Tips

GENERAL TIPS

Quick Steps to Visa Card acceptance

1. Check the card security features. Make sure that the card has not been altered.
2. Swipe the stripe. Swipe the card through the terminal in one direction only to obtain authorization.
3. Check the authorization response. Take appropriate action for the specific response:
   

   Response	Action
   Approved	Ask the customer to sign the sales receipt.
   Declined	Return the card to customer and ask for another Visa card.
   Call or Call Center	Call your voice authorization center and tell the operator that you have a "Call" or "Call Center" response. Follow the operator instructions. Note: In most cases, a "Call" or "Call Center" message just means the card Issuer needs some additional information before the transaction can be approved.
   Pick Up	Keep the card if you can do so peacefully.
   No Match	Swipe the card and re-key the last four digits. If "no match" response appears again, keep the card if you can do so peacefully. Request a Code 10 authorization.

4. Match the numbers. Check the embossed number on the card against the four digits of the account number displayed on the terminal.
5. Request a signature. Have the cardholder sign the transaction receipt.
6. Check the signature. Be sure that the signature on the card matches the one the transaction receipt. If you suspect fraud, immediately make a Code 10 call to your voice authorization center.

Visa card not present—keyed transactions (CNP) Payment Acceptance

Take these steps to accept Visa CNP payments:

1. Obtain an authorization.
2. Verify the card's legitimacy:
   
   • Ask the customer for the card expiration date, and include it in your authorization request. An invalid or missing expiration date might indicate that the customer does not have the actual card in hand.
   • Use fraud prevention tools such as Visa's Address Verification Service (AVS), Card Verification Value 2 (CVV2), and Verified by Visa.
   • Learn more about Card-Not-Present fraud prevention tools.
3. Look for general warning signs of fraud (listed below).
4. If you receive an authorization, but still suspect fraud:
   
   • Ask for additional information during the transaction (e.g., request the financial institution name on the front of the card).
   • Contact the cardholder with any questions.
   • Confirm the order separately by sending a note via the customer's billing address rather than the "ship to" address.

To report suspicious activity, contact your merchant financial institution.

13 Potential Signs of CNP (card not present, keyed) Fraud

Keep your eyes open for the following fraud indicators. When more than one is true during a card-not-present transaction, fraud might be involved. Follow up, just in case.

1. First-time shopper: Criminals are always looking for new victims.
2. Larger-than-normal orders: Because stolen cards or account numbers have a limited life span, crooks need to maximize the size of their purchase.
3. Orders that include several of the same item: Having multiples of the same item increases a criminal's profits.
4. Orders made up of "big-ticket" items: These items have maximum resale value and therefore maximum profit potential.
5. "Rush" or "overnight" shipping: Crooks want these fraudulently obtained items as soon as possible for the quickest possible resale, and aren't concerned about extra delivery charges.
6. Shipping to an international address: A significant number of fraudulent transactions are shipped to fraudulent cardholders outside of the U.S. Visa AVS can't validate non-U.S., except in Canada and the United Kingdom.
7. Transactions with similar account numbers: Particularly useful if the account numbers used have been generated using software available on the Internet (e.g., CreditMaster).
8. Shipping to a single address, but transactions placed on multiple cards: Could involve an account number generated using special software, or even a batch of stolen cards.
9. Multiple transactions on one card over a very short period of time: Could be an attempt to "run a card" until the account is closed.
10. Multiple transactions on one card or a similar card with a single billing address, but multiple shipping addresses: Could represent organized activity, rather than one individual at work.
11. In online transactions, multiple cards used from a single IP (Internet Protocol) address: More than one or two cards could definitely indicate a fraud scheme.
12. Orders from Internet addresses that make use of free e-mail services: These e-mail services involve no billing relationships, and often neither an audit trail nor verification that a legitimate cardholder has opened the account.
13. Third Party Shipping: Any transaction a customer requests to charge shipping on the credit card and wants to forward shipping charges to a 3rd party shipper.

Visa CNP (card not present) Fraud Prevention Tools

Appropriate preventive action can help reduce fraudulent transactions and potential customer disputes. Make use of these Visa tools and controls to verify the legitimacy of the Visa cardholder and the card in every card-not-present transaction.

