Message: 5
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 14:05:40 +0000
From: "Laurence G. Tilley" <laurence@lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Re: CC chargesThose people who have expressed a feeling that Harlequin shouldn't
charge 5% for CC payments, should reflect on the following ...It is now becoming common practice for most major High Street retailers
to add 2.5% onto ALL purchases, whether made with a credit/debit card or
not. (Source: BBC R4 this afternoon) The argument used by the retailers
(supermarkets included) is that it is easier to spread the charges they
incur from banks on to all customers.Nothing new about it. It's always been that way - in England at
least. I'm not sure I can remember a single occasion in the last 20 years
of using a credit card where a shop has charged me extra for paying by
credit card (perhaps JUST one). But I will ask the females who use my
credit care onehelluvalot more than I do - I believe Marks and Spencers
used to stand out as the only shop who would not accept credit cards.It's a simple matter of absorbing uneven costs. Only a small minority of
people choose to shop on a Monday morning, but you don't make them pay a
surcharge on the basis that the shop is open just for them.Laurence G. Tilley
I believe there are restrictions preventing shops from charging
extra for credit cards, possibly just that they wouldn't be allowed (by
the CC companies to accept them). Although I did work one place where
they charged extra for CCs (not a shop).
Someone once recommended to me waving an AmEx card (who are
about 5% surcharge) at a shop and asking for a discount for cash.
Martin
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At 12:57 PM 14-02-02, Colin Forbes wrote: