Credit card convenience fees are charges assessed by vendors or service providers for processing payments made via credit card. As more vendors and service providers move toward credit card-based transactions, these fees should be recognized as a normal cost of doing business in today’s environment.
Public offices are encouraged to exercise sound judgment and fiscal responsibility when incurring and paying such fees. Whenever feasible, alternative payment methods that do not include convenience fees — such as ACH transfers, checks, or other direct payment options — should be used to minimize costs.
This advisory discusses implementing policies that reflect a balanced approach between credit-card usage and other payment methods that do not incur convenience fees.
