Finance glossary
Card Surcharge
Also known as: Payment surcharge
In simple terms
A card surcharge is an extra fee some sellers used to add for paying by card. For consumer debit and credit cards in the UK, this is now banned.
On this page
What does card surcharge mean?
A card surcharge is an additional charge added specifically for paying by card rather than another method. Before the rules changed, some businesses charged 2–3% extra for card payments.
For consumer debit and credit cards, surcharging is now prohibited in the UK.
How the surcharge ban works
Under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (which implemented the ban), businesses cannot charge consumers extra for paying by most debit or credit cards, or by certain other methods. A business can still set a minimum spend, or add a general service charge applied to everyone.
Some business and commercial cards, and some other payment types, fall outside the ban.
How could this affect me?
If a shop or website tries to add a fee just for using your personal card, that is generally not allowed. You can challenge it and report persistent breaches to Trading Standards.
Watch for fees disguised as “booking” or “admin” charges that only appear when you choose to pay by card.
Things to watch out for
- Fees dressed up as “admin” or “booking” charges may be hidden surcharges.
- A general service charge applied to everyone is not a card surcharge.
- Some business/commercial cards fall outside the ban.
Know your rights
- Surcharging consumers for paying by most debit and credit cards is banned in the UK (Payment Services Regulations 2017).
- You can report a business that breaches the ban to Trading Standards (via Citizens Advice).
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- legislation.gov.uk, The Payment Services Regulations 2017 (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.