American Express Antitrust Settlement: Illinois Cardholders Can Claim by May 19, 2026

If you lived in Illinois and used a non-rewards Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit card to make a purchase at a major retailer between January 29, 2016, and June 1, 2022, you may be entitled to a cash payment from a $17.5 million class action settlement against American Express. The deadline to file your claim is May 19, 2026 — and unlike most antitrust settlements, this one closed only because a jury found in favor of the plaintiffs at trial in August 2025 before the parties agreed to a final dollar amount.

The lawsuit, Moskowitz v. American Express Co., alleged that American Express's "anti-steering" merchant rules prevented retailers from encouraging customers to use lower-fee payment methods — and that those restrictions inflated prices for all consumers, even those who never used an Amex card. Twelve classes were certified, but only the Illinois non-rewards credit card class won at trial. American Express denies wrongdoing, and the settlement is not an admission of liability.

Who Qualifies — and Who Does Not

This is the unusual feature of the AmEx settlement: the class definition is broad, but only one specific class is eligible to receive cash. The settlement covers multiple certified classes, but the court will distribute monetary payments only to the Illinois non-rewards credit card class.

You are eligible to file a claim for monetary payment if all of the following are true:

1. You are an individual (not a business entity);
2. You held a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account that did not offer rewards and did not charge an annual fee — sometimes called a "no-frills" or "starter" card;
3. You used the card (or allowed an authorized user to use it) to make a purchase from one of the 38 qualifying merchants in Illinois;
4. The purchase took place between January 29, 2016, and June 1, 2022;
5. Your billing address was in Illinois during the class period; and
6. You were not an American Express credit or charge cardholder (including Amex co-branded cardholders or authorized users) at any time during the class period.

Members of the debit card classes in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah, and members of the District of Columbia and Kansas non-rewards credit card classes, are part of the settlement class but do not receive a cash payment. They are bound by the settlement's release and cannot sue American Express separately for the same alleged conduct.

Qualifying Merchants — Where You Had to Have Shopped

The settlement covers 38 specific qualifying merchants and the retail brands they operate. Most are well-known nationwide chains, including:

1. Walmart and Sam's Club
2. Target
3. CVS
4. Walgreens
5. Home Depot
6. Best Buy
7. Kroger
8. Albertsons
9. T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods
10. Williams-Sonoma family of brands (Pottery Barn, West Elm, and others)

The complete list of qualifying merchants is available on the official settlement website. The purchase must have been made at one of these merchants in Illinois — not at the same brand in another state.

What You Can Receive

Class members who file a valid claim will receive a pro-rata cash payment from the net settlement fund. The exact amount depends on the number of valid claims filed and the deductions for attorney fees, expenses, and service awards. Attorneys are seeking up to 33% of the $17.5 million fund, plus up to $8 million in expense reimbursement.

To illustrate: if approximately $8 million remains for distribution after deductions and 100,000 valid claims are filed, each claimant would receive approximately $80. If fewer claims are filed, individual payments increase; if more are filed, payments decrease.

No proof of purchase is required to file. The claim form does not require supporting documentation, although the settlement administrator may request information at a later date to verify eligibility.

Why This Settlement Exists: Anti-Steering and the Antitrust Theory

American Express historically requires merchants who accept its cards to sign agreements containing "anti-steering" provisions. These rules prohibit merchants from encouraging customers at checkout to use a different — and typically lower-fee — payment method. The plaintiffs in this case argued that those rules suppressed competition between payment networks and effectively forced merchants to absorb Amex's higher interchange fees by raising prices for all customers.

The legal theory in Moskowitz v. American Express rested primarily on state consumer protection and antitrust laws — including the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act — rather than federal antitrust law. The U.S. Supreme Court had previously addressed a related federal antitrust question in Ohio v. American Express Co., 138 S. Ct. 2274 (2018), ruling in Amex's favor on certain federal claims. The state-law theories pursued in this class action were not foreclosed by that decision.

