BUSINESSES have been reminded they are no longer allowed to charge consumers for using credit or debit cards when paying for  goods and services.

The warning was made by Worcestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service after this type of surcharge was banned in January 2018.

It also applies to charge cards, PayPal, electronic payment services and mobile phone enabled payment.

Peter Holmes, senior trading standards officer with Worcestershire Trading Standards said: “We are seeing an upsurge in the number of consumer complaints where retailers have insisted that a surcharge is levied on credit and debit card use.

"The law is very clear, this is no longer allowed.

"We will be speaking to those businesses who may not know of the change, but the Trading Standards Service will take formal action where the law is being flouted.”

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member with responsibility for communities said: "This change in surcharges has been in force since January, but unfortunately some traders are continuing to act under the regulations of previous law.

"Our Trading Standards team will continue to help both businesses and consumers by raising awareness of the change in the law, and will act accordingly when it is believed the law is being broken."  

Consumers can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 if they have a complaint about illegal surcharging.