It's time to end excessive card fees, says Which?

Which? has submitted a super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) asking it to investigate excessive credit and debit card surcharges.

The consumer champion warns that these charges are unjustifiable and becoming increasingly widespread. While the cost to companies for taking payment by card is around 20 pence to process a debit card payment, and no more than 2 per cent of the transaction value for a credit card, researchers found dozens of examples of companies charging far higher fees.

Some of the worst offenders included:

A £25 debit card charge to pay a £5,000 deposit to rent a flat through Foxtons, one of London's biggest letting agents.

Train booking site The Trainline adds a £3.50 charge for paying by credit card, while Eurostar charges £4.

London cab firms Dial-a-Cab and Radio Taxis add 12.5 per cent to the cost of their fares for paying with a debit or credit card, and Addison Lee charges £4.40.

Bath and North East Somerset council charges a 3 per cent credit card charge, while the DVLA adds £2.50 for paying by credit card.

Admiral Insurance levies a £5.95 fee for credit card use; Swinton Insurance charges 2.5 per cent.

AOL charges £1.99 on both credit and debit cards.

A family of four booking a return flight with Ryanair would be charged £40 to pay by debit or credit card.

Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, says: "Consumers are really fed up with paying excessive card charges.  So far, over 40,000 people have pledged their support for our campaign to bring these to an end. 

"Low-cost airlines are some of the worst offenders, but excessive card surcharges are becoming ever more widespread, with everyone from cinemas and cabs to hotels and even some local authorities getting in on the act."

People can support the campaign and find out more information at which.co.uk/ripoff.