Paying with a debit or credit card offers a convenient way for North Carolina customers to pay for goods and services.
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But it’s also more expensive.
Many stores and restaurants add a surcharge when you pay with a credit card. This fee, usually a small percentage, helps them cover the cost of processing fees, which they have to pay card companies for accepting the cards.
Governments and public agencies charge similar fees — but they add surcharges for debit card payments, too, not just credit card payments. This week, the city of Raleigh announced that it would begin charging a fee to residents who use credit or debit cards to pay their utility bill.
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Here’s what to know about processing fees and how to avoid them.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by Kimberly Tutuska and Renee Umsted, who also wrote and edited the source reporting referenced above.
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