Attorneys Seek $13M Fees from $17.5M Amex Antisteering Settlement
Attorneys in the Amex antisteering settlement are asking for $13M from the $17.5M settlement fund. Did Amex's "antisteering rules" cause consumer overcharges, and how much will consumers actually get?
Have you ever wondered why a store doesn’t offer you a small discount for using a Visa or Mastercard instead of an American Express card? A recent class-action settlement shines a light on the complex rules behind this, and it could mean money back for consumers—though a significant portion may be headed to the attorneys who argued the case. Counsel for consumers has requested nearly $13 million in fees from a $17.5 million settlement with American Express over rules that allegedly forced all shoppers to pay higher prices.
Overview of the Amex Settlement
American Express recently agreed to pay $17.5 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit. The core of the lawsuit was an allegation that the company's antisteering rules unfairly inflated prices for shoppers. According to the plaintiffs, these rules effectively forced consumers who didn't even use an American Express card to shoulder the cost of Amex's higher processing fees, leading to widespread overcharges. The case, which is being overseen by a New York federal court, represents a broad class of consumers who were allegedly affected.
The Attorney Fees Request
On April 10, 2026, the attorneys representing the consumer class filed a motion with the court, asking the judge to award them nearly $13 million to cover their legal fees and litigation costs. This is a crucial step in any class-action settlement, as legal teams are compensated for their work from the settlement fund they secure. However, if the judge approves this request, it would mean that a substantial majority of the $17.5 million fund would go to legal costs, directly impacting the final payout amount available to each member of the consumer class.
Background on Antisteering Rules
To understand the case, it’s important to know what antisteering rules are. In simple terms, they are policies that credit card networks impose on merchants that prevent them from "steering" customers toward less expensive payment options. For example, a store might want to offer a small discount to a customer who uses a card with lower credit card transaction fees. Antisteering rules forbid this.
The lawsuit argued that this practice creates a ripple effect:
- Merchants are forced to accept higher-fee cards like Amex without being able to incentivize cheaper alternatives.
- To cover these higher operational costs, merchants raise prices on all goods and services.
- As a result, all customers—including those paying with cash, debit, or lower-fee credit cards—end up paying more.
The lawsuit sought consumer overcharge compensation for those who indirectly paid these inflated prices. This issue has been a long-standing point of contention between merchants, consumer advocates, and major card networks.
What This Means for Consumers
The proposed $17.5 million Amex antisteering settlement is not yet finalized. A federal judge must first grant final approval for the overall settlement and, just as importantly, rule on the attorney fees request.
The judge's decision on the nearly $13 million fee request will determine the net amount of money left in the fund to be distributed among affected consumers. While the settlement represents a potential win for consumers impacted by these credit card rules, the final compensation they receive will depend heavily on this upcoming court ruling.
