If I may just make the comment that it is not necessarily the case that all FTO's offering money up front packages are in the business of ripping people off. I work part time for a FTO which does just that and has done so for a long time. The reason being that because it can budget better it can offer the student a significant discount on the hourly rate. My FTO does not make a surcharge for credit cards however, but this is not unheard of, albeit it tends to be with a smaller organisation unable to absorb the bank charges. As I am sure we all know a certain level of protection is afforded by using a credit card.
I appreciate Custers sentiment in trying to protect peoples cash but the last thing we need is generalised statements about practices which can be in fact in everyones best interest.