Convenience fees are charges levied to cardholders for the privilege of paying for a product or service using an alternative payment, or a payment method that is not standard for the merchant. Movie theaters, for example, typically sell tickets face-to-face at the box office. However, if a movie theater gives customers the alternative option of paying online using a credit card, then that theater could charge a convenience fee. Technically, the cardholder is not paying for using a credit card, but for the privilege of using the online option.

​

Below, are the rules implemented by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express so you can have a better idea of what you might have to do to charge a convenience fee.