Credit Card Surcharge FAQ's

This article covers information related to the Heartland Surcharge Program

Read about the Heartland Surcharge Program - HERE.

What is a Surcharge?

Instead of your business covering the cost of credit card transactions, the customer pays a 3% fee. This approach helps you offset the cost of credit card processing without breaking any rules. The surcharge payments program ensures your business is registered and compliant with card brand regulations.

How Does It Work?

When a customer uses a surcharge eligible credit card, Heartland automatically applies a surcharge at the time of the transaction and the details are clearly itemized on the customer’s receipt. 

Is there a cost? 

Heartland charges a $20/month program fee and a 10% surcharge fee that is applied to the 3% transaction. The business keeps 2.7% of the surcharged revenue. 

Am I Compliant?

The Heartland surcharge program ensures your business remains compliant with all relevant card brand regulations and state laws. Surcharges can only be applied to credit card transactions, excluding debit, gift, and prepaid cards. It’s crucial to follow these rules to avoid legal issues or the loss of card processing privileges:

Do I need to disclose anything? 

To stay compliant with surcharge law, clearly inform customers about the surcharge at the entrance of your business and at the point of sale.

 

By adhering to these guidelines, Heartland’s Credit Surcharging Program helps protect your business from legal risks and ensures you remain fully compliant while efficiently collecting surcharges.