Credit and Debit card RIP-OFF fees stopped – New UK regulations came into force 6th April 2013 – The intention of the Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012 act was to protect consumers from hidden and unjustly excessive fees (primarily card payment fees) and was brought in following recommendations from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) at the end of 2011 – All charges must now be upfront and card payments fees can only reflect the actual cost of processing payments.