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Credit Card Surcharge (FieldCentral Payment only)

Transparent, Compliant, and Automatic. FieldCentral’s Credit Card Surcharge feature helps you offset processing costs while staying compliant with card network rules and state regulations, without putting the burden on you to calculate or manage it manually.

This article walks through:

  • When surcharge applies
  • What you and your customers will see
  • How FieldCentral keeps everything accurate and compliant
  • How to confidently use surcharge in your daily workflows

What Is a Credit Card Surcharge?

A surcharge is a small percentage added to credit card payments only to help cover processing fees.

Important things to know up front:

  • Debit cards are never surcharged
  • Some states cap or restrict surcharge amounts
  • Not every card qualifies

FieldCentral automatically checks all of this for you every time a card is used.

You never have to guess.

A sample breakdown of surcharge:

The Real-World Scenario

Let’s say you’re:

  • Taking payment for a visit
  • Collecting prepayment on an estimate
  • Charging a customer through the mobile app

A customer enters their card information.

At that moment, FieldCentral:

  1. Checks whether the card allows surcharge
  2. Verifies state and card-brand rules
  3. Calculates the maximum allowed surcharge
  4. Shows the customer exactly what will be charged

Nothing is hidden. Nothing is assumed.

What You’ll See During Payment

Step 1: Entering Card Information

When a new card is entered:

  • Card number, expiration, and CVV are entered securely
  • Billing ZIP / Postal Code is required (this ensures compliance)

At this point, no surcharge has been applied yet.

Step 2: Surcharge Check Happens Automatically

Once the card details are submitted, FieldCentral checks:

  • Is this a credit card?
  • Is surcharge allowed for this card?
  • Does the customer’s location allow surcharge?
  • Is there a state cap (for example, Colorado caps surcharge at 2%)?

You don’t need to know these rules — FieldCentral handles them for you.

Step 3: If a Surcharge Applies

If a surcharge is allowed:

  • A clear message appears explaining:
    • Original payment amount
    • Surcharge amount
    • Final total to be charged

The customer (or admin) can:

  • Proceed with payment
  • Cancel and choose another payment method

Nothing is charged until the user explicitly agrees.

Step 4: Payment Is Processed

Once approved:

  • The final amount (original + surcharge) is charged
  • The payment is processed securely
  • Records flow into FieldCentral and accounting normally

If no surcharge applies, the payment proceeds as usual with no extra steps.

Where Surcharge Works in FieldCentral

Surcharge logic is applied anywhere a payment is processed, including:

  • Admin
    • Paying an invoice from the Schedule screen
    • Accepting & paying for a prepaid estimate
  • Customer Acceptance Page
    • Customers paying for prepaid estimates
  • Mobile App
    • Technicians collecting payment in the field

The experience is consistent everywhere.

Saved Cards vs New Cards

New Card

  • Surcharge is evaluated after card entry
  • Customer sees surcharge message before payment completes

Saved Card

  • Surcharge is evaluated before payment is finalized
  • The same rules and transparency apply

Either way:

  • Debit cards are excluded
  • State rules are enforced
  • The customer is always informed

What You Don’t Have to Worry About

You do not need to:

  • Calculate surcharge percentages
  • Track state-by-state rules
  • Know which card brands allow surcharge
  • Adjust payment totals manually

FieldCentral and Forward handle all of this automatically and compliantly.


Surcharge can feel sensitive — but FieldCentral ensures it’s:

  • Transparent (no surprise fees)
  • Optional (customers can cancel)
  • Compliant (card + state rules enforced)
  • Consistent (same experience everywhere)

Your team stays confident.
Your customers stay informed.
Your payments stay accurate.

You’re Ready If You Can:

Take payment with a new card
Understand that surcharge may or may not apply
Recognize that customers always see the final amount before paying
Trust FieldCentral to enforce compliance automatically

If you can do those things, you’re fully equipped to use surcharge confidently.