Closed to new claimsAntitrustAmerican Express $17.5 Million Antitrust Settlement: Payout Status
Last updated: July 14, 2026
The American Express $17.5 million antitrust settlement resolves a class action alleging that American Express, the credit-card company, used anti-steering rules in its merchant contracts that prevented stores from steering customers toward lower-fee cards — which plaintiffs said raised prices for all shoppers, not just American Express cardholders. Because of that theory, the eligible class is not Amex customers: it is individuals who held a non-rewards Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card (with no annual fee) at an Illinois billing address and made at least one in-person purchase at a qualifying Illinois merchant between January 29, 2016 and June 1, 2022. The claim deadline has passed — it closed on May 19, 2026 — and the court granted final approval on July 7, 2026.
The case, Moskowitz v. American Express Co. (Case No. 1:19-cv-00566-NGG-JRC, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York), went to trial in 2025, where a jury found American Express violated Illinois law and damaged the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class; American Express then settled while denying wrongdoing. Payments are made on a pro rata basis to consumers who filed a valid claim, distributed after final approval and once the appeal period ends. No fixed per-person amount has been published. The settlement administrator is A.B. Data, Ltd.
Key facts
- Settlement fund
- $17,500,000
- Payout
- Pro rata share
- Eligible class
- Illinois non-rewards Visa/Mastercard/Discover cardholders
- Qualifying purchases
- Jan. 29, 2016 – June 1, 2022
- Claim deadline
- Closed — May 19, 2026
- Final approval
- Granted July 7, 2026
- Proof required
- No — documents may be requested to verify
- Case number
- 1:19-cv-00566-NGG-JRC (E.D.N.Y.)
Official settlement administrator: amexantitrust.com
Who qualifies
- You are an individual (not a business) who held a non-rewards Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general-purpose credit or charge card that did not charge an annual fee.
- The card had a billing address in Illinois.
- You used that card to make at least one in-person purchase at one of the qualifying Illinois merchants between January 29, 2016 and June 1, 2022.
- You did not need to be an American Express cardholder — American Express is the defendant, and the class consists of the non-Amex cardholders its anti-steering rules allegedly overcharged.
American Express antitrust settlement payout status — what happens now
- 1
The claim deadline has passed
The window to file a claim closed on May 19, 2026. New claims are no longer accepted.
- 2
Final approval was granted on July 7, 2026
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York held the final approval hearing on July 7, 2026 and approved the $17.5 million settlement. Approval starts the standard window during which any appeals may be filed.
- 3
How payments will be made
Consumers who filed a valid claim receive a pro rata share of the settlement fund, after attorney fees and costs. Payments are distributed after the appeal period ends. The claim form asked for card details and proof of a qualifying purchase if available; documents were not mandatory but the administrator can request verification.
- 4
How to check your American Express settlement status
Track the case and your claim at the official administrator site, amexantitrust.com, operated by A.B. Data, Ltd., or call the settlement help line listed there. No exact payment date has been published.
- 5
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Frequently asked questions
When will I get my American Express settlement check?
Payments are distributed after the court's final approval on July 7, 2026 and once the appeal period ends. No exact payment date has been published. When no appeal is filed, class-action payments of this type typically follow in the months after the appeal window closes.
How much is the American Express antitrust settlement payout?
Each valid claim receives a pro rata share of the $17.5 million fund, after attorney fees and costs. No fixed per-person amount has been published — the payout depends on the total number of valid claims filed.
Do I have to be an American Express cardholder to qualify?
No. American Express is the defendant. The class consists of individuals who used a non-rewards Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card (no annual fee) with an Illinois billing address for an in-person purchase at a qualifying Illinois merchant between January 29, 2016 and June 1, 2022.
What was the American Express antitrust lawsuit about?
The lawsuit, Moskowitz v. American Express Co., alleged that American Express's anti-steering rules in merchant contracts stopped stores from directing customers to lower-fee cards, which raised prices for all shoppers — including those who never used an Amex card.
Is the American Express settlement still open for claims?
No. The claim deadline closed on May 19, 2026, and the court granted final approval on July 7, 2026. The settlement is now in the appeal and distribution phase.
Why is this settlement only for Illinois cardholders?
After a 2025 trial, a jury found American Express violated Illinois law and damaged the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class specifically. The settlement resolves the claims of that Illinois class.
How do I check my American Express settlement claim status?
Track your claim at the official settlement site, amexantitrust.com, operated by the administrator A.B. Data, Ltd., which lists the case details and a settlement help line.
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