Card surcharges in the UK: can you charge customers to pay by card?
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
- 1Your card appears in your app
- 2Tap it to pay in a shop
- 3See every payment as it happens
Since January 2018, UK businesses have not been allowed to add a surcharge when consumers pay with most debit and credit cards. The rules also cover some other ways of paying, such as popular e-wallets linked to those cards.
What's banned
You can't charge personal customers extra for paying with a consumer debit or credit card. That includes online, in store and over the phone.
What's still allowed
- Different prices for different payment methods can still apply to business and commercial cards, as long as the surcharge doesn't exceed your actual cost.
- Offering a discount for paying another way, such as by bank transfer, is generally treated differently from a surcharge.
- Setting prices that already include your card costs.
Try it
Name your platform and watch it come to life
Type a name, tap a colour and pick what it does. The phone changes as you go.
Colour
What it does
Design and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
Covering card fees fairly
Most small businesses build card fees into their prices, compare providers for lower rates, or offer cheaper ways to pay such as bank transfer or pay by bank. Always check the current rules or take advice before changing how you charge.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay platforms include payment links and invoicing under your own brand, powered by licensed partners. You can preview your platform before you launch.
How it works
Your own money app- 1Name it and pick your colours
- 2Choose what it does
- 3Launch when you are ready
Why sign up
Create your free SendPay account
It's all about creating your own financial platform with ease. Start with a free account today.
- 🪪A free business accountOpen it in about a minute with your business name, email, password and mobile. No card and no documents to start.
- 💳Get paid from day oneTake card payments, and share your own payment link and invoices so customers pay in a click.
- 🌐A free business websiteFree to build, free to publish and free to keep, with unlimited visits.
- 🚀Your own financial platformDesign and preview your whole platform free, then launch when you are ready.
SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.
Questions people ask
Read next
Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.