Canada's Card Industry Code of Conduct: Your Rights

What the Code is and who it covers

According to FCAC, the Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada took effect in 2010 and was revised in 2015 and 2024. FCAC lists American Express Canada, Discover, Interac, Mastercard Canada, Visa Canada and UnionPay among the payment card network operators that have agreed to it, and says it aims to ensure transparency, flexibility and choice for merchants. FCAC supervises compliance. The Code covers core fees set by network operators and by acquirers or processors; FCAC says it does not apply to optional or add-on services or to avoidable penalties.

Comparing quotes

FCAC says card processing applications, quotes and proposals must include a Cost per Transaction Disclosure, so you can compare the cost of accepting a given card with different providers, and a Disclosure of Fees that lists other charges separately. Providers must explain how costs were calculated, including the card mix and volumes they assumed, and clearly disclose promotional offers and bundled services, including how long they last. When you compare two quotes, check that both use the same card mix and volume as your own statement.

What your agreement must show

FCAC says agreements must include a cover page, or a separate document if the agreement is electronic, with three tables: a Summary of the Key Elements of the Agreement, the Cost per Transaction Disclosure and the Disclosure of Fees. FCAC lists items these should contain, including the provider's name and contact information, effective, expiry and renewal dates, how statements are delivered, cancellation terms and fees, equipment options, complaint-handling procedures and transaction costs by card type.

Monthly statements

FCAC says monthly statements must show your effective merchant discount rate, the rate and total amount charged for interchange, network assessment fees and other charges, and the number and volume of transactions by type. On blended or flat-rate plans, statements must show the per-transaction rate, including discounts and surcharges, and any fees not included in that rate. If your statement does not show these, ask your provider why.

Fee changes and your right to exit

FCAC says acquirers and downstream participants must notify you 30 to 60 calendar days before fee increases, new fees, or fee reductions they will not implement. The notice must state the previous and new amounts, who changed the fee, the amount passed on to you, and your right to exit. You may give notice of intent to exit without penalty within 70 calendar days after an applicable fee change comes into effect. FCAC says that after you give notice, cancellation documents must be sent within 5 business days, and cancellation takes effect once you fulfil your obligations and after at least 30 calendar days. Penalty-free cancellation does not apply to fee schedules already set out in your agreement or to services unrelated to card payment processing.

Renewals and contract length

FCAC says fixed-term agreements cannot automatically renew for the same initial period; they may convert to automatic renewal for periods of 6 months or less. You may tell your provider you do not wish to renew at least 45 calendar days before renewal. Agreements for related services cannot run longer than the initial card processing agreement. FCAC says these rights do not apply to unrelated services, or where the services and pricing do not depend on keeping the initial agreement.

Choice, consent and discounts

FCAC says you may choose to accept a network's domestically issued credit cards or its debit cards without having to accept both. Negative option acceptance is not allowed: a provider needs your express consent before adding new payment processing products or services. You may also offer discounts for different payment methods, such as cash, debit or credit, and between card networks. Any surcharge is a separate question with its own rules, and in Quebec card payment fees are not allowed.

Complaints

FCAC says to try to resolve the issue with your provider first, then file a formal complaint with your merchant account name and address, merchant ID, a copy of your agreement and your most recent statement. Providers must acknowledge a complaint within 5 business days and respond within 20 business days for acquirers, or 30 business days for payment card network operators, and must explain any delay. The final response must include a summary, the findings, a decision with reasons and how to escalate. If you are not satisfied, you can contact FCAC.

Checklist before you sign

1. Get the Cost per Transaction Disclosure and Disclosure of Fees from every provider you are considering. 2. Check the card mix and volume behind each quote against your own statement. 3. Read the summary table for the term, renewal dates, cancellation fees and equipment terms. 4. Ask how any promotional price changes and when it ends. 5. Confirm how debit and Interac transactions are priced. 6. Ask for a sample monthly statement. 7. Note the provider's complaint contact. 8. Put renewal and non-renewal notice dates in your calendar. This guide is general information, not legal advice, current as of September 16, 2026. CELER Merchants is an independent merchant services agent, not a processor or a law firm. Check FCAC's current guidance and your own agreement.

Read the official Code

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada publishes the full Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada and a merchant-rights summary on canada.ca. The Code applies to card networks and to the participants who adopt it, including processors and acquirers. If a provider's practice seems to conflict with it, FCAC's pages explain how to complain first to the provider and then escalate. Keep a copy of your agreement and every fee-change notice, because the Code's rights depend on dates.

How the Code interacts with provincial law

The Code is federal and covers the relationship between you and the payment card industry. It does not override provincial consumer protection law about what you may charge your own customers. Quebec is the clearest example: the Code allows discounts by payment method, but Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur says merchants cannot charge fees for paying by card. Check both layers before you change how you price.