Can companies still charge a debit card?

Asked by: Rose Hammes  |  Last update: April 8, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (12 votes)

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)

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.

In 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.

How do I stop a company from charging my debit card?

You should contact the merchant in writing and tell them to cancel both the service and the charges to your account. You could consider including in the letter information on how you previously requested to cancel the service or provide a copy of any prior cancellation notice.

Is it legal to charge a service charge on a debit card?

Surcharge fees are strictly limited to credit card transactions only. Even if a client wishes to run a signature debit transaction, where a debit card is processed as a credit transaction, you are still not allowed to implement a surcharge.

My debit card company charges me when I withdraw money from ATM, is this ok or riba? Assim al hakeem

29 related questions found

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)

Why are businesses charging debit card fees?

Provided businesses adhere to surcharging rules and regulations, credit card purchases can be subject to surcharging as a sustainable way to minimize payment processing costs.

What to do if a company charges your debit card without authorization?

Report Problems. If you have an issue with your credit card or bank account, report it to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Go to consumerfinance.gov/complaint, or call (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

What to do if a company keeps charging you?

Most credit card companies and banks will allow you to revoke authorization or request a stop payment order to prevent a recurring payment that hasn't been processed yet. You can also contact the company providing the service to stop future payments.

How do I fight a charge on my debit card?

If you're confident the transaction you're dealing with isn't fraudulent, you should still contact your bank right away. Let them know you want to dispute a debit card charge. Depending on where you bank, you may be able to start a dispute online, over the phone, or in writing.

Can you pass debit card fees on to customers?

You aren't allowed to pass on debit card fees to customers, so you'll have to cover the cost yourself.

What is the federal law on debit cards?

Under federal law, you have protections that help limit what you have to pay if your credit, ATM, or debit cards are lost or stolen. If someone uses your ATM or debit card before you report it lost or stolen, what you owe depends on how quickly you report it.

How do I avoid debit card surcharges?

Use cash where you can

The easiest way to avoid card surcharges is to pay by cash.

Can I be charged for using my debit card?

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.

What are the new credit card laws for 2024?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Releases Final Rule on Credit Card Late Fees, with Overdraft Fees on Deck. On March 5, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) announced the final rule governing late fees for consumer credit card payments, likely cutting the average fee from $32 to just $8.

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.

Can I block a company 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 I sue a company for charging my card without permission?

Some laws require this consent to have first been obtained expressly in writing. If it is not obtained prior to the withdrawals/charges, you might be entitled not only to the return of the illegally withdrawn or charged amounts but also to statutory damages and for your attorney's fees and costs to be paid.

How can I get a company to stop charging my card?

First, you should try the following alternatives:
  1. Call or email a merchant to cancel your payments and revoke authorization.
  2. Go to your online account with the business to cancel your service.
  3. Request a refund directly from the merchant for incorrect charges.
  4. Dispute illegitimate charges with your credit card issuer.

Can my debit card be charged without my permission?

Money can be debited from your account without permission because of the following negligence; If you share your bank details, card details or passwords, OTP or pins, you can be at risk of encountering such transaction frauds.

Who pays for unauthorized debit card charges?

Debit cards are as vulnerable to theft as credit cards and offer limited fraud protection. Depending on how soon you report the fraud, you could be responsible for up to $50 in unauthorized transactions – or the full amount. Learn about debit card fraud protection and what you can do to minimize your liability.

Can a company charge my card without permission?

If you claim the use of the card was not authorised by you, it is for your bank to prove otherwise. The bank may be able to cancel the payment or put the money back into your account. If your card provider will not give you your money back, report them to Trading Standards. Report a problem to Trading Standards.

Are debit card charges mandatory?

No, ATM AMC is not always compulsory, as depneding on the bank policies, some bank does not levy any ATM AMC charges on certain types of ATM cards.

What is the Durbin Amendment?

A section of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act known as the Durbin Amendment requires the Board to establish standards for assessing whether the amount of any interchange fee received by a debit card issuer is reasonable and proportional to the cost incurred by the issuer with respect to the ...

Can you stop payment on a debit card?

Stop payments cannot be placed on one-time, everyday point-of-sale (POS) debit card transactions. Stop payments can be placed only if the transaction is a recurring payment. The bank must be notified three business days before the recurring payment posts to the account. A stop payment fee applies.