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Westchester County Executive George Latimer, New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, and County Director of Consumer Protection Jim Maisano are working together to ensure that residents are well-informed about a new law aimed at promoting transparency in credit card transactions. This new state law, which went into effect on February 11, 2024, mandates that merchants in New York State must provide clear and conspicuous disclosure of credit card surcharges to consumers.

Latimer said, “Transparent pricing is essential for consumers to make informed decisions. This new law will empower Westchester residents by ensuring they have clear visibility into any credit card surcharges they may incur, and I thank my colleague in government Assemblywoman Paulin for her efforts on its passage and Governor Hochul for signing it into law.”

Paulin added, “This new law protects New Yorkers from hidden surcharges by requiring sellers to clearly post the price of a credit card surcharge. Credit card surcharges now have to be disclosed clearly so that customers are fully aware of them upfront and not just when they go to pay. The new law also prevents businesses from charging a higher fee than what they are charged by the credit card companies. This legislation is ultimately about transparency, fairness, and preventing consumers from being misled when making purchases using credit cards. I thank Jim Maisano, Director of the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection, for bringing this important issue to my attention. His idea is now a law which will protect New Yorker consumers.”

The new law limits credit card surcharges to the amount charged to the business by the credit card company and requires businesses to clearly display the total price inclusive of any surcharges before checkout. It aims to prevent consumers from being surprised by hidden fees and ensures that they have a clear understanding of the costs associated with credit card transactions.