Are businesses allowed to charge for using a debit card?

Asked by: Mr. Lucius Fisher  |  Last update: June 1, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (53 votes)

No. The ability to surcharge only applies to credit card purchases, and only under certain conditions. U.S. merchants cannot surcharge debit card or prepaid card purchases.

Can a business charge a fee for using a debit card?

Many state laws allow for a business to charge a consumer an additional fee, called a surcharge, to pay by credit card. However, this is not allowed by law in any state for debit cards, even when the transaction is processed as “credit.”

Are merchants allowed to charge a debit card fee?

Is Debit Card Surcharging Legal? For debit cards and prepaid cards, surcharging is prohibited—even when the card is run as a signature-based transaction without the PIN. This restriction was implemented by the Durbin Amendment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Can companies still charge a debit card?

Businesses cannot impose any surcharge for using the following methods of payment: consumer credit cards, debit cards or charge cards. similar payment methods that are not card-based (for example, mobile phone-based payment methods)

Do I get charged for using a debit card?

Debit cards are usually free to use, but there are some charges to be aware of.

Merchant Surcharge Fee - Can You Charge A Convenience Fee on Credit Card Purchases

30 related questions found

Is it legal to be charged for using a debit card?

No, surcharging for debit card transactions is prohibited under the Durbin Amendment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This applies to all types of debit cards, including prepaid cards.

Can I pay $10,000 with my debit card?

Yes, banks have debit card limits for how much you can spend or how much money you can withdraw at an ATM. Daily purchase limits can range from $300 to $10,000. Daily withdrawal limits for debit cards can vary from $200 to $5,000.

Is it legal for a company to charge your card without permission?

Under the law, businesses must take steps to ensure that charges to customers' credit cards, debit cards, phone bills, and other accounts are authorized.

How do I report a debit card surcharge?

To report merchants charging excessive payment card surcharges, or surcharging debit and prepaid card transactions, consumers may visit www.visa.com or www.mastercard.com to fill out a Merchant Violation Form. Can cardholders be surcharged on both credit and debit card transactions? No.

Is it legal for businesses to charge extra for using a credit card?

There is no prohibition for credit card surcharges and no statute on discounts for different payment methods. Merchants can impose a surcharge as long as it doesn't exceed the cost of the merchant's processing fee. Merchants may offer discounts for payment by cash, check or other methods unrelated to credit cards.

How much do businesses get charged for debit card transactions?

On average, you could expect to pay anywhere from 0.4% to 3.4% of each transaction's value in overall fees. Please note that these are rough estimates. Charges vary widely according to card type, payment type, industry and the volume of transactions you process.

What is the no surcharge rule?

The No-Surcharge Rule (NSR). The NSR means that a merchant charges at most the same amount for a payment card1 transaction as for cash. If the merchant decides to apply a discount for payments in cash that discount cannot be extended to any specific card brand.

Is it illegal for stores to have a minimum debit card charge?

In summary, businesses are not allowed to set a minimum purchase amount for consumers paying with a debit card. Minimum transaction amounts are legal for credit card transactions—as long as the minimum does not exceed $10, and the policy is the same for all card brands and all issuing banks.

Do merchants pay a fee to accept debit cards?

Do merchants pay a fee for debit transactions? Yes, you can expect to pay a fee for all debit transactions. The fees consist of a combination of the interchange and assessment fees that the card issuers and networks charge as well as service fees charged by your payment processor.

How to avoid debit card surcharges?

Use cash where you can

The easiest way to avoid card surcharges is to pay by cash. While businesses can charge a surcharge for paying by debit or credit cards, they can't charge a surcharge for paying by cash.

Can you use a debit card for business expenses?

Businesses can find that using debit cards for their expenses offers direct control over cash outflows. Transactions are immediately deducted from the business's bank account, aiding in real-time budget management and reducing the risk of overspending.

Is it legal for a business to charge for using a debit card?

No. The ability to surcharge only applies to credit card purchases, and only under certain conditions. U.S. merchants cannot surcharge debit card or prepaid card purchases.

What states are debit card surcharges illegal?

Surcharging is widely accepted in the US except in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico. Illinois, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Texas, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, New Jersey, Minnesota, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Montana allow surcharging with certain contingencies.

Can I block a business from charging my debit card?

You have the right to stop a company from taking automatic payments from your account, even if you previously allowed them. For example, you might decide to cancel a membership or monthly service, or you might want to switch to a different payment method.

Can a company charge your debit card?

Businesses cannot impose any surcharge for using the following methods of payment: consumer credit cards, debit cards or charge cards. similar payment methods that are not card-based (for example, mobile phone-based payment methods) electronic payment services (for example, PayPal)

Is it illegal to charge a debit card without authorization?

Penal Code 484g PC makes it a crime to fraudulently use another person's credit or debit card.

Can a company take money out of my bank account without permission?

No. Debt collectors can ONLY withdraw funds from your bank account with YOUR permission. That permission often comes in the form of authorization for the creditor to complete automatic withdrawals from your bank account.

Can I deposit $7000 in cash to the bank?

You can deposit up to $10,000 cash before reporting it to the IRS. Lump sum or incremental deposits of more than $10,000 must be reported. Banks must report cash deposits of more than $10,000. Banks may also choose to report suspicious transactions like frequent large cash deposits.

Do I have to pay a fee to receive $3000 on cash App?

Sending and receiving money is totally free and fast, and most payments are deposited directly to your bank account in minutes.