29 Mar Stores can’t add surcharges to debit cards, right?

Q. Is there a way to report a business that is adding a fee for a debit card?

— Annoyed

A. Indeed, surcharges may not be added for debit or pre-paid cards.

These days, it’s quite common to see posted signs about surcharges or minimums if you want to pay by credit card.

For credit cards, it’s legal. Businesses are charged fees for credit card processing, and they often pass the cost along to consumers.

Under Visa and Mastercard, businesses are required to register the surcharge with the payment network. Then, they must display a notice of the surcharge at the point of sale, both in-store and online. The consumer’s receipt must also indicate a surcharge was added to the bill.

Last year, the New Jersey Attorney General issued warning letters to businesses that weren’t following the law.

Businesses can also offer a cash discount.

The surcharges may not be added for debit or pre-paid cards.

Where it gets sticky is that some stores, when they accept debit cards, only accept them as credit cards — where you don’t need to enter a PIN to use the card. In those cases, any complaint that you were charged a fee for using a debit card probably won’t fly.

But you can file a complaint with the state’s Consumer Affairs office.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on March 29, 2023.

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