Surcharge

Overcharge; an excessive or unlawful charge. Surcharge and falsify. In the language of the common law " surcharge " imports an overcharge in quantity, price, or value beyond what is just, correct, and reasonable. In this sense it is nearly equivalent to " falsify; " for every item which is not truly charged as it should be, is false; and, by establishing such overcharge, it is falsified. But in the sense in which used in courts of equity, the words are contrasted with each other.2 A surcharge is appropriately applied to the balance of the whole account; and supposes credits to be omitted, which ought to be allowed. A falsification applies to some item in the.debits; and supposes that the item is wholly false, or in some part erroneous. " If any of the parties can show an omission [in a stated account] for which credit ought to be taken, that is a surcharge; or if anything is inserted that is a wrong charge, he is at liberty to show it, and that is falsification. But that must be by proof on his side." »