Card Processing Fees
Last updated: 24 December 2025
When paying for competition entries through Comp Central Payments, card processing fees apply. The fee charged depends on where your card was issued relative to the competition organiser's location.
This page explains how these fees work and who pays them.
UK-Based Organisers
For competitions run by UK-based organisers, the following fee structure applies:
| Card Type | Description | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Cards | Cards issued in the UK | Included in standard fees |
| EU Cards | Cards issued in EU/EEA countries | Surcharge added to payment |
| International Cards | Cards issued outside UK and EU | Surcharge added to payment |
| Commercial/Premium Cards | Business, corporate, or premium consumer cards | Absorbed by organiser |
EU-Based Organisers
For competitions run by EU-based organisers (e.g., Italy, France, Germany), the following fee structure applies:
| Card Type | Description | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic & EU Cards | Cards issued anywhere in the EU/EEA | Included in standard fees |
| UK Cards | Cards issued in the United Kingdom | Surcharge added to payment |
| International Cards | Cards issued outside EU and UK | Surcharge added to payment |
| Commercial/Premium Cards | Business, corporate, or premium consumer cards | Absorbed by organiser |
How Surcharges Work
When you enter your card details at checkout, we automatically detect where your card was issued. If a surcharge applies, you'll see the updated total before confirming your payment.
No surprises: You'll always see the final amount including any surcharge before you confirm payment.
Commercial & Premium Cards
Industry Limitation
Payment processors (including Stripe) do not provide a way to identify commercial or premium cards until after the payment has been processed. This means we cannot detect these cards at checkout and cannot apply a surcharge.
As a result, the additional processing fee for these card types (typically around 1% higher) is absorbed by the competition organiser. This is an industry-wide limitation, not specific to Comp Central.
Our Commitment
Comp Central is committed to keeping abreast of the latest payment industry developments and Stripe fee structures. We continuously work to ensure card processing fees are handled in the fairest and most transparent way possible for all parties—organisers, clubs, and parents.
If payment processors introduce the ability to detect premium or commercial cards before payment, we will implement appropriate handling to ensure fair distribution of fees.
Card processing rates are reviewed periodically to ensure they align with current pricing. Any significant changes to fee structures will be communicated to users in advance.
Accepted Payment Methods
We accept the following card types:
Note: American Express cards are not currently accepted due to higher processing fees.
Questions?
If you have any questions about card processing fees, please contact us at support@compcentral.co.uk