General information, not legal advice. Check with a Georgia attorney before you change how you price or add any fee.
Georgia's surcharge rules
What the Attorney General's office says
The Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division answered this directly in its "Consumer Ed" column. In its words, merchants are permitted to pass the card transaction fee along as a surcharge, with up-front disclosure:
- the surcharge can't exceed what the merchant pays to accept the card;
- a sign at the point of entry must tell customers about it;
- the exact amount must be disclosed at the point of sale and on the receipt;
- online, it must be disclosed on the first page where the customer is asked to enter card information.
The same column says merchants may offer a discount for paying by cash, check, or debit equal to a card cost built into the regular price, as long as the discount is offered to all customers. And it warns that advertising a lower price than you actually charge, or hiding the difference between credit, debit, and cash prices, may violate Georgia's laws against deceptive or false advertising.
Convenience fees for lenders and dealers: O.C.G.A. § 13-1-15
Georgia has a separate statute on convenience fees for paying by credit card, debit card, or other electronic means, but it applies only to certain loans, installment loans, retail installment and home solicitation sales contracts, motor vehicle sales financing contracts, and insurance premium finance agreements. It doesn't cover ordinary retail sales. For those covered businesses, as amended effective July 1, 2025:
- the fee can be the actual cost, the average actual cost for that payment type, or up to $5.00, whichever is greater;
- a no-fee way to pay (check, cash, money order, or a no-fee electronic option) must also be offered;
- the fee must be disclosed before it's charged, including the dollar amount, that it's nonrefundable, and that it's for paying electronically.
If you run a buy-here-pay-here lot, an installment lender, or a premium finance company, this is the section that applies to your payment fees.
Card-network rules
Network rules apply on top of state guidance. Under Visa's U.S. rules, a surcharge can only apply to credit cards, never debit or prepaid cards, even when a debit card is run as "credit." It's capped at your merchant discount rate for that card or 3%, whichever is lower. You have to notify your processor 30 days before you start and disclose the surcharge at the point of entry, the point of sale, and on the receipt. Visa describes a proper cash discount as posting either the card price only, or the card and cash prices side by side. A pending Visa/Mastercard settlement, with a fairness hearing set for November 16, 2026, may change some network rules if it's approved.
What Georgia businesses ask about
- Restaurants and bars in Atlanta, Athens, and Savannah want menu wording for cash and card prices and tip handling that matches.
- Tour operators, charters, and event venues take deposits online or by phone and the balance in person.
- Auto dealers and repair shops need to know whether § 13-1-15 applies to their payment plans.
- Salons, barbers, and spas quote service prices, so both prices need to be on the service list if they use dual pricing.
- Farm stands and festival vendors need mobile or Bluetooth readers.
Your options, side by side
- Dual pricing or a cash discount (optional). Post a cash price and a card price, consistent with what the AG's office describes.
- Interchange-plus. You pay the network cost plus a disclosed fixed markup.
- Flat-rate. One rate per transaction, easy to plan around.
- Square, if you prefer it. We'll include it in your comparison.
Through our processing partners we offer countertop terminals, POS systems, mobile and Bluetooth readers, and virtual terminals. Results depend on your volume, card mix, and current contract, so we don't promise savings before reviewing a statement.
ATMs in Georgia
Cash still moves at bars, flea markets, car washes, and county fairs. If you want your own ATM:
- You buy and own the machine. It's a purchase, not a loan.
- You load and run it, including how much cash goes in and when.
- Terms are subject to the partner agreement, and every term is disclosed in writing before you sign.
- We don't promise monitoring, maintenance, or a revenue share. ATM surcharge income isn't guaranteed.
- Machines come through our ATM partner, and card processing comes through our processing partners.
FAQ
Are credit card surcharges legal in Georgia?
Georgia's Attorney General's office says merchants may pass card fees along, as long as the surcharge doesn't exceed their cost and is disclosed at the entrance, at the point of sale, and on the receipt. Card-network limits apply too.
Can I offer a cash discount in Georgia?
Yes. The AG's office says a discount for paying by cash, check, or debit is permitted if it's offered to all customers.
Does O.C.G.A. § 13-1-15 apply to my store?
Only if you're collecting payments on certain loans, installment or retail installment contracts, motor vehicle financing, or insurance premium finance agreements. Ordinary retail sales aren't covered by that section.
Can I surcharge debit cards?
No. Card-network rules don't allow surcharges on debit or prepaid cards.
Do you work with Georgia businesses?
Yes. We're based in Clifton, Tennessee, and serve merchants nationwide by phone and email.
Who owns an ATM I get through you?
You do. You purchase it outright and run it yourself, and the terms, which are subject to the partner agreement, are disclosed in writing first.
Get a no-obligation comparison
- Contact form: Request a comparison
- Email: payments@verturagroup.com
- Call or text: (931) 771-2735 · text us
- Book a time: pick a time on our booking calendar
Send a recent statement and tell us how your customers usually pay. We'll compare a cash discount, interchange-plus, flat-rate, and your current setup for your Georgia business.