Handling Key-Entered Transactions

If a Visa card cannot be swiped, you must key-enter the card account data into your POS terminal. When you key-enter a transaction, you run the risk of accepting a counterfeit card because the magnetic stripe information is unavailable.

1. Check the terminal. Be sure your terminal is working properly. If the terminal is okay and the problem appears to be with the magnetic stripe, continue to step 2.
2. Match the account number. Check to see that the embossed account number on the front of the card matches the number indent-printed on the back.
3. Check the expiration date. Look at the "good thru" or "valid thru" date to be sure the card hasn't expired. If the card has a "valid from" date, be sure the card isn't being used before it is valid.
4. Make an imprint. Get a manual imprint of the card.
5. Get a signature. Ask the customer to sign the imprinted sales draft.
6. Check the signature. Be sure that the signature on the card matches the one on the sales draft. Do not accept an unsigned card.
7. If you suspect fraud, immediately make a Code 10 call to your voice authorization center.

Six Warning Signs of Fraud

Certain customer behavior could point to card fraud, but it doesn't necessarily indicate criminal activity. You know your customers, so let your instincts steer you in the right direction.

Watch out for customers who:

1. Purchase a large amount of merchandise without regard to size, style, color, or price.
2. Ask no questions on major purchases.
3. Try to distract or rush you during the sale.
4. Make purchases and leave the store, but then return to make more purchases.
5. Make large purchases just after the store's opening, or as the store is closing. R
6. efuse free delivery for large items.

How Processing Works

Key players
Every Visa card transaction involves multiple parties. The following definitions will give you a good understanding of who's who in the transaction process.

• Cardholder: an authorized Visa user.
• Issuer: a financial institution that issues Visa cards and maintains a contract with cardholders for repayment.
• Merchant: an authorized acceptor of Visa cards for the payment of goods and services.
• Acquirer: The acquirer (financial institution or merchant bank) that contracts with the merchant for Visa acceptance and enables Visa card payments from customers.
• Visa: the consumer payment system, whose members are the financial institutions that issue Visa cards and/or sign merchants to accept Visa.
• VisaNet: an advanced network that acts as an Authorization service for Visa card transactions, as well as a Clearing and Settlement service to transfer payment information between parties.

A two-part process
Processing a Visa card transaction involves two stages: Authorization, where an electronic request is sent through various parties to either approve or decline the transaction; and Clearing and Settlement, where all parties settle their accounts and get paid.

General Guidelines for Accepting Visa
Before you begin accepting Visa, be sure to follow these guidelines for merchants:

• All Visa accepting merchants have a responsibility to adhere to all federal and state laws. As it relates to accepting Visa products, merchants must accept Visa products for legal transactions only.
• Merchants that sell age-restricted products, such as alcohol and tobacco, must have in place processes and controls to ensure that all associated laws are honored.
• Merchants should be aware that possession of a Visa card or submission of Visa account information does not signify that the cardholder is of legal age to purchase age-restricted products.
• The issuance of Visa cards is not restricted to individuals over 18 years of age.

DATA SECURITY TIPS

Keeping your transactions secure.

Merchant Responsibilities

Data security should be a key component of all merchant policies and practices related to payment acceptance and transaction processing. As customers seek out merchants that are reputable and reliable, they expect assurance that their account information is being guarded and their personal data is safe.

• Secure storage: According to the Visa U.S.A. Inc. Operating Regulations, merchants are responsible for ensuring that account information is stored in secure, limited-access areas. In addition, merchants are prohibited from storing magnetic stripe information following a transaction and disclosing cardholder data to anyone—except if it is needed by a merchant bank, card issuer, or third-party processor to complete a sale.
• Prevent employee fraud scams: A merchant's data security policies should also be designed to prevent fraud scams involving collusive employees. Whenever possible, account numbers should be encrypted or scrambled during transaction processing. Unauthorized electronic equipment—such as laptop computers—that can be used to steal or replicate account information should not be allowed in the workplace.
• Encryption software: Data security should be of special concern to e-commerce merchants. Encryption software is required to protect account information during online transactions, and merchants must also ensure that account data cannot be accessed online. To make cardholder data "hacker-proof," merchants can either use firewalls—which may include encryption, passwords, or other protections—or store the account data on a computer with no Internet access.

