Q1. What is a debit surcharge?

A1. An Interac® debit card surcharge is an optional convenience fee that a business adds to a customer's bill when a customer uses an Interac debit card for payment.

 

Q2. What are the benefits of debit surcharging to the retailer?

A2. Some of the befits to the retailer are listed below:

• Fast and effortless deployment, can be enabled in 48 hours.

• Reduce operating business expenses by recouping the costs of accepting card payments.

• Generate additional revenue by tapping into your existing debit card transaction volume on every Interac debit transaction.

• Flexibility and no long-term commitment. You can reverse the surcharge decision at any time.

• Offset margin pressures by adding this fee. Customers will recognize they are helping you maintain price levels.

• Transparency. Transaction breakdown is clearly displayed to cardholder and they can always opt-out.

• Easily monitor new payments trends with our reporting portal PayHQ.

• No tech development required for the retailer, this is a turnkey solution.

 

Q3. How does it work? How does a merchant notify a consumer of its intent to surcharge?

A3. Each merchant that elects to apply a Surcharge on IDP Transactions must:

1. As part of the IDP Terminal or PED dialogue, notify the Cardholder of the Surcharge and provide the Cardholder with an opportunity to cancel the IDP Transaction without cost before the Cardholder is prompted to enter his or her PIN; or,

2. As part of a contactless reader or IDP Terminal dialogue for Interac (Flash) transactions, notify the Cardholder of the Surcharge and provide the Cardholder with an opportunity to cancel the IDP Transaction without cost before the Cardholder is prompted to proceed to use their Card to complete the Interac Flash transaction.

 

Q4. What happens if cardholder selects “No” to the surcharge?

A4. If cardholder selects to not to be charged a debit surcharge fee, they have the option to pay with their credit card or cash (if retailers accept it)

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Q5. Is surcharging permitted in both face-to-face and card-not-present environments?

A5. We are currently only offering debit surcharging which is card-present only. Debit surcharging is not permitted for card-not-present sales. (i.e., Visa/Mastercard Debit/Interac Online)

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Q6. Is the surcharge amount included in the return amount if a transaction that had a surcharge applied is returned?

A6. No, the return amount does not include the surcharge on the transaction.

 

Q7. Are any terminals excluded?

A7. There are no excluded terminals.

 

Q8. What is the maximum surcharge amount available to retailers?

A8. The maximum surcharge amount is $0.25 per debit transaction

 

Q9. How much does this solution cost and how do I sign up?

A9. This solution is currently free of charge. You will sign a new revenue sharing schedule document which will allow you to review the percentage of revenue available to your business for opting-in to this surcharge solution.

 

Q10. Does Merrco’s permission to surcharge take precedence over local laws that may prohibit or restrict surcharging?

A10. No. A provincial and/or federal law or regulation would supersede Merrco rules.

 

Q11. How do I cancel the debit surcharging service?

A11. You can reverse the surcharge decision at any time. Cancellation requests should be directed to support@merrco.com / support@payfirma.com. We would ask that you review the agreement to understand any cancellation requirements.