In August 2025, a jury found that Amex violated Illinois law and awarded $12.5 million in damages. Before the court entered a final judgment, Amex and the plaintiffs agreed to a $17.5 million settlement covering all certified classes. That higher amount resolves the case across all classes, avoids years of post-trial motions and appeals, and provides a guaranteed fund for the Illinois non-rewards credit card class members who won at trial.

Key Deadlines

How to File Your Claim

The official settlement website is AmexAntitrust.com. Filing online is the fastest method.

To submit a claim, visit the website and click "File a Claim." You will log in with your unique ID and PIN if you received a settlement notice. If you did not receive a notice but believe you qualify, the settlement administrator can be reached at 1-877-315-0587 or by email at info@AmexAntitrust.com to request a unique ID.

The claim form asks for your basic personal information, your Illinois billing address during the class period, and your card information (account or card number, if known). Payments will be issued digitally — by email or text — with multiple digital payout options described on the claim form.

Mailed claims should be sent to: Amex Antitrust, c/o A.B. Data Ltd., P.O. Box 173092, Milwaukee, WI 53217. Mailed claims must be postmarked by May 19, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a "non-rewards" credit card?

A non-rewards credit card is a basic Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit or charge card account that does not offer rewards (cashback, points, miles, or any other rewards program) and does not charge an annual fee. If your card earned any type of reward when you made purchases, or charged you an annual fee, it does not qualify for this settlement.

I had an Amex card during the class period. Am I still eligible?

No. The settlement excludes anyone who held an American Express credit or charge card — including Amex co-branded cards — at any time during the class period. This applies to authorized users on Amex accounts as well.

I'm in the debit card class — why don't I get a payment?

The jury at trial found liability only for the Illinois non-rewards credit card class. The other certified classes — including the debit card classes in nine states and the District of Columbia and Kansas non-rewards credit card classes — were part of the trial but did not establish damages under their respective state laws. They remain in the settlement class for purposes of the release but are not eligible for monetary payment.

What if I lived in Illinois but moved away during the class period?

Eligibility is based on whether your billing address was in Illinois at the time of qualifying purchases. If your billing address was in Illinois during part of the class period, you can claim only purchases made during that Illinois-billed window. Purchases made when your billing address was outside Illinois do not qualify.

What if I shopped at the qualifying merchants outside Illinois?

Those purchases do not qualify. The settlement is geographically tied to Illinois. The merchant must be the same qualifying merchant operating in Illinois, and the cardholder must have an Illinois billing address.

Do I need a receipt?

No. The claim form does not require proof of purchase. However, the settlement administrator may request information later to verify eligibility. Submitting a fraudulent claim — under penalty of perjury — has legal consequences and reduces the available fund for legitimate class members.

How will I receive my payment?

Payments will be issued digitally via email or mobile text. The claim form lets you choose from multiple digital payout options described on the website.

What is "anti-steering"?

Anti-steering refers to merchant agreement provisions that prohibit retailers from encouraging customers to use a particular payment method over another at the point of sale. Anti-steering was central to Ohio v. American Express Co., the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court case addressing whether such provisions violated federal antitrust law. The plaintiffs in Moskowitz v. American Express succeeded under Illinois state law where federal claims would have faced the Ohio v. AmEx hurdle.

What if I miss the May 19 deadline?

You forfeit your right to a settlement payment. Class members who did not opt out by April 29, 2026, are bound by the settlement and release their right to sue American Express individually for the same alleged conduct.

Where can I get more information?

The official settlement website is AmexAntitrust.com. The settlement administrator can be reached at 1-877-315-0587 or by email at info@AmexAntitrust.com.

Disclaimer

This content is for general informational purposes only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Joy Coleman is licensed in Georgia and New Jersey and is not licensed to practice law in Illinois or in any other state covered by the settlement classes. Readers should consult a qualified attorney licensed in their jurisdiction.

If you have questions about your rights in a class action settlement or believe you have been harmed by anti-competitive business practices, search for a civil litigation attorney on AttorneyReview.com to connect with qualified legal counsel in your area.

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