Difference between surcharge and convenience fee on a credit card– Bajaj Finserv (2024)

As a credit card holder, you may have come across terms such as credit card surcharge and convenience fee. But, it is easy to confuse these two terms. There are distinct differences between a credit card surcharge and a convenience fee.

What is credit card surcharge

A credit card surcharge is an additional fee that a merchant charges to customers who choose to pay by credit card. This charge is usually a percentage of the transaction amount and can vary between merchants. For example, if you purchase a product worth Rs. 1,000 and the merchant charges a credit card surcharge of 2%, you will have to pay Rs. 1,020 that includes a surcharge of Rs. 20.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed merchants to impose a surcharge following a 2012 amendment to Payment and Settlement Systems Act. According to the amendment, merchants are permitted to charge a maximum surcharge of up to 2% on credit card transactions.

The Bajaj Finserv RBL Bank Platinum Plus SuperCard gives you a fuel surcharge waiver of up to Rs. 1,200 per year at any station across India.

What is convenience fee

A convenience fee is an extra charge levied by a merchant when you use a credit or debit card to pay instead of cash.This fee helps cover the cost that the merchant incurs to process card payments. It is typically a flat fee rather than a percentage of the transaction amount. The fee depends on the value of the convenience service provided to the customer.

For example, when you buy something online and pay using your credit card, you might see an extra charge added to your bill. So, if the product costs Rs. 500, you might end up paying Rs. 530 after the convenience fee is added. This fee is typically a flat fee rather than a percentage of the transaction amount.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has established guidelines for convenience fees. These guidelines restrict how much merchants can charge for such services. The fee should be reasonable and match the value of the convenience service provided to the customer. Additionally, the convenience fee must be fixed upfront and should not depend on the value of the transaction.

Difference between credit card surcharge and convenience fee

In essence, the main difference between a credit card surcharge and a convenience fee is the purpose for which they're charged. Credit card surcharges are essentially costs of processing a credit card transaction and are not related to providing a specific service to customers. In contrast, convenience fees are charged to compensate for specific and additional services that a merchant offers to customers, for which extra costs are incurred.

Knowing these differences can help you understand and manage your finances better while making online or offline purchases using your credit card.

Read about Bajaj Finserv SuperCard as an EMI card here.

Difference between surcharge and convenience fee on a credit card– Bajaj Finserv (2024)

FAQs

Difference between surcharge and convenience fee on a credit card– Bajaj Finserv? ›

However, surcharges are added to the transaction amount only when customers choose a credit card as their payment card. Credit card convenience fees, on the other hand, are charged on standard payments when customers choose a more convenient payment option, such as an online or over-the-phone method of payment.

What is the difference between a surcharge fee and a convenience fee? ›

A surcharge is not a convenience fee. A convenience fee is levied by a merchant for offering customers the privilege of paying with an alternative non-standard payment method. Merchants can process convenience fees in all 50 states. A surcharge is levied by a merchant for customer purchases made with a credit card.

What is the convenience fee in Bajaj Finserv? ›

Fees of the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card
Types of FeesCharges
Online Convenience Fee₹69 (Inclusive of applicable taxes) - For customers who get the EMI Card exclusively through digital mode
Loan Limit Enhancement Fee₹117 (including taxes)
Add-on Card Fee₹199 (including taxes)
2 more rows

Is convenience fee same as credit card fee? ›

The fee is typically a fixed amount or a percentage of the sale. Convenience fees are charged by businesses to cover the cost they pay to payment processing companies for when a customer pays by credit card. A convenience fee is different from a surcharge, which is a charge simply for just using a credit card.

How do I avoid convenience fees when paying with a credit card? ›

Customers can often avoid credit card convenience fees by opting for alternative payment methods that do not incur additional charges, such as debit cards, cash, or electronic bank transfers.

How do you avoid a surcharge fee? ›

How can you avoid credit card surcharges? As a consumer, you have options to avoid surcharges. These include using cash instead of a credit card to make a purchase, or using a debit card, for which surcharges cannot be applied. You can also choose to shop at businesses that do not charge these fees.

What are the disadvantages of surcharge? ›

What are the cons of surcharging?
  • Customers don't like surcharges. One of the most significant potential drawbacks to surcharging credit cards is customer opinion. ...
  • Surcharging raises your effective prices. ...
  • In some places, surcharging is illegal. ...
  • You can't surcharge debit card transactions.
Mar 25, 2024

What is a surcharge fee on a credit card? ›

A credit card surcharge (or cc surcharge) is a fee enforced by the merchant to compensate for some of the cost of payment processing. This fee can only apply to credit cards—and never debit, even when a debit card is run like a credit. As for calculating the fee, surcharges are predominantly percentage-based.

What is the annual fee of Bajaj Finserv credit card? ›

Fees and charges
Type of feeCharges applicable
Annual feeRs. 499 + GST
Add-on card feesNIL
Foreign currency transaction**3.50% + GST
Cash payment at branchesRs. 100 cash deposit transaction done at RBL branch and Bajaj Finserv branch effective from 1st July 2022
14 more rows

What are the hidden charges in Bajaj Finance? ›

With easy-to-understand terms and conditions, Bajaj Finance Personal Loan is 100% transparent and comes with zero hidden charges. 11% to 32% p.a. Up to 3.93% of the loan amount (inclusive of applicable taxes). *Loan amount includes approved loan amount, insurance premium, and VAS charges.

Why is surcharge charged? ›

A surcharge is an extra fee beyond the original price of a good or service. Consumers pay surcharges to offset the higher cost of a certain product or fee. For example, a farming company may have an extra surcharge on their produce to cover the cost of the labor used to harvest the food.

Is it worth paying a convenience fee? ›

While the rewards you earn from a credit card can help offset some of the cost of the fee, the charge is often more than what you'd earn in cash back, points or miles. As a result, it's best to avoid credit card convenience fees in most cases.

Is a convenience fee refundable? ›

No, Convenience Fee is non-refundable.

What is the difference between a surcharge and a convenience fee? ›

A surcharge is an additional fee that a merchant adds to the cost of goods or services to offset processing costs. A convenience fee is an additional fee charged for the use of certain payment methods, such as online or phone payments.

Can you legally charge a convenience fee for credit cards? ›

In 1985, California passed a law (Civil Code section 1748.1) that prohibited merchants from adding a surcharge (an extra fee) when customers pay by credit card instead of cash.

How can I avoid card surcharge? ›

The simplest way to avoid card surcharges? Pay cash. While businesses can charge a surcharge for paying with a credit, debit or prepaid card, they can't charge you more than the advertised price if you're paying in cash.

What is a convenience fee? ›

A convenience fee is a charge you pass on to your customers for using a payment method that is not standard for your business. For example, let's say you run a movie theater and typically sell tickets at the box office, where you can accept cash and may have a low-cost credit card processor.

What is an example of a surcharge fee? ›

Examples of surcharge fees include a percentage added to the total transaction amount when a customer pays with a credit card, a fee applied selectively to specific card types or categories, or a charge imposed by merchants to offset the costs associated with credit card processing.

Is a surcharge the same as a service fee? ›

Unlike surcharges and convenience fees, service fees are not allowed for most businesses. They are reserved for government agencies and educational institutions and can be applied to payments made with debit and credit cards, including tuition, taxes, fines, fees and court costs.

What is considered a surcharge? ›

A surcharge is an additional charge, fee, or tax that is added to the cost of a good or service beyond the initially quoted price. A surcharge is often added to an existing tax and is not included in the stated price of the good or service.

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