The results are in. In an overwhelming response, more than 1.6 million Americans agree with convenience retailer 7-Eleven, Inc. that something needs to be done about excessive credit card transaction fees.

Some 1,664,000 signatures were collected by more than 6,300 U.S. franchisees, licensees and store managers in the public policy petition

drive held June 22 ­ Aug. 10. The company believes this is the largest and most successful public policy petition drive on record.

And Redmond residents some of the country’s top supporters of the drive. Redmond 7-11 owner Rupinder Bedi was one of the stores that collected the most signatures. He will head to Washington, D.C., to participate in a press conference Sept. 30 at the U.S. Capitol and will personally assist in delivering nearly 15,000 petition booklets to his U.S. Representative.

Bedi collected his signatures at the 7-Eleven store he franchises at 5040 148th Ave NE in Redmond. He was able to get so many signatures because he

spoke personally to every credit card customer that came into the store, explaining the costs of the credit card fees and how it affected his prices.

Bedi and his wife, Sumeet, have been franchisees for almost 10 years and now have two stores, the second one in Bellevue.

“What I hope to accomplish in Washington D.C. is to help stop the outrageous credit card fees that everyone in this country pays. If we can be

the start of that movement then it will be a successful trip,” said Bedi.