The Opportunity:

After close to 20 years of litigation, the Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement was at last entering the claims phase in 2023. This process would see more than $5.5 billion returned to millions of Visa and Mastercard merchants. The size of the settlement made it the largest private antitrust class action settlement in U.S. history. An outreach and education program was needed to get the word out to merchants.  (W)right On  Communications was retained for the payment card settlement public relations.

payment card settlement icon

The Solution:

Our team developed and led an integrated communications strategy to complement the claim form mailings and paid ads which were overseen by the settlement administrator. Working closely with co-counsel, our payment card settlement public relations included:

Branded Content:

  • Branded icon featured across all program materials
  • Messaging to emphasize the settlement’s size, legitimacy and ease of claiming
  • Campaign collateral including printed handouts, digital resource kit, PR assets and social media content
  • Educational webinars led by legal counsel for trade associations and their members

Media Outreach:

  • Press release translated into 9 languages, video news release in English and Spanish and story pitches to media

Social Media:

Community Relations:

The Results:

Our outreach and education program contributed to greater awareness of the claims process, producing:

  • National media coverage including AP, USA Today, Essence and Fox affiliates in major markets.
  • Trade publications from sporting goods to dry cleaners.
  • Spanish, Korean and other foreign language news articles.  
  • Broadcast stories on TV and radio
  • Many millions of social media impressions
  • Millions of influencer impressions
  • Hundreds of trade association contacts reaching millions of individual business members
  • Thousands of webinar registrants and attendees
  • In-person contacts and additional digital impressions through the Small Business Expo.

The campaign was awarded the Mark of Excellence for integrated communications by the  Public Relations Society of America regional chapter.

Payments to class members will begin after all claims are validated and processed by the claims administrator. If you reached this page seeking information about the status of your claim, please email info@paymentcardsettlement.com.