By Belize Live News Staff: Belizean consumers are raising questions about businesses that impose additional fees of up to 3.5% on customers paying with credit or debit cards, a practice that has already attracted criticism from the Central Bank of Belize.
The issue has resurfaced following a dispute involving a customer who says an additional 3.5% credit card processing fee was added to a transaction without prior disclosure. The business disputes that account, maintaining that its cashier informed the customer of the charge and received approval before processing the payment.
The additional charge amounted to $15.75, but the disagreement raises a much larger question: Should Belizean consumers be required to absorb a business’s credit card processing costs, particularly when those charges are not clearly communicated in advance?
In April 2026, Central Bank Governor Kareem Michael publicly addressed the practice of businesses imposing additional charges or minimum purchase requirements on customers using bank cards.
Speaking to News 5, Michael described the practice as a longstanding concern and revealed that the Central Bank had been discussing possible solutions with the Belize Bankers Association.
He explained that such charges undermine efforts to encourage financial inclusion and greater participation in the formal banking system.
The governor’s comments highlighted the frustration of consumers who are effectively penalized for choosing electronic payments over cash.
Meanwhile, Belize Bank’s published merchant services information lists a standard merchant processing rate of 3.5%, although special rates may be available. This is a fee charged by the bank to the merchant, and its existence does not automatically establish that a business is entitled to transfer the cost to customers.
Whether a particular surcharge is permitted depends on the applicable merchant agreement, card network requirements and Belizean law. Belize Live News has not independently established that every credit card surcharge is illegal.
Consumer advocates argue that businesses should clearly disclose all payment-related charges before completing transactions, allowing customers to make informed decisions about how they wish to pay.
The latest dispute also raises concerns about what happens when a customer denies having authorized an additional charge but the business maintains that permission was given.
Customers who believe they have been charged incorrectly can request an itemized receipt, seek clarification from the merchant and contact their card-issuing bank about available dispute procedures.
With electronic payments becoming increasingly important to Belize’s economy, questions surrounding credit card surcharges, disclosure and customer protection deserve greater attention.
The Central Bank has already acknowledged the problem. The question now is whether clearer rules and stronger oversight will follow to ensure Belizeans are not unfairly penalized simply for using their bank cards.
For consumers, the principle is straightforward: The amount they agree to pay should be the amount charged to their account.
