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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on"><strong><b><font size=4 color="#000066" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000066'>Montgomery</span></font></b></strong></st1:PlaceName><strong><b><font
size=4 color="#000066" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#000066'> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></span></font></b></strong></st1:place><strong><b><font
size=4 color="#000066" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#000066'> </span></font></b></strong><b><font size=4 color="#000066"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;
font-weight:bold'><br>
<strong><b><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Office of Consumer
Protection</span></font></b></strong><br>
</span></font></b><strong><b><font color="#cc0000" face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:#CC0000'>Ensuring Integrity in Our Marketplace</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Cash or credit?</span></font></b></strong><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'> Until now this choice has been a matter
of convenience, but as of January 27, this decision may impact your wallet at
checkout. Due to a settlement reached last year, beginning Sunday,
retailers will have the option of passing the surcharge fee, typically between
1.5% and 4%, to consumers when a credit or charge card is used. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Passing
the surcharge to consumers is not mandatory and retailers may not charge
consumers this added fee. However, you should know what to look for
before making a purchase. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Below
are some helpful tips and guidelines regarding credit card surcharges: </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Stores that charge checkout fees or surcharges
will have to post a notice at the entrance to the store and will have to
disclose the exact amount at the point of sale.</span></font> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Retailers are not required to disclose the
surcharge fee in advertisements. </span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>You should always contact the retailer to find
out if there are any extra fees <u>before</u> you go to the store. </span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Before checking out, ask the clerk if there is a
surcharge fee and how much it will be. </span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Online retailers must disclose the surcharge on
the first page that a credit card is mentioned; meaning the total can
change moments before checking out.</span></font> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Retailers can only surcharge consumers for the <u>actual
cost</u> of processing credit card transactions. </span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This surcharge <u>does not apply to debit and
prepaid cards</u>. </span></font><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>If
you have any questions or believe you were unfairly charged a surcharge fee,
contact the <strong><b><font color="#000066" face=Arial><span style='font-family:
Arial;color:#000066'>Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection</span></font></b></strong>
at 240.777.3636.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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