FleetCor to pay $100 million for hidden fuel card fees

Overview

Updated Sep 17

FleetCor, the fuel card company now called Corpay, will pay $100 million to settle charges that it billed small business customers for fees they never agreed to. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the company's fuel cards promised gas savings that never materialized while unauthorized charges stacked up on invoices.

The settlement closes a seven-year enforcement fight. It ran through federal court, where a judge found FleetCor liable, then an appeal that upheld the ruling, then a separate FTC administrative action now resolved. CEO Ronald Clarke pays part of the sum, and the company must get a customer's express, informed consent before charging any fee.

Why it matters

Small businesses that bought fuel cards to cut costs get money back, and FleetCor must now get explicit consent before charging any fee.

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Key Indicators

$100 million

Total settlement

Combined payment by Corpay and CEO Ronald Clarke for customer redress.

$53,088

Penalty per future violation

Each violation of the final order can trigger this civil penalty.

2,463 days

Lawsuit to settlement

Time from the initial federal complaint to the announced settlement.

tens of thousands

Customers harmed

The FTC says unauthorized fees totaled hundreds of millions of dollars.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Ronald Clarke

Chief Executive Officer, FleetCor Technologies Inc. / Corpay Inc.

Agreed to pay part of the $100 million settlement

Christopher Mufarrige

Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection

Oversaw the settlement

Organizations Involved

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Federal Agency

Enforcement agency that brought the action

The US agency that enforces consumer protection and antitrust law, including Section 5 of the FTC Act.

Corpay Inc.

Public Company

Defendant in the enforcement action

A payments company formerly known as FleetCor Technologies Inc., selling fuel cards and payment services to businesses.

Timeline

December 2019 September 2026

6 events Latest: September 17th, 2026 · 2 months ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
FTC announces $100 million settlement
Latest Settlement

Corpay and Clarke agree to pay $100 million to resolve the administrative action and fund customer redress.
September 17th, 2026
January 2026
Eleventh Circuit upholds liability
Legal

Appeals court affirms rulings against Corpay on all counts; vacates injunction against Clarke.
January 6th, 2026
June 2023
Court issues permanent injunction
Legal

The injunction bars FleetCor from billing customers without express informed consent for each charge.
June 8th, 2023
August 2022
Court grants FTC summary judgment
Legal

The district court finds FleetCor liable on all counts for deceptive and unfair practices.
August 9th, 2022
August 2021
FTC files administrative complaint
Legal

After the Supreme Court's AMG Capital ruling, the FTC opens an in-house case to seek monetary relief.
August 11th, 2021
December 2019
FTC sues FleetCor in Georgia federal court
Legal

The FTC alleges FleetCor charged hidden unauthorized fees and misrepresented fuel savings on its cards.
December 20th, 2019

Scenarios

Consent order finalized, $100 million reaches small businesses

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: FTC

After a 30-day public comment period, the Commission publishes a final Decision and Order. Corpay must pay the full $100 million within 8 days of the order's effective date. The money goes into a redress fund the FTC administers, then is distributed to the harmed business customers.

Public comments or challenge delay the settlement

Unlikely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Federal Register comment process

The consent agreement is published for public comment, and any party can file objections. If significant objections arrive, the Commission could modify the terms or extend the process, delaying the payment and distribution of redress.

Court reimposes injunction against Ronald Clarke

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: FTC press release

As part of the settlement, Clarke agreed not to oppose reimposition of a federal court injunction against him. The parties return to the Northern District of Georgia, where the court re-enters an injunction consistent with the settlement's terms.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

April 2021

AMG Capital Management, LLC v. FTC (2021)

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Section 13(b) of the FTC Act lets courts order injunctions but not monetary relief such as disgorgement. That stripped the FTC's main federal-court tool for refunding consumers who had been harmed.

Then

The FTC shifted to filing administrative complaints to seek monetary relief in-house while continuing federal suits for injunctions. Parallel tracks became routine.

Now

The ruling reshaped FTC enforcement strategy. Congress later debated restoring the agency's monetary relief authority.

Why this matters now

This is why FleetCor faced both a federal lawsuit and a separate FTC administrative action. The $100 million settlement resolves the administrative track.

October 2014

AT&T mobile cramming settlement (2014)

The FTC, FCC, and state attorneys general alleged AT&T billed customers for third-party premium text subscriptions, many never ordered, at around $9.99 per month. AT&T kept a share of the fees.

Then

AT&T agreed to pay $105 million total, then the largest cramming settlement, refunding customers.

Now

Carriers faced lasting scrutiny over third-party charges on bills, establishing that companies are liable for unauthorized billing.

Why this matters now

Like FleetCor, AT&T collected money customers never agreed to pay, with charges buried in monthly statements. Both cases test whether companies may bill without clear consent.