Contract & Payment Surcharges

Location: Phoenix, AZ

At the beginning of 2026, I entered into a contract with a hyperlocal newspaper company to run monthly advertisements in their paper for a term of 12 months. The contracted amount is $375 for a quarter page ad. At the time of contract signing, I was able to pay for the ad via credit card without encountering a surcharge for payment. In addition, there is no language or provision in the contract indicating a possible future changes to allow a surcharge for use of a credit card. There is language about a surcharge in the event of a decline, otherwise $375 was the total amount charged to my card per month.

In August, they began instituting a surcharge for anyone using a CC as a form of payment. They gave notice in June & July that anyone using CC as a form of payment would now be assessed a surcharge but could avoid a surcharge if I paid via check or ACH from my bank. So for 7 month, I was charged a $375 "all-in" rate but have paid $383 due to the CC surcharge

I contend the newspaper is in violation for breach of contract by essentially assessing me more than the stated rate in the contract. But they're stating the $375 is just for the ad itself and does not exempt me from applicable payment processing fees which were imposed in August.

I understand it's only an $8 difference but I feel i shouldn't be charged the CC surcharge since payment processing charges were not explicitly stated in the contract terms. Am I in the wrong here?