American Express Antitrust Settlement 2026 – Illinois Non-Rewards Card Holders File by May 19

What happened

Class period: January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022 (Illinois non-rewards credit card class)

American Express had rules in its merchant agreements that prevented merchants from "steering" customers toward other payment methods — meaning a merchant could not tell you that paying with your Visa might save them money, even if it would have.

The lawsuit alleged that these anti-steering rules gave Amex cover to charge merchants higher fees, and that merchants responded by raising prices across the board to cover those fees. The result: customers who never owned an Amex card ended up subsidizing the ones who did.

The case went all the way to trial, a jury returned a verdict, and a settlement followed. American Express denies any wrongdoing.

A $17.5 million settlement fund is now available to eligible class members. Currently, only the Illinois non-rewards credit card class can file a monetary claim.

What you can get

Key dates

Who may qualify

• You are a natural person (not a business entity)
• Your credit card billing address was in Illinois during all or part of January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022
• You held a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit or charge card that does not offer rewards and does not charge an annual fee
• You — or an authorized user — made at least one in-person purchase with that card at a Qualifying Merchant in Illinois during January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022, while your billing address was also in Illinois
• You did not have an American Express card at any time during January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022

How to file

1. Visit the claim form at claimform.amexantitrust.com
2. Complete the online form with your name, contact information, Illinois billing address, and card details
3. Certify that you held a qualifying non-rewards, no annual fee Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card and made at least one in-person purchase at a Qualifying Merchant in Illinois during the class period
4. Provide a valid email address and mobile phone number — your payment will be sent digitally, so accurate contact info is essential
5. Alternatively, download a paper claim form at amexantitrust.com/file-a-claim and mail it postmarked by May 19, 2026
6. Submit online or postmark your paper form no later than May 19, 2026

Proof required

• No documentation is required to submit your claim form
• You must attest under penalty of perjury that you meet the eligibility criteria
• The Settlement Administrator may contact you during the review process to request supporting documents — if asked and you do not provide them, your claim will be rejected
• It is a good idea to locate any old credit card statements from the 2016 to 2022 period in case documentation is requested later

Payment timing

Payments will be distributed after the Court grants final approval at the June 17, 2026 hearing and all processing is complete. Payment is delivered digitally — the Settlement Administrator will send you an email or text with options including PayPal, Amazon, or a virtual debit card. Make sure the contact information on your claim form stays current.

Important links

• Official website
• Claim form
• Important dates
• FAQs
• Documents

Contact

Extra details

Amex Antitrust, c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., P.O. Box 173092, Milwaukee, WI 53217

FAQ