed the costs onto customers in the form of higher prices.<\/p>\n How much is compensation?<\/p>\n It depends on how many people apply. The more people who apply, the less it will be.<\/p>\n Based on estimates heard in court, the amount is expected to be about \u00a345 each.<\/p>\n It will be capped at \u00a370 even if fewer people come forward, but there is no minimum. <\/p>\n Who is eligible?<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to have been part of the legal action before now to be able to claim. <\/p>\n The claims website advises that to be eligible, people must have satisfied certain criteria.<\/p>\n In most cases, they must have been resident in the UK on September 6, 2016, as well as living in the UK for a continuous period of at least three months between 1997 and 2008. <\/p>\n They must also have bought goods or services from businesses that accepted Mastercard, and been aged 16 or over during this time. <\/p>\n They cannot have opted-out of the Collective Proceedings between December 2022 and March 2023 (you would have needed to actively fill in a form to do this). <\/p>\n For those who died before being able to claim, representatives of their estate may still bring a claim. <\/p>\n Full eligibility critera is more detailed, and can be found here<\/a>. <\/p>\n How can I claim compensation?<\/p>\n People wishing to claim will be able to do so via the legal action\u2019s official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now the decision is public, it will be updated with details of how to give your details and claim. <\/p>\n The claims will be administered by Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions.<\/p>\n An exact timeframe for when the claims can be made has not been given, but information is expected soon. <\/p>\n Any money which is left unclaimed will be given to the Access to Justice Foundation.<\/p>\n Clare Carter, its CEO, said: \u2018We welcome today\u2019s ruling by the Tribunal, which has designated the Foundation as the recipient of unclaimed funds.<\/p>\n \u2018We have already begun working with partners to ensure any unclaimed money gets distributed to charities that will improve access to justice for those that need it the most.\u2019<\/p>\n Earlier this year, a Mastercard spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying in a statement: \u2018We will continue to focus on providing consumers and businesses with what they expect from Mastercard \u2013 a great payments experience, strong value and peace of mind.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Supermarket](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SEI_252270717-64b9-e1747748474870.jpg\")
\n\t\tMajor supermarkets were among those accepting Mastercard for payment in the relevant time period (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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