Checkout fee could be passed to consumers

GREEN BAY - A new fee that retailers have always paid could have you thinking twice before paying by credit card.   

Businesses can now charge consumers up to a four percent surcharge just for using plastic.

Next time you swipe, a little more could be taken out of your pocket than just the cost of your purchase.

Last July, Visa and MasterCard reached a settlement with several major banks.

"There has been a lot of heat put on credit card companies about the fees they charge and they're not terribly transparent. And so I think this was a solution that said if you're that dissatisfied retailers, that you can recoup the dollars that are endured in processing credit cards,” said Mark Skogen, president and CEO of Festival Foods.

Festival Foods' CEO says you won't see that fee when you check out.

"I just think it would shock the system, really. It would be something that would be foreign to shoppers and they wouldn't accept it very well,” said Skogen.

There won't be any additional charges if you're using a debit card or of course cash. And even though many local retailers won't be adding that surcharge for swiping your credit card, they are encouraging people to use other alternatives as a payment method.

"It's an area of fast growing expense for the businesses. It has been over the past eight years and as it continues to grow we look for ways to encourage people to use cash or a check, but we never really found a good solution to that,” said Skogen.

Skogen says other area businesses he's spoken with don't plan on implementing the new credit card fees.

Nationally, Walmart, Macy's, JC Penney, Limited Brands, Gap and The Neiman Marcus group have spoken out about the fees as well.

But as you're in the checkout line, consumer watchdog groups say it may be a good idea to check out that store's credit card policy.

FOX 11 also tried to check with a couple of other retailers.

Store officials at a local Ace Hardware would not go on camera, but told us none of their stores in our region will implement the fee.

Shopko did not comment on its policy.