Retailers will no longer be able to charge customers to use credit or debit cards in store from 13 January.

Current EU rules prohibit businesses from charging customers more than the costs of offering card payments, but the new legislation will ban surcharging completely.

The Association of Convenience Store’s latest Voice of Local Shops survey shows that about 13% of retailers currently surcharge for card payments.

It will remain legal to have a minimum spend for card transactions - 33% of retailers currently adopt this policy - or to not accept card payments.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “These rules were introduced mainly to stop excessive card payment charges by on line retailers and service providers, but they also apply to shops including convenience stores.

“Retailers need to be aware of this, and the small minority of retailers who currently charge customers to use cards will have to stop doing this after 13 January.”