AllPaid Service Fee vs. Surcharges & Convenience Fees

Is this just a surcharge or a convenience fee?

No. The AllPaid service fee is a different kind of charge from a surcharge or a convenience fee. Here's what makes it different, in plain terms.

The three fees, side by side

You may have run into other fees when paying a bill. Here's how they compare to the AllPaid service fee:

A surcharge is added by a merchant and only applies when you pay with a credit card. It can't be charged on debit cards or bank transfers.
A convenience fee is tied to one specific way of paying — for example, an extra charge for paying online instead of in person. It doesn't apply evenly across all payment methods.
The AllPaid service fee is charged by AllPaid for use of its secure payment platform. It applies consistently across credit, debit, and electronic check (eCheck/ACH) payments, no matter how you choose to pay.

What to look at	Surcharge	Convenience fee	AllPaid service fee
Who charges it	The merchant	The merchant	AllPaid, as the payment platform
When it applies	Only when you use a credit card	Only for one specific way of paying	Whenever you pay through AllPaid
Payment types it covers	Credit cards only	Limited to one payment channel	Credit, debit, and eCheck/ACH
Works the same for everyone	No — credit cards only	No — depends on how you pay	Yes — applies uniformly across all payment types

Why you may see the fee on debit and eCheck too

A surcharge can only be added to credit card payments — never to debit cards or bank transfers. The AllPaid service fee is different: it applies consistently across all payment types. That means the agency receives the full amount you owe no matter how you choose to pay, and you're treated the same whether you use a credit card, a debit card, or an electronic check.

AllPaid handles the compliance

AllPaid is a registered payment facilitator (PayFac) and manages all the requirements for charging this fee. That means the fee is applied properly, disclosed to you before you pay, and handled in line with the rules that govern payments.

The short version for payers

In plain terms

A platform service fee is added so the agency can receive the full amount owed. The fee is charged by AllPaid — not by the agency — and is shown to you before you confirm your payment.

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