Visa Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP)

The Visa Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) applies to any entity that stores, processes, or transmits Visa cardholder information.

CISP consists of twelve basic requirements for safeguarding account data, supported by more detailed sub-requirements. These data security requirements apply to all members, merchants, and their service providers. Validation of compliance, however, is prioritized based on the volume of cardholder data and the potential risk introduced into the Visa system by merchants and service providers.

Tips for Protecting Confidential Business Information

• Empty the mailbox. Never leave outgoing or incoming mail in pick-up boxes overnight. This is your best defense against possible off-hour mail snoops.
• Watch the fax. A document sitting on the fax waiting for pick-up is an open invitation for prying eyes. Try to stand by the fax machine to receive sensitive information as soon as it comes in.
• Send email sparingly. When sending sensitive information via email, encrypt it first—or don't send it at all. There's always the possibility of cyber-thief interception or an accidental electronic distribution.
• Make copies carefully. Private matters can go public fast when juicy stuff gets left behind. When making copies of sensitive documents, remember to grab your originals off the copy machine.
• Use the shredder. Always shred sensitive information before dumping it in the trash bin. If you can't shred, use receptacles designed for sensitive paper disposal.
• Leave discrete voicemail messages. You never know who's standing within earshot of someone's work area, so avoid leaving a detailed voice-mail message if it involves sensitive information.
• Protect your onsite ID. Play it safe with your ID badges, office keys, and building-entry codes. Protect them as you would your own credit cards and cash.
• Keep things private in public. When you're in a public place, think twice before discussing proprietary information or any details about sensitive projects. You never know who's listening.
• identify strangers. Don't make it easy for an outsider to pull an inside job. If you see an unfamiliar face roaming around your office, step up and ask if you can assist. Make your presence known.
• Be careful with your documents. Remove all sensitive materials from your work area when you're not using them or at the end of the day. Be sure to lock them in the appropriate file cabinets, desk drawers, etc.
• Note what's on your screen. Those account numbers and financial details on your computer screen are intended for your eyes only! To keep it that way, use a glare screen to minimize easy information access.
• Limit cell phone conversations. Anyone can listen in on your cellular conversations. All it takes is a good ear and a decent scanner. Avoid sharing any sensitive information over a cell phone.

SSL Protection

• Many online transactions are protected by the security protocol SSL, short for Secure Sockets Layer.
• SSL provides you with sound privacy protection by encrypting the channel of communication between you and the consumer. Using a mathematical formula, SSL puts the information you exchange into a complex code. Think of it as a kind of armor over the information. Even if intercepted, your data would be extremely difficult to read.

How SSL works

• SSL helps the consumer's browser automatically scramble their information—such as a credit card number—before it gets sent to the merchant. After that, SSL allows only the merchant's software to unscramble this data. Through SSL, you and your customers can complete transactions with the assurance that no one else can read or change their payment information as it travels over the Internet.
• Today SSL is considered more than enough security for consumers to do business with merchants they know and trust.

Identifying SSL

• To find out if your transaction is guarded by SSL, look for the picture of the unbroken key or closed lock in your browser window (Netscape and Microsoft browsers all use SSL). Either indicator means SSL is activated. If you don't see either sign, or if you see a broken key or an open lock, the SSL is not working to protect your transaction.
• Another quick way to see if SSL is guarding your transaction is to check the URL of the site you are visiting. It should change from "http" to "https" when processing secure transactions.

E-Mail Safety

• Electronic mail works independently of any security software, such as SSL, and is not protected by it. Email should probably never be used to send or receive sensitive personal information. Instead, when accepting payment information from a customer, always make sure to use a secure browser, and make sure the that your site uses a secure Internet technology.

RESTAURANT TIPS

Best practices for restaurants—advice on processing gratuities.

Credit and debit card use at restaurants is becoming increasing popular among restaurant goers.

According to recent Visa statistics, nearly 60% of the 70 billion dollars generated from restaurant transactions in 2005 were made with Visa Debit cards. Because debit cards are connected to cardholders' checking accounts, improper processing practices can create customer service issues both for your business and card issuers.

