|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JUNE 24, 2010 ORDER ADOPTING IN FULL THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATIONS FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE PERIODS OF JULY-SEPTEMBER 2009, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2009, AND JANUARY-MARCH 2010." |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAY 31, 2010 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATIONS FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE PERIODS OF JULY-SEPTEMBER 2009, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2009, AND JANUARY-MARCH 2010. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAY 17, 2010 PRESS RELEASE CONCERNING PAYMENTS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2009. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAY 3, 2010 ORDER APPROVING THE SPECIAL MASTER'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE MAY-JUNE 2009 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APRIL 30, 2010 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE JANUARY-MARCH 2010 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APRIL 14, 2010 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE MAY-JUNE 2009 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APRIL 6, 2010 ORDER GRANTING LEAD COUNSEL'S OCTOBER 15, 2009 BREAK-UP FEE APPLICATION. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FEBRUARY 12, 2010 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2009 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DECEMBER 21, 2009 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE JULY-SEPTEMBER 2009 PERIOD. |
|
U.S. RETAILERS RECEIVE $1.1 BILLION PAYMENT IN LANDMARK VISA/MASTERCARD ANTITRUST CASE |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LEAD COUNSEL'S LETTER TO THE COURT ADVISING OF ITS PLAN TO PROCEED WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF RESIDUAL FUNDS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DECEMBER 2, 2009 ORDER AUTHORIZING INTEREST PAYMENTS TO LATER PAID CLASS MEMBERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LEAD COUNSEL'S PROPOSAL AND REJECTING THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE OBJECTION TO LEAD COUNSEL'S PROPOSAL |
|
CLICK HERE TO SEE LEAD COUNSEL'S RESPONSE TO THE OBJECTION REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S PROPOSAL TO MAKE INTEREST PAYMENTS TO LATER PAID CLASS MEMBERS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OBJECTION TO LEAD COUNSEL'S PROPOSAL TO MAKE INTEREST PAYMENTS TO LATER PAID CLASS MEMBERS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LEAD COUNSEL'S NOVEMBER 19, 2009 LETTER PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ITS PROPOSAL TO MAKE INTEREST PAYMENTS TO LATER PAID CLASS MEMBERS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOVEMBER 19, 2009 ORDER DENYING WELLS FARGO'S REQUEST TO FILE UNTIMELY CLAIMS AND GRANTING WELLS FARGO ACCESS TO CERTAIN CLAIMS INFORMATION |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LEAD COUNSEL'S PROPOSAL FOR INTEREST PAYMENTS TO BE MADE TO LATER PAID CLASS MEMBERS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOVEMBER 9, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON APPROVAL OF DISTRIBUTION OF RESIDUAL SETTLEMENT FUNDS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NOVEMBER 6, 2009 ORDER APPROVING RESIDUAL DISTRIBUTION |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER TO MAKE INTEREST PAYMENTS TO LATER PAID CLASS MEMBERS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LEAD COUNSEL'S OCTOBER 30, 2009 RESPONSE TO WELLS FARGO'S MOTION FOR AN ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LEAD COUNSEL'S OCTOBER 15, 2009 BREAK-UP FEE APPLICATION |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OCTOBER 15, 2009 ORDER ADOPTING SPECIAL MASTER'S AUGUST 12, 2009 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATIONS FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2008 AND JANUARY-APRIL 2009 PERIODS. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OCTOBER 12, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $1 BILLION OF RESIDUAL SETTLEMENT FUNDS |
|
|
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OCTOBER 8, 2009 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE REGARDING WELLS FARGO RETAIL FINANCE II, LLC |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OCTOBER 5, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON APPROVAL OF VISA AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE OCTOBER 1, 2009 ORDER RE: BREAK-UP FEES |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON THE VISA AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUGUST 31, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON THE VISA AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUGUST 27, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON APPROVAL OF MASTERCARD AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUGUST 27, 2009 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE MAY-JUNE 2009 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUGUST 21, 2009 ORDER APPROVING THE SECURITIZATION OF THE MASTERCARD SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT PAYMENTS. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUGUST 12, 2009 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATIONS FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE PERIODS OF OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2008 AND JANUARY-APRIL 2009. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JULY 13, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON THE MASTERCARD AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JULY 13, 2009 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE IN CONNECTION WITH THE MASTERCARD PREPAYMENT AGREEMENT AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SECURITIZATION ORDER |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MERCHANT ADVISORY ON THE MASTERCARD AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE MASTERCARD AGREEMENT TO PREPAY FUTURE PAYMENTS AT A DISCOUNT |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JUNE 3, 2009 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE JANUARY-APRIL 2009 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APRIL 29, 2009 COURT ORDER GRANTING LEAD COUNSEL'S MOTION TO SECURITIZE MASTERCARD'S FUTURE PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE APRIL 1, 2009 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2008 PERIOD. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MARCH 31, 2009 UPDATED MERCHANT ADVISORY ON SECURITIZING THE MASTERCARD SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT FUNDS. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SECURITIZATION DOCUMENTS |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MARCH 25, 2009 COURT ORDER ADOPTING THE FEBRUARY 10, 2009 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATIONS FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE PERIODS OF APRIL-JUNE 2008 AND JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MARCH 6, 2009 MERCHANT ADVISORY ON SECURITIZING THE MASTERCARD SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT FUNDS. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FEBRUARY 10, 2009 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPECIAL MASTER REGARDING LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATIONS FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE APRIL-JUNE 2008 AND JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 PERIODS. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MERCHANT ADVISORY ON DISTRIBUTION OF CASH PAYMENTS TO CLASS MEMBERS IN LATE DECEMBER 2008. |
|
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JANUARY 15, 2009 DECLARATION OF JEFFREY I. SHINDER IN SUPPORT OF LEAD COUNSEL'S APPLICATION FOR FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE JULY-SEPTEMBER 2008 PERIOD. |
WELCOME TO THE VISA CHECK/MASTERMONEY ANTITRUST LITIGATION WEBSITE
WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT?
The Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation is a class action lawsuit that was filed and litigated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, New York. The Class consists of all businesses and organizations in the United States that accepted Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards for payment at any time during the period October 25, 1992 to June 21, 2003. The Class Plaintiffs claimed that, through their “Honor All Cards” policies, Visa and MasterCard forced merchants to accept Visa and MasterCard signature debit card transactions at supracompetitive prices. (Visa and MasterCard’s signature debit products are also referred to as Visa Check, MasterMoney or Debit MasterCard.) The merchants also claimed that Visa and MasterCard were attempting to monopolize the debit card business in the United States. In April 2003, just as the trial was about to begin, Visa and MasterCard settled with the plaintiffs' Class.
WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT?
As part of the settlement, Visa and MasterCard agreed to eliminate their “Honor All Cards” policies, which required merchants that accepted their credit cards to also accept their signature debit card transactions. Prior to this untying of credit and debit, they also agreed to lower debit card fees for an interim period by one-third. In addition, they agreed to re-label the Visa Check and MasterMoney debit cards with the word "DEBIT" on the front and to do other things related to the untying of debit cards from credit cards. Visa and MasterCard also agreed to pay $3.05 billion over time into a Settlement Fund. This Settlement Fund will be used to provide compensation to Class Members, and will be distributed to Class Members after the attorneys fees, expenses and cost of notice and administration approved by the Court have been deducted.
Click here to learn more about the terms of the settlement.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENT?
You are a Class Member and are, therefore, eligible to participate in the settlement if you or your business or organization in the United States accepted Visa and/or MasterCard debit and credit cards for payment at any time during the period October 25, 1992 through June 21, 2003.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENT?
Based on the Court's final order, Lead Counsel Constantine Cannon, are now charged with the task of distributing the proceeds of the settlement to all eligible Class Members. To assist in this process, Lead Counsel and the Court have authorized The Garden City Group, Inc. ("GCG") to act as Claims Administrator. The first step, according to the Court order, is for GCG to mail Claim Forms, by September 29, 2005, to all Class Members that have previously been identified.
If you do not receive your Claim Form within a few weeks of the mailing, but believe you are entitled to one, please call the toll-free telephone number, above, or click here to request one through this website.
The Claim Forms and accompanying Instructions will explain everything you need to know to enable you to participate in the settlement and receive your pro rata share of the settlement proceeds. However, if you need more information, please consult this website or feel free to call the toll-free number. Among the information contained on this site are frequently asked questions, a detailed overview of the calculation of the payment awards, personalized information regarding your own claim calculation, the Amended Plan of Allocation, and the expert reports setting forth the methodologies for estimating Cash Payments (see the Fisher Allocation Declarations).
Of course, you may have questions that cannot be answered by information on this site. Operators are available toll-free (at the number above) to take your calls and answer questions related to the settlement. You will also be able to leave messages for the Claims Administrator and for Lead Counsel.
Lead Counsel and GCG are committed to distributing settlement proceeds as quickly as possible. In fact, the Court has ordered that regular quarterly payments be made. Therefore, the faster you submit your claim, the faster you can be paid. However, in order to receive your payment as early as possible, you must complete your Claim Form correctly and in its entirety. Any deficiencies in your claim may delay payment. Also, while you have the right to challenge your claim calculation if you wish, please understand that the adjudication of such a challenge may delay your ultimate payment.
Also, in order to establish a right to share in the Settlement Fund, Class Members may be required to provide information showing that they accepted Visa and/or MasterCard transactions for payment at any time between October 25, 1992 and June 21, 2003. While you will not be required to submit such documentation with your Claim Form, you may be subsequently asked to produce such documentation to confirm your entitlement to a Cash Payment.
Finally, it is your responsiblity to advise GCG of any change of address after you submit your Claim Form.
If you have more questions, please go to Help.
