Shoppers still facing card surcharges more than a month after practice was banned

Shoppers are still being charged extra fees for using debit or credit cards more than a month after a new law banned the practice, a survey has found.

Companies are no longer allowed to charge customers up to 20 per cent more for purchases just for paying with a card under the rules that took effect on 13 January.

But research consultancy Consumer Intelligence found 14 per cent of shoppers have been charged an additional fee to pay with a credit card online or in stores since then.

Its survey found shoppers are also being charged a range of fees under different names, such as booking fees, transaction fees and administration charges.

Some 21 per cent said they had been charged a booking fee for using a credit card since 13 January, while 13 per cent have been asked to pay a trans- action fee and 13 per cent have been asked to pay an administration charge.

Consumer group Which? also said it was being told of people still paying fees, facing minimum spend limits or being refused the option of using their card altogether despite the legislation.

The ban took effect amid concerns that consumers could see the cost of goods and services creep up, or additional fees added by retailers, as a result of the changes.