How authorizations with tips can lead to lost sales:

• A restaurant check is for $100, but staff has authorized an estimated tip for $120.
• The Visa cardholder's bank deducts $120 from the available funds/credit.
• The transaction amount was $115 ($100 + $15 tip).

OR

• The customer leaves the tip in cash so the transaction amount is $100.
• When a customer views their account activity and sees a $120 hold against their account, they may think the restaurant has overcharged and decides never to return to the establishment again.

Keep Your Customers Happy

To help ensure high customer satisfaction and loyalty, merchants should only submit an authorization request for the known check amount, excluding an estimated tip. Visa's operating regulations do not allow merchants to estimate authorization amounts.

To stay in line with Visa requirements, restaurants should:

• Make sure terminals, systems, software and back-office processes are set up to authorize without adding an estimated tip amount. Call your merchant provider or processor for more details.
• Train your staff to use proper authorization procedures, entering only the amount of the ticket.

You Are Protected

Many restaurants submit higher authorization amounts because they think that it protects them from chargebacks. To protect your business, Visa ensures that restaurant authorizations are valid for the amount plus 20 percent, so there is little or no chargeback liability when a tip is not included in an authorization request.

PREVENTING CHARGEBACKS

Resolve disputes timely and efficiently

Most sales transactions move smoothly through the system; they are processed, posted, and paid for with very few problems. There are times, however, when a card issuer may require additional information about a transaction and/or need to return a disputed transaction to the acquirer.

Dispute resolution basics

Visa and its card issuers and acquirers have in place an efficient dispute resolution process. As part of this process, it is highly critical that all merchants respond swiftly to copy requests and chargebacks.

A copy request (also known as a retrieval request) is made by the card issuer to your acquirer when a copy of the sales receipt is needed for a particular transaction.

A chargeback is the reversal of the dollar value (financial liability), in whole or in part, of a particular transaction by the card issuer to the acquirer, and usually, by the merchant bank to the merchant. For the merchant business, chargebacks can be costly. You may lose both the dollar amount of the transaction being charged back and the related merchandise. You also incur your own internal handling costs to process a chargeback.

What triggers a chargeback?

Chargebacks arise for many reasons, primary among which are customer disputes, fraud, processing errors, authorization issues, and non-fulfillment of copy requests. Many types of chargebacks result from easily avoidable mistakes and omissions—so, the more you know about proper procedures, the less likely you will be to inadvertently do, or fail to do, something that might result in a chargeback. Of course, chargebacks are not always the result of something merchants did or did not do; sometimes errors are made by acquirers, card issuers, and cardholders.

What is a copy request?

Card issuers typically initiate copy requests when cardholders question or dispute transactions appearing on their billing statements. They may also initiate a copy request for legal reasons such as to comply with a subpoena. An issuer sends the request to the appropriate acquirer for fulfillment. The acquirer has 30 days from the date it receives a copy request to deliver a copy of the related sales receipt to the card issuer via a method that shows proof of delivery. Your acquirer will advise you of the number of days you have to respond to a copy request. You must follow your acquirer timeframe.

How to respond to a copy request

Depending on where sales receipts are stored, your acquirer may be able to respond on your behalf or may need to send the request on to you for response. If you receive a copy request, retrieve the appropriate sales receipt, make a legible copy of it, and fax or mail it to your acquirer within the timeframe specified. Your acquirer will then forward the copy to the appropriate issuer. Upon receipt, the issuer will then send the copy to the requesting cardholder. The question or issue the cardholder had with the transaction is usually resolved by this means. Chargeback reasons will be consolidated to 24 codes.

What happens when you don't respond

Fulfilling copy requests is very important, as is copy legibility. When copy requests are not fulfilled, or not fulfilled in a timely manner, or the copies are illegible, they almost always result in a chargeback. So, if you store sales receipts, it is always in your best interest to respond promptly and properly to copy requests.

Keeping copy requests to a minimum

To minimize the number of transaction receipt copy requests, follow these guidelines:

• Ensure that the transaction information on the sales receipt is complete, accurate, and legible before completing the transaction. A receipt which produces an illegible copy may be returned because it cannot be processed properly. The growing use of electronic scanning devices for the electronic transmission of copies of sales receipts makes it imperative that the item being scanned be very legible.
• Make sure your establishment name is recognizable to your customer.
  
