As you might have heard, retailers part of the MCX group such as CVS and Rite Aid will not be allowing the use of competing mobile payment systems in their stores, such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet. We know that there are many shoppers who can’t be too pleased by this, and it looks like law firm Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe are looking to file (via 9to5Mac) a class action lawsuit against CVS and Rite Aid.
The goal of the lawsuit is to ensure that Apple Pay is restored to these stores although there was no mention of other competing services. “In light of this situation, Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe is investigating whether CVS and Rite Aid violated the antitrust laws by banding together with other MCX members in a decision to boycott other payments systems, including Apple Pay. Consumers with phones that support Apple Pay may be able to participate in a class action to restore the service at CVS and Rite Aid retail stores.”
In place of Apple Pay and Google Wallet, MCX’s stores will be turning to their own mobile payment method called CurrentC which is expected to launch in 2015. The reason why people are upset isn’t so much that it is a competing service, but rather its convoluted nature in which it actually requires more steps a user needs to take in order to pay for their purchase, versus paying the regular way or using a competing service.
However some MCX retailers have decided to offer Apple Pay and according to MCX’s COO, the exclusivity of CurrentC will depend on the contract the retailer has signed with the group, and that it is expected to last months, not years. In any case what do you guys think? Does this class action lawsuit have any chance of succeeding?