Phone: 732-256-9646

Mon-Fri: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Visa/Mastercard Claim-Filing Deadline Reminder & Free Filing Webinar; Happy New Year

January 2, 2025

Reminder: Claim-Filing Deadline for Visa/Mastercard Credit Card Settlement, Sign-Up For Free Filing Webinar on January 8, 2025

In August, we updated our members with the news that the ongoing $5.5 billion Visa/Mastercard credit card settlement claim-filing period had been extended from August 30, 2024 to February 4, 2025. 

The date change was the second time the deadline has been revised, as the Court gave potential claimants another 180-day extension to allow additional parties to file. 

You can read more about the extension by CLICKING HERE

You can also read the initial settlement details in this informative article by CLICKING HERE.

As the calendar rolls over to begin 2025, we want to remind members that you have approximately one month left to file a claim.

If you have not done so already, and believe your business overpaid processing credit card transaction fees between January 1, 2004 to January 25, 2019, please do not wait to file.  

While the claim forms take five minutes to fill out, the actual claim processing may take weeks to verify.

In addition, we have heard some retailers are having difficulty with their claim applications. That’s because there are often multiple merchants associated with a particular location or account.  Any application that has a conflict is delayed, and the applicant is invited to review documents outlining the other claimants in an attempt to correct the record. 

If you are having difficulty filing a claim online, and believe that another merchant has filed a claim in your place (for example, a previous or subsequent lessee/property owner at your location, a distributor, etc), a possible work-around may be to file a paper application. This does not guarantee that the claim will be accepted, but at least a paper application will get processed by hand, and will not automatically be rejected by the online system if a conflict exists.

To file a paper application, please CLICK HERE to download the form, fill it out completely, and submit it by ordinary U.S. postal mail to the following address:

Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement
PO Box 2530
Portland, OR 97208-2530

Please see additional details and instructions listed on the downloadable paper application. 

For your own records and proof of submission, please be sure to scan a copy of your application to refer to later.   

Noting the potential for confusion and paperwork mix-ups, there is a good chance this process may become time-consuming on a case-by-case basis. You may need to look up various records from over the years to defend your claim from another applicant.  All of which underscores that your submission should not be left to the last minute. 

To submit a claim and read more about the settlement, CLICK HERE

If you have questions or need assistance with preparing your claim, there is a Class Administrator and Class Counsel resource available to you at no-cost. To contact them, please email info@PaymentCardSettlement.com or call 1-800-625-6440. 

Lastly, we received notice that there will be a free filing webinar for potential claimants on January 8, 2025 at 2:00pm EST.  All participants will hear directly from the settlement administrator and legal counsel. It will be a great opportunity to hear more about the process and ask questions. The webinar will be held online via Zoom, or you can also participate via a telephone conference call number. 

To learn more and register for the webinar, please CLICK HERE. Fill out the online form, and you will receive a Zoom link for the meeting via email. On January 8, 2025, open the email and just click on the link to join the webinar. Remember to look for the confirmation email in your inbox to make sure it does not get redirected to your spam or junk folders. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Nick via Nick@njgca.org or 732-256-9646.

Update on the Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Mandate

There has been a recent flurry of news concerning the Corporate Transparency Act (โ€œCTAโ€).

You’ll recall that the CTA went into effect on January 1, 2024, and essentially mandated that nearly all LLC owners submit annual beneficial ownership reports (BOI) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Subsequently, numerous lawsuits were filed in multiple jurisdictions to challenge the mandate.

As recently as December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the CTA nationwide. Then on December 23, 2024, a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit stayed the lower courtโ€™s injunction and reinstated the CTA’s reporting obligations.

That means that, as of this writing, the BOI information is again a requirement and must be submitted by January 13, 2025. 

We always recommend you speak with your legal counsel and accounting professional on such matters, and it is possible they will recommend that you file the BOI information to prevent potential fines or violations.  

That said, it should also be noted that this fight is ongoing, and there is a real possibility that Fifth Circuit’s ruling could be further modified in the coming week.

