In the past, the City of Upland has absorbed credit/debit card service fees on behalf of our customers.

Starting January 1, 2026, the City will no longer pay those fees. Instead, the fee that credit card companies charge will be passed on to customers who choose to pay with credit/debit cards.

Why is there a service fee for credit/debit card payments?
When businesses or public entities accept credit/debit card payments, they delegate payment handling to the credit card companies. The credit card companies levy fees for their service. Some merchants or other entities often pass these service fees on to their customers to mitigate fee costs. For public entities like the City of Upland, offering credit/debit card payments enhances customer service by providing convenience and payment flexibility.

However, processing such transactions incurs expenses that, historically, the City has yet to pass on to customers who use credit/debit cards for payment. Government agencies paying service fees on behalf of their customers create an equity concern whereby taxpayers indirectly subsidize customers paying through credit/debit cards. Organizations must consider this when deciding whether to accept credit/debit cards and how to manage associated fees.

The City of Upland has determined that it is no longer feasible to absorb fees charged by credit card companies and has opted to make customers responsible for paying service fees directly to the credit card companies.

Current Credit Card Service Fees by Provider:
ActiveNet (Recreation & Community Services) - 3%
EnerGov (Development Services Online Processing Fees for Building & Safety and Planning Permits) - 3.75%
Business Licenses (HdL) - 2.9%
Utility Bills (InfoSend):

• Visa, MasterCard and Discover - 2.8%
• American Express - 3.3%

Why was this fee implemented now?
The City Council has concluded that to maintain cost-effective public services, it is necessary to pass through credit/debit card service fees to card-paying customers. This action aims to ensure that City fees for services accurately represent the true cost incurred by the City in delivering these services.

Do other cities charge this sort of fee to their customers?
Upland is among many cities and public entities exercising its prerogative to allow passing on the fees charged by credit card companies to the customer. The growing trend of customers opting to pay fees for services via credit/debit cards has made processing charges increasingly burdensome, making it impractical to absorb them entirely.

Alternative Payment Options:
If you prefer not to pay a service fee, don't worry, there are still various self-serve payment methods at your disposal. Additionally, you can utilize more traditional payment methods, such as checks or money orders, which can be mailed or submitted in person at City Hall. Moreover, cash payments are accepted in person at the Finance Customer Service counter during regular business hours.

Should you have further questions, please contact us at 909-931-4150.