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RISING costs for American citizens and businesses alike have led to some establishments adding on a little-known fee to any and all purchases.
The so-called "checkout fee" is being used to offset costs of doing business that owners say they simply can't afford to eat themselves.
College students in Arkansas are the latest to notice this growing trend among small businesses, especially in the state itself.
These checkout fees are surcharges added on by businesses to cover the cost of credit card transactions, the total value of which is compounded by multiple factors.
Payment processors not only charge a monthly account fee, but also take a cut of every credit card transaction a store makes, according to one Arkansas business owner who spoke with local outlet KAIT.
Since raising overhead costs are already squeezing their bottom line and that of other businesses, the owner said that stores must charge these fees to avoid absorbing the hit themselves, which is something many small businesses can't afford today.
These service fees are only applied to credit cards, but a convenience fee can be added to transactions using debit cards or other nonstandard payment options.
But...