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Bank Cards: Surcharges

Question for HM Treasury

UIN HL4709, tabled on 15 January 2018

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to address concerns highlighted by the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the impact of new rules making it unlawful to levy extra charges on customers who pay with credit or debit cards, on small businesses

Answered on

29 January 2018

The Government recognises the pressures that small businesses are facing and that the new rules banning surcharging may have an impact on them.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published guidance on the ban, including on how retailers could manage an increase in their costs to accommodate the ban:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664065/payment-surcharges-guidance.pdf

The surcharging ban should help to ensure prices are transparent and consumers will not face a hidden fee just for wanting to pay in a particular way. This should help consumers to pick the most competitive deals.

Answered by

Treasury