Travel groups that impose debit and credit card surcharges are to face action from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) after a super-complaint by consumer group Which? was upheld.

Airlines and operators will have to alter the "misleading" policy or face enforcement under consumer protection laws, following the conclusion of a 90-day OFT probe. According to the OFT, the removal of surcharges for debit cards would ensure that headline prices are "truly meaningful and comparable".

The OFT accepted that credit card surcharges may be imposed to cover the increased cost of processing such methods of payment, as long as they meet transparency requirements. Cavendish Elithorn, senior director of OFT's goods and consumer group, said: "Consumers find it harder to shop around and find the best deal if they have to invest time and effort in discovering surcharges."

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith added: "We want to see the measures recommended by the OFT put in place as quickly as possible and finally put an end to the practice of card surcharging." Image: shutterstock.com/egd