{"id":9509,"date":"2013-01-27T04:05:38","date_gmt":"2013-01-27T12:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/37prime.wordpress.com\/?p=9509"},"modified":"2013-01-27T04:05:38","modified_gmt":"2013-01-27T12:05:38","slug":"mastercard-and-visa-merchants-are-allowed-to-add-surcharges-in-the-united-states-starting-january-27th-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/37prime.com\/news\/2013\/01\/27\/mastercard-and-visa-merchants-are-allowed-to-add-surcharges-in-the-united-states-starting-january-27th-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"MasterCard and Visa Merchants are allowed to add Surcharges in the United States starting January 27th, 2013."},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting January 27, 2013<\/a>, merchants in the United States and U.S. Territories will be permitted to impose a surcharge on consumers when they use MasterCard or Visa credit card. Back in November 9, 2012<\/a>, a U.S. judge preliminary approved to a proposed $7.2 billion settlement between merchants and Visa Inc and MasterCard Inc over credit card fees.<\/p>\n

\"Credit<\/a><\/p>\n

From MasterCard<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Pursuant to a settlement of the U.S. merchant class litigation, MasterCard will modify certain rules and business practices to permit U.S. merchants to apply an extra checkout fee, also known as a surcharge, to customers who pay with MasterCard-branded credit cards. The rule change permitting such surcharging will go into effect on January 27, 2013. These fees are not allowed on Debit MasterCard or MasterCard prepaid cards.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

From Visa<\/a>:<\/p>\n

What is a Surcharge?<\/strong>
\nA payment card surcharge is a fee that a retailer adds to the cost of a purchase when a customer uses a payment card.<\/p>\n

Changes to Surcharging Fees in the United States<\/strong>
\nBeginning January 27, 2013, merchants in the United States and U.S. Territories will be permitted to impose a surcharge on consumers when they use a credit card.<\/p>\n

Historically Visa has not permitted retailer surcharging, but allowing surcharging was a key provision required by merchants to settle long-standing litigation brought by a class of retailers in 2005.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This settlement takes effect on Sunday January 27, 2013 in the United States with the exception of the following 10 States<\/a> where there are laws limiting or prohibiting surcharges:<\/p>\n