Connectcut General Statute Sec 42-133ff is the current law that addresses the issue of surcharges on credit cards. Please note, too, that the statute does not distinguish between “surcharges”, “service fees” and “convenience fees” — you should assume that they are all treated the same.
Here are the specific paragraphs you should know about. (a) is the general rule; (b) applies specifically to gasoline retailers and (d) applies specifically to travel agents. If you read (c) closely you will see that the gasoline retailer defined as not charging a fee to pay by credit card, he is offering a customer a discount to pay by cash.
(a) No seller may impose a surcharge on a buyer who elects to use any method of payment, including, but not limited to, cash, check, credit card or electronic means, in any sales transaction.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any seller from offering a discount to a buyer to induce such buyer to pay by cash, debit card, check or similar means rather than by credit card. In furtherance of the legislative findings contained in section 42-133j, no existing or future contract or agreement shall prohibit a gasoline retailer or distributor from offering a discount to a buyer based upon the method of payment by such buyer for such gasoline. Any provision in such contract or agreement prohibiting such retailer or distributor from offering such discount is void and without effect as contrary to public policy.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any seller from conditioning acceptance of a credit card on a buyer’s minimum purchase. Each seller shall disclose any such minimum purchase policy orally or in writing at the point of purchase. For the purposes of this subsection, “at the point of purchase” includes, but is not limited to, at or on a cash register and in an advertisement or menu.
(e) No provider of travel services may impose a surcharge on or reduce the commission paid to a travel agent who acts as an agent for such provider if the buyer uses a credit card to purchase such provider’s travel services. A violation of any provision of this subsection shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b. As used in this subsection, “provider of travel services” means a person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of furnishing travel, transportation or vacation services, but does not include a travel agent, and “travel agent” means a person, firm, corporation or other entity that (1) is (A) a duly appointed agent of a common carrier, or (B) a member of a cruise line association and operates exclusively as an agent for cruise lines in the sale of cruise travel products or services, and (2) offers or sells travel, transportation or vacation arrangements as an agent for a provider of travel services, but does not include a common carrier or an employee of a common carrier.
Ref: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_739.htm#sec_42-133ff
Posted 2019-05-04.