Crackdown on rip-off card charges

Consumer rights champion, Euro MP, Arlene McCarthy has welcomed a ban on excessive charges for people who use debit or credit cards to buy goods and services.

Arlene said: “Consumers have been ripped off by excessive payment surcharges for too long. I raised this when I was Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee and delighted we are finally seeing action to put an end to these unscrupulous practices. The campaign by Which? has resulted in this new law coming into force in the UK earlier than the European law stipulated.”

Arlene added: “We now need your help to ensure that businesses are playing by the new rules and don’t continue to charge ridiculous surcharges. If you think you have been charged an excessive surcharge then I urge you to report it to Which?”

“Any surcharges from now on must be reflective of costs incurred by the business, be that for cinema, theatre or band tickets or when booking flights online. There should be no more nasty surprises at the end of a booking process.”