Everything you need to know about the Surcharge Ban

If you currently apply surcharges to consumers for paying by credit or debit card, this is now the law as of the 13th January 2018 when PSD2 has come into effect.

What charges are banned?

Specifically, if both a merchant and the consumer are based in the EEA, then applying surcharges to the following will be banned:

• payments made via credit or debit card (including AMEX)
• online payments
• credit transfers and direct debits

What charges are not banned?

·     Commercial cards

·     Business spend on personal cards

·     International Transactions

·     Minimum card spend

How will the ban be policed?

Trading standard officers at local authorities will be responsible for responding to complaints.

Any ways around the Surcharge?

Any charges specifically for card spend are banned, however adding a general fee like admin, service or booking fees are permitted.