Hit With Surprise Fuel Card Fees? A $100 Million FTC Settlement Could Mean Money Back

What just happened, and who it affects

If you run a small business and used a FleetCor fuel card (the company is now called Corpay), this news is for you.

The Federal Trade Commission says FleetCor charged its customers hidden and unauthorized fees that they never agreed to pay. It also says the company promised fuel savings that never showed up.

FleetCor and its CEO have agreed to pay $100 million to settle the case. That money is meant to go back to the business customers who were harmed.

How the hidden fees worked

According to the FTC complaint, the company often waited several billing cycles before starting to charge many fees. That made the charges harder to notice.

The FTC also says the invoices did not clearly show the fees. Customers had to dig through other account reports to find them, and even there many fees were buried or missing.

On top of that, the FTC says FleetCor charged late fees to some customers who had paid on time, or who were blocked from paying on time.

Why this matters even if it is not your company

This case shows something worth remembering: when a company slaps surprise fees on you, regulators can step in and force refunds.

A court ordered that FleetCor can no longer bill a customer without clear, upfront consent, and can no longer hide fee details behind a hyperlink. A federal appeals court upheld that in 2026.

The most important part for you: filing a complaint with the FTC is always free. The FTC says it will never demand money, make threats, or promise you a prize. Nobody should ever charge you a fee to report a company or to claim money you are owed.

What to do now

The settlement is not final yet. The FTC will publish a notice in the Federal Register, followed by a 30 day public comment period before the Commission decides whether to make the order final.

If you think FleetCor or Corpay charged you unauthorized fees, keep your records and watch for how refunds will be handled. You can also report your experience to the FTC for free.

And if any company ever adds charges you did not agree to, you have the right to complain to the FTC at no cost.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay to get my refund from this settlement?

No. Any money returned through an FTC settlement is free to claim. The FTC will never ask you to pay a fee or transfer money to get a refund. If someone asks you to pay, it is a scam.

When will refunds be paid out?

The settlement is not final yet. The FTC will publish a notice and take public comments for 30 days before deciding whether to finalize the order. Refund details would come after that.

What if a different company charged me surprise fees?

You can report any company to the FTC for free at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Regulators use these reports to spot patterns and take action, as this case shows.

Is OpenFinancial handling these refunds?

No. OpenFinancial is not a bank or a government agency. We point you to the free, official FTC path. We cannot get you money faster and never charge you.