Two industry veterans, bridal designer Justina McCaffrey and Bridal Merchant Services founder Mary Critchley Fourner, are reaching out to fellow retailers and industry peers with two different options to reclaim lost funds resulting from overcharges by Visa and MasterCard between 2004 and 2019.
The deadline to file a claim is May 31st, 2024.
To qualify for McCaffrey's program, merchants and manufacturers need to have a minimum of $500,000 in credit charges per year during that 15 year period.
Bridal Merchant Services' program does not have minimum charge requirement.
Both companies provide the support and filing necessary for the potential reimbursement of tens of thousands of dollars as part of a $5.5 billion settlement involving the interchange fees associated with merchants accepting Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards between January 1, 2004, and January 25, 2019, as well as the rules imposed by Visa and Mastercard on these merchants.
Both offer no upfront cost programs. McCaffrey's law firm's fee is 30% of any disbursement; Bridal Merchant Services percentage of the award is based on client and recovery volume and can be as low as 10%.
Visit https://greenbackclaims.com/?ref=JUSTINA1_36215f664241a to fill out the form and let McCaffrey's dedicated law firm handle the investigation and filing.
Visit www.bridalmerchantservices.com for details on its application process and backers.
Frequently asked questions about the settlement:
-Are all businesses eligible for the settlement? Not every business may qualify, but both firms collaborate with the settlement administrator to determine if your business meets the criteria.
-What amount of money can I expect to receive? The payout will be determined by your documented or estimated interchange fees related to Visa and Mastercard transactions between January 1, 2004, and January 25, 2019.
-What if my business is no longer operational? Your current business status doesn’t affect your eligibility.
-Will I owe any fees to the lawyers if I am ineligible? No, you only incur fees if they successfully recover funds for your business.
-Will I owe any fees to the lawyers if I am eligible? No, the law firm retains 30% of your settlement through McCaffrey's program; potentially as low as 10% for Bridal Merchant Services.
-What personal information is needed? The only information needed is the name of your business, address, owner’s name and the EIN.
-When will I know if my business is eligible or not? You will be notified regarding status of your application via email, with the complete process easily taking a year or more.
-Is it necessary to hire an attorney for assistance? No…you can apply on your own through www.paymentcardsettlement.com. You'll need to provide statements/merchant services documentation and totals for that 15 year period.
-Who are these firms? Justina McCaffrey is an industry veteran, having designed and produced her own couture bridal collection for many years, owned and operated multiple retail locations, and has provided design services to several current bridal brands. Mary Critchley is founder and owner of Bridal Merchant Services, a licensed merchant services provider specifically for the bridal and formal wear industry since 2006.