Pricing program
Compliant Surcharging
Pass credit card processing costs to customers legally by adding a surcharge on card transactions, within Visa and Mastercard caps and with proper disclosure.
How Compliant Surcharging Works
Surcharging means you add a fee to the sale when a customer pays with a credit card. The fee is capped by card network rules: Visa allows up to 3% (or your actual cost of acceptance, whichever is lower), and Mastercard up to 4% (or your actual cost). Debit and prepaid cards cannot be surcharged, only credit.
Done correctly, surcharging recovers your processing cost on card transactions while staying within the law and card brand requirements. Omega helps you implement it with proper disclosure, signage, and state-by-state compliance.
Talk to Us About Surcharging
Compliant surcharging calculator
Credit only-one listed price, plus a separate surcharge line on credit tenders. Illustrative math only; caps, state law, and your actual cost of acceptance control what you may charge.
Sample checkout, credit card
$100.00
$3.00
Own line on receipt
$103.00
Debit or cash: customer pays $100.00, no surcharge on debit (network rules).
Monthly illustration
Surcharge collected only on the 60% you set as credit (~$18,000.00), not on debit.
$540.00
3.00% × $18,000.00 credit volume
Not legal advice. Surcharging is prohibited in some jurisdictions; disclosure, notice, and acquirer registration requirements apply. Omega helps you implement a compliant program for your locations and card mix.
What Compliance Requires
Card networks and many states require specific steps. Non-compliance can result in fines and program violations. We help you get it right from day one.
- Notify your acquirer, Most programs require at least 30 days’ advance notice before you begin surcharging.
- Clear disclosure, Disclose the surcharge at point of entry, at point of sale, and on the receipt. It must be clearly identified as a surcharge or fee paid by the customer for using a credit card.
- Separate line item, The surcharge must appear as its own line on the receipt, not folded into the subtotal.
- Credit cards only, Surcharges may not be applied to debit or prepaid card transactions.
State Laws Matter
Surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states (e.g., Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York) may have additional caps or disclosure rules. If you do business in multiple states, you need a program that keeps you compliant everywhere you operate. We’ll help you understand what applies to your locations.
State surcharging laws change. Omega works with you to implement surcharging in line with current card network rules and your state’s requirements.
Surcharging vs. Dual Pricing
With surcharging, you show one price and add a fee when the customer pays with a credit card. With our Dual Pricing Program, you display two prices (cash and card) and is legal in all 50 states. We’ll help you choose the right program for your business and location.
Recover card costs
Pass credit card processing fees to card-paying customers within network caps.
What we provide
- Compliance setup per Visa and Mastercard rules
- Disclosure and signage guidance
- State-by-state eligibility and limits
- Acquirer notification and implementation support
See If Compliant Surcharging Fits You
We’ll walk you through eligibility, compliance, and setup, no obligation.
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