**Millions Await Mastercard Payouts as Legal Hurdles Lead to Delays and Uncertainty**
Millions of people across the UK were recently poised to receive compensation payments valued at up to £70 each, as part of a historic settlement involving the financial giant Mastercard. However, hopes of an imminent windfall have been dampened by new complications arising from legal challenges, with some experts warning that the eventual payout could be worth considerably less — and may take months to materialise.
The origins of this high-profile case date back to 2016, when legal action was initiated against Mastercard on the grounds that its transaction fees were excessively high. It was alleged that these elevated charges made it costlier for retailers to process card payments. As shops absorbed these fees, the argument ran, the increased costs rippled through to consumers via higher prices for everyday goods and services. Significantly, the case was brought on behalf of all UK consumers, not only Mastercard customers, broadening the number of people affected and the potential fallout for the company.
After years of legal wrangling, the Competition Appeal Tribunal gave the green light to a £200 million settlement in May 2025. Mastercard agreed to compensate British consumers, and an online claims portal was due to be set up within weeks to handle the process. At that point, optimism was running high that those eligible would quickly see their share of the money.
However, that optimism has since faded. A new legal dispute has emerged involving Innsworth, the litigation funder which helped bankroll the original case against Mastercard. Innsworth has raised objections regarding the division of the settlement, asserting that the Tribunal made errors when determining the proportion of the payout due to them. Innsworth is now seeking a greater share of the compensation, a move which has thrown the distribution of funds into turmoil.
This latest legal challenge has resulted in the delay of the claims portal, which in turn means that consumers expecting compensation will now have to wait even longer. The situation is further complicated by uncertainty over how much will ultimately be distributed to individuals. The original scheme anticipated payments of around £70 each, but, depending on the outcome of the challenge and the number of successful claimants, this figure could be significantly reduced.
According to estimates, up to 2.2 million people could be eligible to make a claim. If all those individuals come forward, the payout per person could shrink to as little as £45. On the other hand, should fewer people claim, remaining participants might receive amounts closer to the original £70 calculation. However, given the ongoing legal arguments, there is also a chance that payments could fall below those figures, possibly ending up as only a few pounds per claimant.
Eligibility for compensation is fairly broad but comes with specific conditions. To qualify, individuals must have lived in the UK for at least three consecutive months at some point between 20 June 1997 and 21 June 2008, and have been at least 16 years of age throughout that period. Those born after 22 March 1992, therefore, do not meet the age requirement. Moreover, claimants must have purchased goods or services from UK retailers during that time, regardless of how they paid — it did not have to be with a Mastercard. Proof of purchase is not required, but applicants must have been residing in the UK as of 6 September 2016, the day the case originally reached the courts.
Anyone who has not previously opted out of the settlement should find they are automatically eligible. Opting out would have involved contacting the law firm handling the class action or completing specific paperwork; if this is the first time individuals are hearing about the case, it’s likely they remain included.
While the prospect of compensation remains a welcome relief for consumers amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, the delay and uncertainty serve to temper expectations. Independent financial experts have cautioned claimants not to make plans for the money just yet, as both the timing of payments and the total amounts remain in flux due to the evolving legal landscape.
For now, claimants are advised to keep a close eye on official updates from the law firm managing the settlement and to prepare for the eventual launch of the online claims portal. When the time comes, eligible individuals will need to submit their details on the Mastercard website to participate.
This case, unprecedented in its scale for a UK consumer action, highlights the complex legal and financial mechanisms that can often stand in the way of seemingly straightforward compensation. As the process drags on, millions find themselves waiting, hoping that bureaucracy and additional court action will not sharply diminish their share of the promised payout.