What is a convenience or access fee?

• A charge, in addition to the amount of the transaction, that a customer pays to a business for the convenience of making a payment through an alternate payment channel, with a credit card, debit card, or even a check via ACH debit.
• A fee for offering customers another payment option that is separate and in addition to standard payment practices.
• Available for specific business categories, primarily specific emerging markets where acceptance of electronic payment has not historically been accepted.

General requirements

• The fee must be disclosed to customers as a charge for alternate payment channel convenience.
• The fee is typically assessed only in non face-to-face environments; but some exceptions apply in specific industry markets for tax payments which can be face-to-face.
• The fee may be either a percentage of total payment if it is a tax payment, but must be a flat rate regardless of amount for other payment types. NPC can work with you on specific details of the applicable fee.

The Card Associations (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa) have varying rules on assessing convenience fees. NPC can work with you to make sure you are fully educated on the appropriate methods of such fee assessment.