Separately, it should also be noted that the next Congress will be sworn in tomorrow (January 3, 2025), and there are already rumblings of swift federal action to delay the reporting mandate by one or two years. Whether or not Congress will act before the CTA’s January 13, 2025 deadline is anyone’s guess.

Reminders: 2025 Minimum Wage Hike & Gasoline Tax Increases

Last week we offered up timely operational reminders about the minimum wage and gasoline tax increases.

If you have not done so already, please CLICK HERE to review our December 26, 2024 Road Warrior message for full details.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Nick via Nick@njgca.org or 732-256-9646.

Happy New Year!

As unbelievable as it may seem, 2024 is over … and 2025 is officially underway. 

The New Year grants us the opportunity to reflect on our blessings, consider our accomplishments, and look forward to new challenges.

On behalf of our Board of Directors and professional staff, we wish you, your families, and your employees all a very Happy New Year!

As always, we are grateful for our members, the greater small business community, and the opportunity to assist you in your entrepreneurial endeavors.

Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2025 ahead. Enjoy!

Rack Averages

Date Rack Avg Avg w Taxes Low Rack
12/26 199.18 $2.5988 192.05
12/27 200.53 $2.6123 193.45
12/30 202.26 $2.6296 193.75
12/31 204.08 $2.6478 194.64
01/01 204.08 $2.6478 194.64
Date Avg Retail Avg Margin Diesel Rack Avg
12/26 $2.9418 0.33 226.39
12/27 $2.9433 0.34 230.79
12/30 $2.9455 0.33 236.38
12/31 $2.9432 0.31 238.05
01/01 $2.9406 0.29 238.05

News Worth Knowing:

Member Benefit Partner (MBP) Spotlight: Lisko Environmental

LISKO Environmental, LLC is a full-service environmental consulting firm focused on assisting New Jersey business owners and operators with environmental compliance. They offer a straightforward approach to site assessment and remediation. Services include:

โ€ขLSRP Services
โ€ขRegulatory and Mandatory Deadlines
โ€ขCase Closure
โ€ขUST Closure and Remediation
โ€ขPreliminary Assessments, Remedial Investigations
โ€ขForensic Release Date Investigations, Expert Reports, Litigation Support
โ€ขPhase I/Phase II Site Assessments/Environmental Due Diligence

If youโ€™ve been dealing with an environmental problem for years, and it seems like there is no end in sight, contact Jonathan Lisko today for a free consultation on your case.

Contact: 
Jonathan Lisko
732-996-4792
JLisko@liskoenv.com 
www.liskoenv.com 

Available Real Estate

Cape Harbor Shell

**Price Reduction**

795 Route 109, Unit B, Lower Township, NJ, 08204

Contact: Jerry 609-425-8837 capeharborshell@comcast.net 

Station for Sale

Thriving High Profit Gas/Service Station close to Major Highway in Prime Location. 

This Exclusive Gas Station is the Sole Provider in the entire town, achieving a remarkable fuel profit of up to and sometimes over 1$ a gallon. Consistently selling 45,000 gallons monthly. Most fuel customers come from Highway so fuel prices do not have to be competitive. 

Also included with the Property is a Reputable High End Auto Repair Facility. Repair shop has all required Specialty and Diagnostic Tools for servicing mostly High End Vehicles. Advertising is no longer used do to an enormous Demand and large Customer Base. Repair Business has has potential for increased profitability and expansion, the business is open to experienced buyers for a possible partnership or profit sharing arrangement. Location is 1 out of 100. Fuel sales make 20-40K a month and repairs can do the same with the right operator. 

This one of a kind opportunity can include seller financing for those with High-Level Automotive or Gas Station Experience.

Contact Greg
908-291-7845

Our Road Warrior newsletter is brought to you by the following Member Benefit Partners:

New Jersey 
Gasoline-Convenience-Automotive Association
615 Hope Road, Bldg. 2, 1st Floor
Eatontown, New Jersey 07724

 

Phone: 732-256-9646
eMail: info@njgca.org

 


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