Visa controls more than 60% of the debit card processing market in the U.S. The Justice Department accuses the company of using its market power to illegally crowd out competition and keep fees artificially high, raising costs for both merchants and consumers.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, says Visa handles more than 60% of debit card transactions in the U.S. and collects more than $7 billion in annual processing fees. The company allegedly used its market power to stifle competition and keep fees artificially high, according to the suit.
"You can mandate competition," says Stephanie Martz, chief administrative officer and general counsel for the National Retail Federation."But if what's happening behind the point-of-sale is inhibiting that, then you don't actually have competition."