The National Association of Truck Stop Operators will join other merchant associations in a class-action lawsuit that alleges Visa USA, MasterCard International and a number of major banks are engaging in collusion in setting high interchange fees.
When a travel plaza accepts a credit or debit card in return for products or services, the transaction is processed through its bank and the issuer of the credit card. Both the issuing bank and the travel plaza’s bank charge “interchange” fees for processing the transaction, and these fees are paid by the travel plaza operator.
The suit, which seeks injunctive relief as well as damages, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 23 by the law office of Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi. They acted on behalf of the National Association of Convenience Stores, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and the National Cooperative Grocers Association.
