This bill amends existing law to prohibit sellers from charging a surcharge to customers who use debit cards for transactions in New Jersey. It defines a debit card and establishes that sellers providing services cannot impose any additional fees when customers opt to pay with a debit card. Furthermore, if a seller does impose a surcharge on credit card transactions, they are required to clearly disclose that they cannot apply a surcharge to cash or debit card payments prior to the transaction.

Additionally, the bill states that violations of these provisions are considered unlawful practices under the consumer fraud act, which carries penalties of up to $10,000 for first offenses and up to $20,000 for subsequent offenses. The Attorney General may also issue cease and desist orders, and violators may face punitive damages, treble damages, and costs awarded to the injured party. The bill aims to protect consumers from unfair surcharges and ensure transparency in payment practices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 56:8-156.1, 56:8-156.2