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More businesses starting to pass on Credit Card fees to the consumer??

Posted on 1/18/23 at 2:43 pm
Posted by lilsnappa
Red Stick
Member since Mar 2006
1792 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 2:43 pm
2x today I was given the option to pay cash/debit or have to pay additional 4% if I use a credit card.

Is this just an outlier I experienced or is this a growing trend? I feel like my Chase Reserve use is about to take a hit...
Posted by Civildawg
Member since May 2012
8542 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 2:48 pm to
Just had this happen today. Carpet repair guy, I asked if he took check or credit card. Said either was fine but 4% fee if paid by credit card so I paid with a check
This post was edited on 1/18/23 at 2:52 pm
Posted by thegreatboudini
Member since Oct 2008
6440 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 2:56 pm to
Wait until this happens at a business that doesn't take cash.

Burn it down.
Posted by Weagle25
THE Football State.
Member since Oct 2011
46174 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:04 pm to
quote:

Wait until this happens at a business that doesn't take cash. Burn it down.

They would just up their price and never tell you about the 4% fee. In fact, this has probably already happened to you and you didn’t know.

The only reason to tell the customer about the fee is if you differentiate your price based on method of payment.

Then if that pisses you off, wait until you hear about the businesses that build the 4% fee into their price without telling anyone. Then you pay cash. And they pocket the 4% fee for no reason.

It’s part of business. Don’t know why you’d get fired up about it. You’re either willing to pay the price they’re charging or not.
This post was edited on 1/18/23 at 3:08 pm
Posted by WhiskeyThrottle
Weatherford Tx
Member since Nov 2017
5288 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:12 pm to
I just find it incredible how banks find a way to make money for you using your money. If you want to pay cash, you likely stopped at an ATM. If you get $200 out and pay $3, you paid 1.5% of your money, to spend your money. If you got $300 out, it's 3%. Between taxes and banks, you actually get to spend 50% of your income or less.
Posted by CSinLC
Member since May 2018
634 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:39 pm to
I see this as penalizing me for doing business with you. If a business does that I go elsewhere.

CC have always charged a usage fee. If you don't like it raise your prices on everyone.

And for you business owners - if you're charging me 4% extra to use my CC and I put that fee on my CC also, aren't you now just paying a usage fee on a higher amount?
This post was edited on 1/18/23 at 3:40 pm
Posted by Weekend Warrior79
Member since Aug 2014
16256 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:53 pm to
quote:

And for you business owners - if you're charging me 4% extra to use my CC and I put that fee on my CC also, aren't you now just paying a usage fee on a higher amount?

We do it because we have 2-3 cc transactions a month, most of our customers use ACH/wires. But, to answer your question, when you run the cc it goes through on the business' end as 2 separate charges to avoid paying a fee on top of the fee.
Posted by GrizzlyAlloy
Member since Aug 2020
1625 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:57 pm to
Actually, this guy is offering you a cost savings vs upping his prices. Everyone else increases their prices and keeps the 4% when you pay cash/debit.
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89453 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:57 pm to
quote:

And they pocket the 4% fee for no reason.


Not entirely accurate. They're having to pay the card company a swipe fee of up to 4%. They are pocketing the rest, relatively guilt-free.

All you baws with cash back cards, you really didn't think there was anything in this life that was free, did you?
Posted by thunderbird1100
GSU Eagles fan
Member since Oct 2007
68270 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 3:58 pm to
Have a roofer coming out Friday who already warned me using a C.C. will be 3% charge so I'll write him a check instead.

I've run into a number of smaller businesses who charge you to use a card, 4% is pretty excessive. I dont know who is getting charged that to run a card.

For my wife's business she charges 3% c.c. fee, very small business with very few customers, never had an issue with is. Fact is if you want to pay by c.c. she has to eat a 3% fee to run it so she passes that on to only people who pay by c.c.
This post was edited on 1/18/23 at 3:59 pm
Posted by Weekend Warrior79
Member since Aug 2014
16256 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 4:23 pm to
quote:

4% is pretty excessive.

The 4-5% cc charges has to be because the businesses are getting unfavorable rates from Discover & AmEx and they just round up and charge the same amount across the board. I want to say our Visa/MC is 2.8%, and our AmEx is 3.5%, so we just hit 3% to simplify it. And, through our bank, if we were running ccs as much as many of the retailers/restaurants, our fees could go as low as 1%.
Posted by skewbs
Member since Apr 2008
1998 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 4:57 pm to
quote:

I just find it incredible how banks find a way to make money for you using your money


So you think a Bank should just watch over and protect your money for free? Just want to make sure I understand that.
Posted by tigburls
Member since Feb 2010
543 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 5:26 pm to
Banks make money loaning out your money to other people, exorbitant credit card rates, questionable lending practices, and many other ways. Nickel and diming their legitimate customers is one of their more reprehensible actions.
This post was edited on 1/18/23 at 5:35 pm
Posted by Turf Taint
New Orleans
Member since Jun 2021
6010 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 5:52 pm to
Presume you mean "pass on" more transparently.

If pricing was not covering 3-4% of their revenue, they may not be in business today.
Posted by Cdawg
TigerFred's Living Room
Member since Sep 2003
59425 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 5:53 pm to
quote:

you likely stopped at an ATM. If you get $200 out and pay $3, you paid 1.5% of your money, to spend your money.

I haven't used an ATM in a while but if I use my bank's ATM, there is no charge. Has that changed?
Posted by thelawnwranglers
Member since Sep 2007
38736 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 6:01 pm to
Depends on the business retail/restaurant I expect you to take card no fee

Posted by tigerpawl
Can't get there from here.
Member since Dec 2003
22211 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 6:23 pm to
My ex-optometrist didn't take Amex because Amex charged him an extra 1%. He is no longer my optometrist.

I think this passing on of credit card fees is a good thing for the consumer since it exposes the pettiness of some businesses and thereby making it a screening tool of sorts for businesses to be avoided.
Posted by LSUtigerME
Walker, LA
Member since Oct 2012
3788 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 6:26 pm to
I’ve noticed a huge increase in this practice. Timing is of course interesting as many, many places went “cashless” during COVID and now tack on an extra 4% CC charge.

The legal requirements for this is interesting. It has to be clearly identified throughout the business, alternative payment options (no fee) must exist, and can be no more than 4%.

I much prefer the Texas law requirements that mandate only a “cash discount” is allowed. While effectively the same, it forces the place to up their advertised/listed price vs hiding behind a fee.
Posted by CSinLC
Member since May 2018
634 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 7:07 pm to
Another thing I wonder is wouldn’t it be worth the convenience to deal with a CC swipe instead of counting paper bills and coins?

Posted by tigerpawl
Can't get there from here.
Member since Dec 2003
22211 posts
Posted on 1/18/23 at 8:47 pm to
I'm of the understanding that if the CC companies find out that merchants are engaging in this practice, they'll cut their water off.
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