Could you be owed up to £70 from Mastercard?

You could be in for a surprise payout, without needing to have ever owned a Mastercard.

A big court case has just been settled and now millions of people in the UK could get up to £70 each. The case claims that Mastercard’s card fees pushed up shop prices between the 1990s and 2008. And shoppers may now be getting some of that money back.

What’s this all about?

Between 1992 and 2008, Mastercard charged shops fees for processing card payments. These fees may have made prices go up - and that’s where this £200 million payout comes in.

The courts have agreed that shoppers may have paid more than they should’ve and therefore should be compensated.

The legal action was led by former Financial Ombudsman Walter Merricks and it’s taken years to get to this point.

Am I eligible for the money?

You probably are.

You don’t need to have owned a Mastercard to claim.

You can apply if you:

• Lived in the UK for at least 3 months between 1992 and 2008
• Bought something from a shop, online store or business that accepted Mastercard at the time

This applies to most adults in the UK, so there’s a good chance you’re one of them.

How much could I get?

You could get between £45 and £70. It depends on how many people apply. If only a few million people claim, the amount per person could be higher.

It’s free to claim, and the process is quite simple. No long forms or digging out old receipts.

When and how do I claim?

The official claim website is now live. You can sign up for updates or register your interest here: mastercardconsumerclaim.co.uk

Money should be paid out before the end of 2025, but you’ll need to register to make sure you don’t miss out.