We already knew that Wal-Mart, Target and the National Retail Federation were less than pleased with a $7.2 billion credit card fee settlement between Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc., banks and a class of merchants. But it turns out they were far from the only disgruntled retailers.
On Thursday, almost 1,200 retailers pledged to urge a federal judge to reject the settlement, which, if approved, would be the largest antitrust settlement in history. But that’s not why they’re upset.
The settlement is meant to address claims that the credit card companies and banks fixed swipe fees, which cost retailers every time a consumer purchases something with a debit or credit card. However, objectors claim that the settlement does not reform the system of swipe fees at all, and gives the companies room to raise fees again in the future.
"The declarations from about 1,200 merchants, small and large, from every corner of the country, and every type of merchant speak volumes about the fact that something is very seriously wrong with this deal," Jeff Shinder, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told Thomson Reuters.
Read InsideCounsel’s ongoing coverage of the Visa/MasterCard settlement:
Visa/MasterCard credit card fee settlement on expedited schedule for approval
Visa/MasterCard credit card fee settlement with retailers moves forward
Wal-Mart disapproves of $7.25 billion credit card fee settlement
Merchants say card companies’ liable for more than $10 billion in damages
