Overview

• The Competition Appeal Tribunal granted final approval in May 2025 after a landmark 2016 class action brought by former ombudsman Walter Merricks challenged Mastercard’s fees.
• Mastercard’s multilateral interchange charges, applied to retailers from 1992 to 2008, were found to have driven up consumer prices as merchants passed on the costs.
• Anyone who lived in England, Wales or Northern Ireland for at least three months between June 1997 and June 2008, or in Scotland from May 1992 onward, can claim compensation regardless of card ownership.
• Claimants will receive between £45 and £70 each, with exact amounts determined by the total number of successful applications and payments scheduled by the end of 2025.
• Consumers will be able to register via an online portal that opens shortly, and any unclaimed funds will benefit the Access to Justice Foundation.