MX™ Advantage empowers businesses with a suite of tailored solutions designed to help merchants reduce costs and boost revenue. The app supports the following compliant pricing models: Cash Discount, Convenience Fee, Service Fee, and Surcharge.

Cash Discount

Cash discount offers the consumer an immediate discount from the Merchant’s list, states, or standard price if the consumer uses cash as means of payment. A merchant must display only the card price per item or both the card and the cash price listed side-by-side per item.

• The discount must be a reduction from the listed/stated price.
• Merchants must follow Card Brand rules and local regulations when offering incentives for alternative payment methods.

Convenience Fee

Convenience Fees are flat or fixed fees added for the convenience of paying through an alternative channel that differs from the merchant’s standard payment method (e.g., online instead of in-person).

• Applies only in card-not-present environments.
• Must be a fixed amount, not a percentage.
• Must be clearly disclosed to the customer prior to transaction completion.
• Must apply equally across all payment types in the alternative channel.

Service Fee

Service Fees may be a fixed amount or a percentage added to payments for certain merchant categories and are applicable in both card-present and card-not-present environments.

Eligible Merchant Categories:

• 8211 – Elementary & Secondary Schools
• 8220 – Colleges & Universities
• 9311 – Taxes
• 9211 – Court Costs
• 9222 – Fines
• 9399 – Misc. Government Services
• 8244 – Business/Secretarial Schools
• 8249 – Vocational/Trade Schools

Please note:

Registration is required prior to implementation. If you have not registered yet, contact your Sales Representative for assistance with registration instructions.

Surcharge

A surcharge is an additional fee or charge that a merchant adds to a consumer’s bill for using a particular form of payment

Key Requirements:

• Credit cards only – Debit Card and Prepaid Card Transactions are not assessed as a Credit Card Surcharge.
• Credit Card Surcharge Maximum Amount: The Credit Card Surcharge maximum amount is 3.00%
• Disclosure: Disclose the surcharge as a merchant fee and, for both in-store and online transactions, at the point of entry, point of transaction, and on every receipt
  • In-store: At point of entry to the merchant outlet, every customer checkout location, and on every receipt (signage provided).
  • Online/Phone orders: The first page that references credit card brands accepted, verbal notice from the merchant including the Credit Card Surcharge amount
• Platform availability: Available for merchants using MX™ Gateway and processing with TSYS.
• Surcharge applies across all card brands.
• Refunds: Must manually include surcharge in refund amount if applicable.
• Statement Descriptor: Hardcoded as “Surcharge” for compliance.

Please note:

Registration is required prior to implementation at least 30 days prior to implementation. If you have not registered yet, contact your Sales Representative for assistance with registration instructions.

Additional Information

For more information on rules relating to service, surcharge and convenience fees, click here:

• Surcharging Credit Cards–Q&A for Merchants: https://usa.visa.com/support/consumer/visa-rules.html
• Visa Core Rules: https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/download/about-visa/visa-rules-public.pdf
• Visa Merchant Surcharging Rules: https://usa.visa.com/support/small-business/regulations-fees.html