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Can shops in Denmark charge a fee for paying by card?

The main rule and its few exceptions.

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Short answer

No, in most cases a shop may not charge a fee when you pay with a payment card. The ban is in the Danish Payments Act and covers physical shops, online shops and apps. It applies to Dankort, Visa/Dankort, Mastercard Dankort, Visa and Mastercard, both debit and credit, and to Apple Pay and Google Pay when they are linked to such a card. It protects private cards issued in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Fees are only allowed for a few card types, such as company cards and cards issued outside that area.

Practical info

Why

  1. The ban covers the cards most people in Denmark use.
  2. A fee may not be hidden under another name, such as a handling fee linked to the card.
  3. The shop is responsible even if the card terminal was set up wrongly.

Details

Where a fee is allowed, it may not be higher than what the shop itself pays its card acquirer for the transaction.

Tip

If you are charged an illegal card fee, keep the receipt and email it to [email protected].

What may differ

American Express, Diners Club and Forbrugsforeningen may carry a fee if the shop has a direct agreement with the card company.

Common misconception

Small shops and kiosks are allowed to add a card fee on small amounts.

What actually happens

The ban applies to all shops and all amounts when you pay with a private card that is covered.

People also ask

  • Can you be charged a card fee with a non-EU card?
  • Can a taxi in Denmark charge a card fee?
  • Is there a fee for paying with Apple Pay in Denmark?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.

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