Can restaurants charge a minimum for credit cards?
Rachel Davis
Updated on January 22, 2026
According to a 2010 ruling under the Dodd-Frank law , a business is allowed to set a credit card minimum of up to $10, as long as that same standard applies to all the credit cards accepted by that merchant.
Can Shops enforce a minimum card spend?
There is no minimum card payment law, which means that there’s nothing stopping businesses from setting a minimum spending limit. However, there are rules set out by card networks which state that any merchant accepting their cards cannot set a maximum or minimum limit.
What is a convenience fee in a restaurant?
Convenience fees are charges levied for the privilege of paying for a product or service using an alternative payment, or a payment method that is not standard for the merchant. So technically, you’re not paying for using your credit card, but for the privilege of using the pay-by-phone option.
Can shopkeepers charge for card payments?
Credit and debit card surcharges were banned in January 2018, but retailers, letting agents and even a university have been found breaking the rules. The legislation means customers cannot be charged more for paying by card.
Are card minimums illegal?
While it’s not illegal to require debit card customers to spend a minimum amount, it actually does violate user agreements with a majority credit card-processing companies. Even though merchant agreements vary, small-businesses pay less to process debit cards than credit cards.
How Much Does Visa charge merchants per transaction?
Average credit card interchange fees: 1.5% to 3.3%
| Payment network | Interchange fee range |
|---|---|
| Visa | 1.15% + $0.05 to 2.40% + $0.10 |
| Mastercard | 1.15% + $0.05 to 2.50% + $0.10 |
| Discover | 1.35% + $0.05 to 2.40% + $0.10 |
| American Express | 1.43% + $0.10 to 3.30% + $0.10 |
Is it legal to charge minimums for credit cards?
The fees are legal, but merchants may be breaking the terms of their agreements with payment-processing providers when they impose minimums. Several laws went into effect in 2013 governing how merchants deal with customers who pay with plastic. Two major changes took place. Minimum-purchase requirements up to $10 are allowed for credit cards.
Can I impose a minimum transaction of$ 10 for card?
Yes. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 permits businesses to impose a minimum purchase amount of up to $10 for credit card use, but the minimum must be the same for all credit card issuers and payment card networks. Check out all the answers from our credit card experts.
Is there a minimum purchase amount for a credit card?
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 permits businesses to impose a minimum purchase amount of up to $10 for credit card use, but the minimum must be the same for all credit card issuers and payment card networks.
Can a retailer still charge for using a credit card?
For example, some airlines previously charged a percentage (usually around 1% or 2%) on top of your payment if you use a credit card. They will no longer be allowed to do this. If there is an extra charge unrelated to the payment method (such as a service charge or booking fee), retailers will still be able to add this on.