  • Verify that the name your merchant bank shows for you on the statement is the same as the name you show on the receipts you give your customers. (Generally, the name used for settlement should be the name you use for your business signage.)
  • Double-check your establishment name by purchasing an item in each of your outlets on your Visa card and check the merchant name and location on your monthly Visa statement—will your customers recognize transactions made at your establishment?

Avoiding illegible transaction copies

When your acquirer requests a copy of the transaction receipt from you, it must be photocopied and/or image-scanned. The copy should then be mailed or electronically sent to the acquirer. If the transaction information on the original transaction receipt is too light, too small, or on colored paper, the receipt will not copy or scan legibly. Since an illegible copy defeats the purpose of the copy request, the transaction may be returned to you as a chargeback for "Illegible copy." Unless the readability of the transaction receipt can be improved, you may end up taking a loss on that transaction.

To avoid causing illegible transaction receipts:

• Change point-of-sale printer cartridge routinely—Faded, barely visible ink on sales receipts is the #1 cause of illegible receipt copies.
• Change point-of-sale printer paper when colored streak first appears—The colored streak down the center or the edges of printer paper indicates the end of the paper roll and diminishes the legibility of transaction information.
• Keep white copy of sales receipt—Give customers the colored copy. Colored paper does not copy as clearly as white paper and often results in illegible copies.
• Handle carbonless paper and carbon/silver-back sales receipt paper carefully—Silver-back paper appears black when copied. Any pressure on carbonless and carbon-back paper during handling and storage causes black blotches, making copies illegible.
• If your establishment microfilms sales receipts, make copies from the microfilm at the same size as the original receipt—Reduced images result in blurred and illegible copies and could result in "illegible copy" chargebacks.
• Position the company's logo or marketing messages on sales receipts away from transaction information—Your company name, logo or marketing message printed across the face of sales receipts can make copies illegible and cause you to receive "illegible copy" chargebacks.

Chargeback Cycle

Most chargebacks begin when a cardholder reports a problem to the card issuer.

Responding to Chargebacks
Some chargebacks can be resolved easily without the merchant having to lose the sale. This can be done by simply providing additional information about the transaction or about specific actions taken regarding the transaction. The key here is to always supply as much information as possible to your acquirer to help them remedy the chargeback. Consider these guidelines to ensure you have a system in place.

• Know your representment rights to avoid unnecessary losses for your business.
• Act promptly when customers with valid disputes deserve credits.
• When cardholders contact you directly to resolve a dispute, issue the credit on a timely basis to avoid unnecessary disputes and their associated chargeback processing costs.
• Let cardholders know immediately of the impending credit.
• Respond to a chargeback as quickly as possible.
• Address all of the cardholder's pertinent claims.
• Be sure to supply "compelling" information to prove the true cardholder participated in the transaction, received the goods or services, and benefited from the transaction.
  Examples of compelling information
• Correspondence between the cardholder and merchant that proves the merchant spoke to the cardholder or received a letter stating that they acknowledge the validity of the transaction.
• Evidence that the merchant swiped or imprinted the card, received an authorization approval, and the cardholder's signature.

Most chargeback situations arise at the point of transaction—at the time the transaction is completed—and most can be prevented with a little training.
Consider these 15 tips to avoid potential chargebacks.

