GoKawiilJudge certifies class action against Apple over Apple Pay card-issuer fees
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White has certified a class-action lawsuit allowing payment card issuers to jointly sue Apple over fees charged for Apple Pay transactions. The suit, backed by law firm Hagens Berman, alleges Apple collects roughly $1 billion annually by charging 0.15% on credit transactions and 0.5 cents on debit transactions, while blocking rivals from building competing contactless payment systems on iOS. The judge also rejected Apple's bid to exclude expert testimony supporting claims of Apple's monopoly power in mobile wallets.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Class certification significantly raises Apple's legal exposure, since thousands of card issuers can now pursue claims collectively rather than individually, potentially leading to large reimbursement awards. The case could also test Apple's control over NFC payment technology on iPhones, an area regulators have separately scrutinized in the EU. If plaintiffs prevail, it may force changes to how Apple licenses or charges for Apple Pay access in the U.S.
- A federal judge certified a class action letting U.S. card issuers jointly sue Apple over Apple Pay fees.
- Plaintiffs allege Apple earns about $1 billion yearly from fees unavailable to Android wallet competitors.
- The judge also allowed expert testimony arguing Apple holds monopoly power over iOS tap-and-pay wallets.
Source: 9to5mac.com — Marcus Mendes, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “Apple faces class action over Apple Pay fees charged to card issuers”
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