Louisiana Bans Debit Card Surcharges Under New Law

Louisiana consumers have new protections against debit card surcharges. A new state law, Senate Bill 254, prohibits retail businesses from charging customers an additional fee for the privilege of paying with a debit card rather than cash, a check, a credit card, or another payment method. The Center Square Louisiana Editor Misty Castile reports that the law also expands the Louisiana attorney general's authority to enforce the ban. The law defines a surcharge as an additional amount that increases the cost of a transaction because a customer chooses to use a debit card. The restriction applies to debit card transactions but not credit card transactions. Consumers who are unlawfully charged a debit-card surcharge may also be able to recover actual damages from the retailer. The new law changes what Louisiana retailers can charge consumers at the checkout counter and gives shoppers additional legal protections against unwanted payment fees. #Louisiana #DebitCards #ConsumerProtection #DebitCardFees #LouisianaLaw #Retail #AttorneyGeneral #ConsumerRights #PersonalFinance #Money #BreakingNews #News #LouisianaNews #CenterSquare #Business