1. Do not complete a transaction if the authorization request was declined. Do not repeat the authorization request after receiving a decline.
2. If you receive a "Call" message in response to an authorization request, call your authorization center. Be prepared to answer questions. The operator may ask to speak with the cardholder. If approved, write the authorization code on the sales receipt. If declined, ask the cardholder for another Visa card.
3. Make an imprint for all card-present transactions. If you have a point-of-sale terminal with a magnetic-stripe reader, swipe the card through the reader for every face-to-face transaction. If the terminal isn't working or a card's magnetic stripe cannot be read, key-enter the account information and make an imprint of the embossed information onto the sales receipt using a manual imprinter. Even if the transaction is authorized and the cardholder signs the receipt, if the receipt does not have an imprint of the embossed account number and expiration date, the transaction may be charged back to you for "no imprint" if the cardholder later denies participating the transaction.
4. Obtain cardholder signature. The cardholder's signature on card-present transactions is required. Failure to obtain the cardholder's signature could result in a chargeback for "no signature" if the cardholder denies authorizing or participating in the transaction.
5. Make only one imprint of the card for each transaction. Making more than one imprint can lead to duplicate deposits and increase the chance of a chargeback. If you need to redo a sales receipt because of an error, write "VOID" across the incorrect sales receipt, inform the cardholder, and tear up the incorrect sales receipt in view of the customer.
6. Ensure that transactions are entered into point-of-sale terminals only once—and deposited only once. Entering the same transaction into a terminal more than once, or depositing both the merchant copy and the bank copy of the sales receipt with your acquirer, or depositing the same transaction with more than one merchant bank can all result in "duplicate transaction" chargebacks.
7. Ensure that incorrect sale receipts are voided and that transactions are processed only once.
8. If your establishment has policies regarding merchandise returns, refunds, or service cancellation, disclose these policies to the cardholder at the time of the transaction. Your policy should be pre-printed on your sales receipts; if not, write or stamp your refund/return policy information on the sales receipt near the customer signature line before the customer signs (be sure the policy shows clearly on all copies of the sales receipt). Failure to disclose such policies at the time of the transaction will be to your disadvantage should the customer return the merchandise.
9. Deposit sales receipts with your merchant bank as quickly as possible, preferably within one to five days of the transaction date—do not hold on to them. Failure to deposit in a timely manner can result in chargebacks for "late presentment."
10. Deposit credit receipts with your acquirer as quickly as possible, preferably the same day as the credit transaction is generated. Failure to process credits in a timely manner can result in chargebacks for "credit not issued."
11. If a customer requests cancellation of a recurring transaction which is billed periodically (monthly, quarterly, annually), always respond to the request and cancel the transaction immediately or as specified by the customer. As a customer service, advise the customer in writing that the service, subscription, or membership has been cancelled and state the effective date of the cancellation. Failure to respond to customer cancellation requests almost always leads to chargebacks.
12. Keep customers informed on the status of their transactions.
13. If the merchandise or service to be provided to the cardholder will be delayed, advise the cardholder in writing of the delay and the new expected delivery or service date.
14. If the merchandise ordered by the cardholder is out of stock and delivery will be delayed or this item is no longer available, advise the cardholder in writing and offer the cardholder the option of purchasing a similar item or canceling the transaction. Do not substitute another item unless the customer agrees to accept it. By giving the customer notice and the option to cancel, you may help avoid a customer dispute regarding the merchandise and a possible chargeback.
    15. Ship merchandise before depositing transaction. Don't deposit transactions with your merchant bank until you have shipped the related merchandise. If customers see a transaction on their monthly Visa statement before they receive the merchandise, it could lead to a preventable chargeback.

SURCHARGES

In 10 states it is prohibited by law for merchants to charge consumers a fee for using a credit card (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas). Consumers should know that they have protection against these fees. Consumers who are subjected to payment card checkout fees in states where they are protected by law may report the merchant to their state attorney general's office.

State Laws & Attorney General Contact Information

California
CALIFORNIA POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No retailer...may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means..."
Statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1748.1(a) (West)
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in California
"A retailer may, however, offer discounts for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check or other means not involving the use of a credit card, provided that the discount is offered to all prospective buyers."
Statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1748.1(a) (West)
Statutes cover: Credit Cards only
Statute: (Cal. Civ. Code § 1747.02(a) (West) (defining "credit card"))
California State Attorney General – Consumer Complaints
(*external link implies no endorsement by state of California)

Colorado
COLORADO POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"[N]o seller...may impose a surcharge on a holder who elects to use a credit or charge card in lieu of payment by cash check or similar means..."
Statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 5-2-212(1) (West)
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in Colorado
"Discounts offered to induce payment by cash, check or other means not involving credit card are not finance charges if offered to all prospective buyers and disclosed clearly and conspicuously in accordance with regulations."
Statute: Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 5-2-212(2) (West)
Statutes cover: Credit Cards only
Statute: (See Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 5-1-301(16), (16.5), (24), (43) (West)).1

