Apple faces class action over Apple Pay fees charged to card issuers

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White has approved a class-action lawsuit alleging Apple's Apple Pay fees are unfairly high. The lawsuit, represented by Hagens Berman, claims Apple charges payment card issuers 0.15% on credit card transactions and 0.5 cents on debit card transactions through Apple Pay, while mobile wallets on Android do not charge such fees.

Plaintiffs argue that Apple's monopoly on tap-and-pay iOS mobile wallets allows it to levy excessive fees, potentially amounting to $1 billion annually. Apple denies these claims, stating that it has not granted access to its technology for developing a competing mobile wallet. The lawsuit seeks reimbursement for card issuers who paid the fees, as well as an injunction to change Apple's policies.