Small Businesses Feeling the Pinch of Credit Card Fees as E-Commerce Ramps Up

Small Businesses Feeling the Pinch of Credit Card Fees as E-Commerce Ramps Up
Credit cards are displayed in Montreal, on Dec. 12, 2012. The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz
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OTTAWA—Industry groups say small businesses are being hammered by high credit card fees on online purchases as the shift toward e-commerce continues.

Visa and MasterCard reduced the fees they collect from businesses to an average annual rate of 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent starting last year, but trade organizations say the fees remain higher than in many Western countries, particularly for digital transactions.