Connecticut
CONNECTICUT POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No seller may impose a surcharge on a buyer who elects to use any method of payment, including, but not limited to, cash, check, credit card or electronic means..."
Statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 42-133ff(a) (West)
Statute: Id. at § 42-133ff(d).
Statute covers: Credit & Debit
No surcharges on travel agents
"No provider of travel services may impose a surcharge on or reduce the commission paid to a travel agent who acts as an agent for such provider if the buyer uses a credit card to purchase such provider's travel services."
Statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 42-133ff(e) (West),br
Statute does not define credit card to include debit card

Florida
FLORIDA POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"A seller...may not impose a surcharge on the buyer...for electing to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check, or similar means, if the seller...accepts payment by credit card..."
Statute: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 501.0117(1) (West)
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in Florida
Discounts offered to induce payment by cash, check or other means not involving a credit card allowed if offered to all prospective buyers.
Statute: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 501.0117(1) (West)
Statutes cover: Statute does not define credit card to include debit card
Statute: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 501.011(1) (West)

Kansas
KANSAS POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No seller...or any credit card issuer may impose a surcharge on a card holder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means."
Statute: Kan. Stat. Ann. § 16a-2-403
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in Kansas
Attorney General's opinion interprets section 16a-2-403's predecessor statute to not prohibit discounts for payments made by cash, check or similar means.
Statute: Kan. Op. Attorney Gen. 86-115, 1986 WL 238345 (1986)
Statutes cover: Statutes do not define credit card to include debit card
Statute: (See Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 16a-1-301(18), (19))

Maine
MAINE POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No seller...may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means."
Statute: Maine Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 9-A, § 8-303(2) (See also id. § 8-103 (definitions and rules of construction))
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in Maine
Discount offered to induce payment by cash, check or other means not involving a credit card not considered a finance charge if offered to all prospective buyers and disclosed clearly and conspicuously.
Statute: See Maine Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 9-A, § 8-303(3)
Statutes cover: Credit cards only
Statute: (See Maine Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 9-A, §§ 1-301(15), (16)).1
Maine State Attorney General – Consumer Complaints
(*external link implies no endorsement by state of Maine)

Massachusetts
MASSACHUSETTS POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No seller...may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means."
Statute: Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 140D, § 28A(a)(2) (West)
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in Massachusetts
Discount offered to induce payment by cash, check or other means not involving a credit card not considered a finance charge if offered to all prospective buyers and disclosed clearly and conspicuously.
Statute: Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 140D, § 28A(b) (West)
Statutes cover: Credit cards only
Statute: (Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 140D, § 1 (West))
Massachusetts State Attorney General – Consumer Complaintsbr /> (*external link implies no endorsement by state of Massachusetts)

New York
NEW YORK POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No seller...may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means..."
Statute: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 518 (McKinney)
Statute covers: Credit cards only
Statute: (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 511(1))
New York State Attorney General – Consumer Complaints

Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No seller...may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means."
Statute: Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 14A, §§ 2-211, -417 (West)
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in Oklahoma
Discount offered to induce payment by cash, check or similar means not involving an open-end credit card not considered a credit service charge if offered to all prospective buyers clearly and conspicuously in accordance with regulations.
Statutes cover: Credit cards only
Statute: (See Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 14A, §§ 1-301(7), (9), (19)

California
CALIFORNIA POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"No retailer...may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means..."
Statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1748.1(a) (West)
Discounts for Cash Payments are allowed in California
"A retailer may, however, offer discounts for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check or other means not involving the use of a credit card, provided thatthe discount is offered to all prospective buyers."
Statute: Cal. Civ. Code § 1748.1(a) (West)
Statutes cover: Credit Cards only
Statute: (Cal. Civ. Code § 1747.02(a) (West) (defining "credit card"))
California State Attorney General – Consumer Complaints
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Texas
TEXAS POSSESSES A "NO SURCHARGE RULE" FOR CONSUMER PURCHASES
"[A] seller may not impose a surcharge on a buyer who uses a credit card for an extension of credit instead of cash, a check or a similar means of payment."
Statute: Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 339.001(a) (Vernon)
Statute covers: Credit cards only
Statute: Tex. Fin. Code Ann. §§ 301.002(a)(2),(9)
Texas State Attorney General – Consumer Complaints