Hennepin County Service Centers No Longer Accept Visa

Even though 80 percent of card-swipers use Visa, it is no longer accepted at Hennepin County’s seven service centers.

The reason? Visa prohibits passing on credit card convenience fees to customers. The change is due to a Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division’s mandate regarding credit card procedures.

Mastercard and Discover will still be accepted, though a 2.45 percent convenience fee will now be charged for each credit card transaction. This fee is charged by the service provider used to handle credit card transactions.

In 2011, Hennepin County service centers conducted approximately 911,000 transactions. According to information provided to KARE 11 one-third of those were done via credit card. Of those 300,000-plus who used credit cards, 80 percent used Visa.