NH Court System Loves Illegal Surcharges

"Live Free or Die." Residents of New Hampshire who choose to pay a fine by credit card will have to choose the latter option. My condolences.

Retailers can't charge customers a fee for using Visa or MasterCard credit and debit cards, but the state of New Hampshire is charging its court customers $3 a swipe. With 36,000 credit card transactions made in state courthouses every year, the state makes about $108,000 annually from the $3 surcharges, said Laura Kiernan, communications director for the N.H. judicial branch.

And while the bordering states of Massachusetts and Maine have outlawed credit card surcharges, the New Hampshire Legislature approved $3 fees for every court customer who pays a fine or fee by credit card. That law is contrary to Visa and MasterCard regulations prohibiting fees for use of their cards.

[via Fark]