MySchoolBucks, a company that partners with schools to process school lunch and activity payments, has been charging families misleading transaction fees, often $2.49 to $3.25 every time parents add money to their child’s account.

According to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) investigation released in late 2024, these fees were considered deceptive. MySchoolBucks, owned by Global Payments Inc., allegedly hid true costs through “drip pricing,” a tactic where fees appear only at the final payment screen.

This resulted in families across the country unknowingly paying an estimated $100 million a year in junk fees just to feed their kids.

How MySchoolBucks’ “Drip Pricing” Worked

If you’ve used MySchoolBucks, you might have noticed the fee only after reaching the final step of checkout. That practice, called drip pricing, is when companies reveal extra charges little by little during a purchase, rather than upfront. In this case, parents thought they were paying a small convenience fee to cover credit card costs, but behind the scenes, the markup was far higher than most people realized. In truth, credit card processors usually charge merchants less than 3% in fees — meaning the rest of the cost was pure profit for corporations in the middle.

The CFPB found that payment processors charge families up to $0.60 for each $1 spent on school lunches, with total annual junk fees reaching approximately $100 million nationwide.

We break down how to recognize and challenge these tactics in our full guide:

👉 Read: How Hidden Fees Let Corporations Pocket Billions

What Affected Parents Can Do

Families who used MySchoolBucks from 2021 to the present and paid these transaction fees may qualify to seek compensation. Legal filings estimate that some families could recover up to $2,000 or more, depending on their transaction history and state consumer protection laws.

To confirm whether you qualify, you’ll need to gather a few simple records:

• Payment confirmations or email receipts from MySchoolBucks

• Proof of fees charged (typically shown on receipts or bank statements)

• Confirmation that you weren’t clearly informed of fees upfront

If you’re unsure what counts as valid proof, you can review our guide on gathering documentation: What Counts as Evidence in a Consumer Protection Claim?

At Chariot Claims, we’re currently helping parents nationwide pursue claims through mass arbitration. Mass arbitration can give you more control, compensation tailored to your specific harm, faster results, and better representation.

If you used MySchoolBucks and believe you were charged excessive or undisclosed fees, you can check whether you qualify in just a few minutes:

👉 Check your eligibility here.

Have another case similar to this one to share? We’d love to hear from you at support@chariotclaims.com.