Consumer rights and retailer responsibilities
A 2012 court settlement between retailers and the payments industry allowed retailers to pass their credit card acceptance costs onto consumers in the form of a new fee when consumers choose to pay with a credit card. Not all merchants will charge this fee so consumers should be aware that they can avoid it by shopping around.
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Credit card checkout fees
File Name: checkout_fees.pdf
File Size: 0.07MB
You may encounter a retailer surcharge, or “checkout fee,” when you use your credit card to buy goods and services.
A 2012 court settlement between retailers and the payments industry allows retailers to pass their credit card acceptance costs onto consumers in the form of a new fee. Not all merchants will charge this fee—it’s up to individual business owners. The settlement terms took effect on Jan. 27, 2013.
Make sure you know your rights – and the merchant’s responsibilities – before paying a fee to use your credit card!
In 2012, a settlement was reached between retailers, nine major banks and Visa and MasterCard in a legal case over electronic payment costs.
As part of the settlement, retailers now have the option to charge a checkout fee when you use your credit card.
You need to know that there are important consumer protections built into the settlement.
Find contact information for your state attorney general at the National Association of Attorneys General website.
Be aware that while checkout fees are now allowed, retailers are not required to charge you extra for using a credit or charge card.
To learn more, visit Consumer Action’s Know Your Card website.
Credit: Consumer Action created this brochure in partnership with the Electronic Payments Coalition. Read EPC’s fact sheet, Checkout Fees: What Consumers Should Know.
Published: December 13, 2012
Credit card checkout fees
File Name: checkout_fees.pdf
File Size: 0.07MB
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