UK · CATLitigation
Mastercard and Visa face new £5 billion collective claims over card fees
Proposed class representative Stephen Allen filed two collective claims in the Competition Appeal Tribunal on October 26, 2026, accusing Mastercard and Visa of overcharging UK businesses through multilateral interchange fees. The claims, potentially worth £5 billion, would be open to all UK businesses that accept the networks' consumer cards. Mastercard said it strongly disagrees with the claim.
Filing (Law Society Gazette) →
Key points
- Stephen Allen, former head of Portman Travel, lodged two claims in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.Law Society Gazette
- The claims target multilateral interchange fees, which businesses pay through their banks on every card payment.Law Society Gazette
- They cover UK businesses accepting Mastercard and Visa consumer debit, credit and prepaid cards.Law Society Gazette
- Harcus Parker and Hausfeld are acting; a £700 million claim on behalf of 126,000 businesses was filed earlier this month.Law Society Gazette
- Mastercard called it a speculative, funder-backed claim of the kind proposed opt-out class action reforms aim to prevent.Law Society Gazette
Sources1 article across 1 outlet
Law Society Gazette