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Subject: Final Chapter of my 18-Year Legal Battle Culminates in Record-Breaking Settlement in Payment Card Industry [re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1720].

Victory: Historic $5.5 Billion Settlement in Payment Card Industry Lawsuit. Now what?

(December 1, 2023, Irvine, CA) Remember the 2000 movie, “Erin Brockovich?” Well, this is my Erin Brockovich moment—18 years in the making. The risks of ScanMyPhotos.com suing the banks, Visa, and MasterCard were unimaginable, but my role as lead plaintiff worked! This morning's press release announcement explains more details on the claims process for millions of businesses. Yet, there are two problems I have encountered, which I describe below.

This is a "David vs. Goliath" story. I can humanize and personalize the story, sharing how a small business took on the banks and credit card companies and scored a win for millions of businesses.

FINALLY! I am writing to share a momentous development in my 18-year journey that began as a quest to address the exorbitant merchant interchange payment fees imposed by Visa and Mastercard on businesses like mine.

As technology evolved, my business made the leap from film to digital, significantly reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. This transition wasn't exclusive to us; Visa and Mastercard also reaped benefits as the outdated method of swiping credit cards with bulky imprinters and mailing carbon copy receipts shifted to lower the risks and costs. Over the past three decades, my company has directly experienced the weight of excessive credit and debit card fees, recognizing their substantial impact on operational expenses. This realization fueled my determination to advocate for change, sparking a long-standing social media campaign, years of meetings, regularly flying to NYC and D.C., and attending court proceedings to serve as the prominent voice in the litigation—all aimed at raising awareness about this issue that affects every business.

In 2005, my advocacy led me to take on the role of a lead plaintiff in the largest antitrust lawsuit, taking on Visa and Mastercard as a pivotal step towards seeking justice for merchants affected by these fees. I am pleased to announce that after years of legal proceedings, a settlement has been reached and duly approved by the court.

Important: Claim forms for the $5.5 billion payment card settlement are being mailed starting today!

The claims period begins today, marking the final chapter of this arduous legal battle. The groundbreaking $5.5 billion settlement is set to be returned to business owners, a momentous occasion where businesses of all sizes are encouraged to claim their rightful share.

This giant settlement offers substantial relief to larger businesses while also providing meaningful benefits to smaller enterprises. In light of recent challenges small businesses face, including the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and inflation, every bit of support matters immensely.

To facilitate a straightforward claim process for business owners, efforts have been made to streamline the submission through a simplified procedure, including a barcode for easy scanning.

While the magnitude of this settlement is unprecedented, it's important to note that patience will be required due to the involvement of millions of businesses.

For more information about eligibility and assistance in multiple languages, business owners can visit the official website paymentcardsettlement.com. Additionally, a claims administrator can provide no-cost assistance via a toll-free line or email.

The problem now lies in encouraging millions of merchants to return the claim form, which will begin distribution starting today. This marks my next mission—to garner widespread attention and participation in the crucial next step of this process.

Two significant challenges require attention:

This is real money: When trade associates were approached, several needed to understand our intent, mistaking it for a solicitation rather than vital news for their members. Overcoming this misunderstanding will ensure all affected parties receive the necessary information.

Don't be fooled: There is a concerning trend emerging. Entities unrelated to the official claims process, like class action settlement firms, are taking advantage of the process. I even encountered a law firm on TikTok promoting the signing over of claim rights, pledging to manage everything for an undisclosed percentage of the payment—a payment rightfully owed entirely to retailers. We've designed the claim form to be incredibly simple, even including a barcode to expedite the process. There's no necessity to engage anyone else to complete what you can effortlessly do yourself.

I aim to help empower merchants to reclaim what is rightfully theirs without unnecessary intermediaries. This news story is also about my imploring all merchants to exercise caution and recognize that they can complete the claim process independently without relinquishing their rights and paying unidentifiable fees. It is super easy for merchants to claim their settlement payment by themselves.

Your coverage can illuminate these critical issues to educate millions of retailers, including America’s small businesses. Even those companies no longer in business, may still be eligible for a check.

[This is a personal story and not associated in any way with the claims process or litigation. It is shared as a personal narrative].