Changes to Merchant Acceptance Practices In October 2010, Visa announced a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and several state attorneys general to resolve antitrust investigations intoVisa’s merchant acceptance rules in the United States. On July 20, 2011, the court approved the settlement and entered final judgment in the case. The final judgment is available at www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f273100/273170. pdf. We’re writing to inform you of the changes Visa hasmade to its rules, effective July 20, 2011, and to describe certain merchant acceptance practices that are now permitted and that may assist you in better managing your costs associated with accepting payment cards. The text of Visa’s revised rules is available at http://usa.visa.com/ merchants/operations/op_regulations.html.