State law guide · Last verified 2026-08-27
Is Credit Card Surcharging Legal in Maine? (2026)
No — credit card surcharging is banned in Maine, and the ban is enforced. Dual pricing — posting a card price and a lower cash price — is legal in Maine.
| Credit card surcharging | Banned |
|---|---|
| Surcharge cap | N/A — surcharging is prohibited (government entities exempt with disclosure). |
| Dual pricing (cash and card price) | Legal |
| Governing law | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 9-A, §8-509 (2011) |
Dual pricing in Maine
Cash and check discounts are expressly protected by the same statute — dual pricing is the compliant Maine structure.
FeeSlicers sets up dual pricing through North's Edge program: every item has a posted card price about 4% higher than its cash price ($3.00 cash / $3.12 card), the same for credit and debit. That structure is legal in Maine when prices are posted the way the checklist below describes.
What to post in Maine
A two-price checklist for Maine businesses.
- Post the card price for every item — on your menu, shelf tags, price board and website. Never show a cash price by itself.
- Show the cash price next to it, clearly labeled as the cash price.
- Put a customer notice at the entrance and at the register saying items have a cash price and a card price. North supplies this sign to Edge merchants, in English and Spanish.
- Charge one card price for every card — credit and debit alike.
- Make sure the receipt shows the price the customer paid, never an extra amount on top of the cash price.
Surcharging in Maine: the details
Enforcement
Actively enforced by the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection; repeal attempts (LD660, LD151) have repeatedly failed, most recently in 2025.
Disclosure rules for surcharges
Display the regular price; a compliant program posts the card price and discounts for cash.
Recent and pending changes
LD151 (2025) repeal attempt failed; the ban remains fully enforceable.
This page explains the law for education; FeeSlicers sets up dual pricing, not surcharge programs. It is not legal advice. Sources: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 9-A §8-509; Maine BCCP.
Questions Maine owners ask
Can a business charge a credit card surcharge in Maine in 2026?
No. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 9-A, §8-509 (2011) prohibits credit card surcharges in Maine, and the ban is enforced.
Is dual pricing (a cash price and a card price) legal in Maine?
Cash and check discounts are expressly protected by the same statute — dual pricing is the compliant Maine structure. One card price covers both credit and debit cards.
What does a Maine business have to post?
Display the regular price; a compliant program posts the card price and discounts for cash.
Has Maine surcharge law changed recently?
LD151 (2025) repeal attempt failed; the ban remains fully enforceable.
Other states with their own rules: California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Louisiana · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Oklahoma · Puerto Rico · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Texas · Virginia · Wyoming. Every other state is on the 50-state table. Recent updates are in the law changes log.
Want two prices set up the right way in Maine?
George will walk you through your state's posting rules before anything goes on your counter.
Two minutes to start. No obligation. George takes it from there.