Consumers who used them overseas could get $25 or more back.

Credit card issuers direct out a batch of notices, and you may throw most of them out as soon as you undercover agent the bantam print. But if you received a notice from the ''U.S. District Court Colony Administrator,'' it's not only deserving reading, but filling out. More than 30 million notices have got been sent to recognition and debit entry card clients who are eligible for a refund for fees paid when using a Visa, MasterCard or Diners Baseball Club card to do purchases and standard atmosphere backdowns outside the United States. Refunds can be $25 or higher.

The refund is portion of the colony of a class-action lawsuit filed old age ago. The lawsuit claimed, among other things, that Visa, MasterCard, Diners Baseball Club and certain Banks hid foreign exchange fees from customers. The fees typically ran from 1 percentage to 3 percent. Visa, MasterCard, Diners Baseball Club and the Banks denied wrongdoing. The colony phone calls for card companies and Banks to put up a $336 million monetary fund to go back fees to consumers. To be eligible, you must have got paid the fees on foreign minutes from Feb. 1, 1996, to Nov. 8, 2006. You don't necessitate to have got traveled outside the state during those old age to be eligible, said Merrill Davidoff, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs. You may have a refund if you bought merchandises online during that clip and paid in a foreign currency, he said. A former colony notice was sent out respective calendar months ago with card statements, but the justice and others were concerned that clients might fling the notices as they make other card materials, Davidoff said. The new colony word form mailed late last twelvemonth lets you to claim a refund under one of three methods: A level $25 refund. This is recommended if your foreign minutes were less than $2,500. Sum Estimate Refund. It's based on 1 percentage of your typical disbursement during travel. This is a good option if you were out of the state for more than than than a hebdomad or spent more than $2,500 on foreign transactions. You'll necessitate to reply a few inquiries on your travels. Annual Estimate Refund. Refunds will run from 1 percentage to 3 percentage of foreign transactions. This method is best if you traveled extensively or have got had big foreign transactions. You will necessitate to provide many more than details. Corporate card users must register under this option. You can fill up out the word form and mail it in or submit a claim online at . The deadline to claim a refund is May 30. It may take up to 18 calendar months to have a refund, he said. Some of the companies involved in the lawsuit state they are glad that it is settled and behind them. ''Although we deny any liability regarding our anterior practices, the company believes this colony is in the best involvements of our clients and stockholders to avoid the inconvenience, disbursal and uncertainness of litigation,'' said Samuel Wang, a spokesman for Citigroup, which have Diners Club. MasterCard spokeswoman Sharon Gamsin said, ''There was never any difference that using your MasterCard card for purchases when you go overseas gives you the best value on currency conversion." Card issuers now let on foreign dealing fees, which still can run as high as 3 percent. Before traveling out of the country, store around for a card that enforces a little foreign dealing fee or none at all. Foreign dealing fees are disclosed in the footing and conditions. Credit.com, Associate in Nursing online supplier of card information, stations footing of many card game on its land site at . Eileen Ambrose is a editorialist for The Baltimore Sun, a Tribune Publication newspaper.