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• Surcharges are legal in most states (prohibited in Connecticut and Massachusetts)
• The card brands allow surcharging when requirements are followed
• When allowed, surcharges are ONLY ALLOWED ON CREDIT CARDS
• Debit cards and prepaid cards CANNOT be surcharged, even if run as credit
• Surcharge is no greater than the merchant’s cost of credit card acceptance
• Surcharges are capped at 4.00%, except in Colorado where the cap is 2.00%
• Surcharge must be the same for all transactions and card types
• Businesses must inform customers about the surcharge before checkout
• Signage must be displayed at the front of the store and during checkout
• Customer opinions and Consumer reactions
• Cardholders are beginning to experience ‘fee fatigue’
• Credit card vs. debit card mix
• Comparison to your competition
• May require new equipment or software
• Violating the surcharge rules can result in fines of up to $25,000
• Surcharging rules could change in the future
• Surcharges must be returned to the cardholder when processing a refund