Interchange fees

The U.S. Supreme Court accepted a case that could roil the credit-card business, agreeing to consider reviving government allegations that American Express Co. thwarts competition by prohibiting merchants from steering customers to cards with lower fees.

The Trump administration is stepping away from the government’s 7-year legal fight with Amex that centers on retailers’ right to encourage the use of particular cards. The decision is good news for issuers of credit and debit cards, though it is hardly the last word on the case.

The Trump administration is stepping away from the government’s 7-year legal fight with Amex that centers on retailers’ right to encourage the use of particular cards. The decision is good news for issuers of credit and debit cards, though it is hardly the last word on the case.

A group of U.K. merchants has joined a lawsuit against Visa and Mastercard seeking damages over interchange fees the card networks levied on credit and debit transactions.

There's been a lot of regulation against interchange fees, but there are some signs of easing in both the U.S. and U.K.

Large merchants are re-energized in their conflict with Visa and Mastercard on the issue of swipe-fee costs, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to reinstate a class-action settlement that deeply divided many of the plaintiffs.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to revive a $5.7 billion settlement of retailer claims that Visa and Mastercard improperly fixed credit card swipe fees, in a rebuff that could mean years of additional litigation.

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As many tech companies push to counter the use of cash in favor of cards and mobile wallets, some merchants are pushing back by urging the use of cash.

Financial institutions see their best chance to repeal interchange debit fee caps, but merchants are confident they can prevent Congress from taking up the issue again.