Are we going to stuck with the credit card surcharges?

[youfiad]

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/atte...here-1C8086499

I'm really wondering how much this is going to effect those who use credit cards and if it could make them go obsolete(ish). I didn't read much of the article, (mostly because I'm about to head to work and didn't have time), but I'm wondering what you guys think.

[xbuzzerx]

In my opinion this is going to backfire-- credit card companies are either going to have to start lowering the service charge rates that push small businesses to want to do this, or else a lot of people are going to start just using cash or debit card everytime they can. And, the businesses that charge the percentage or service fee will be selected around by shoppers.

[crimsonpaine]

From my prior understanding is that any store that decides to charge customers the surcharge, they must post at the entrance and the register receipt must explicitly show the surcharge. (also mentioned in the article)

There are interesting points in this article. 10 states already ban surcharges, so any stores that operate in those 10 (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas) states, and operate outside of those 10 states, can't charge the customer the surcharge. Any company that accepts AMEX along with Visa/MasterCard would have to charge the surcharge to the AMEX just the same, but AMEX prohibits surcharges, so the company can't charge the surcharge to any of the cards.

I will be on the look out for this at any of the stores I visit, big and small, these surcharges taken on by the business for years is nothing new and they base their merchandise prices around the charges, and if they charge it without adjusting their prices, then they are being a little greedy, and I may just take my business elsewhere.

[csb999]

being about as perfectly ignorant about this as it's possible to be , it seems to me that credit cards are essentially self-contradictory . Most people ( I think an actual statistical majority ) and I use the credit card like a debit card , a monthly expense we pay off totally , meaning the credit card companies make not the slightest profit . I can see for me the point of paying a service charge ; I suspect "surcharges" are some sort of compensation for the relative loss of income caused by the current drop in interest rates .

[maxpowr9]

This is basically a nothing case like the "internet tax" that was pushed through.

[xbuzzerx]

being about as perfectly ignorant about this as it's possible to be , it seems to me that credit cards are essentially self-contradictory . Most people ( I think an actual statistical majority ) and I use the credit card like a debit card , a monthly expense we pay off totally , meaning the credit card companies make not the slightest profit . I can see for me the point of paying a service charge ; I suspect "surcharges" are some sort of compensation for the relative loss of income caused by the current drop in interest rates .

You're right that many people do this, but there are good, valid security reasons to do so. If your debit card information is stolen, and money is taken directly out of your bank account, you are liable for that loss and you may never recover it. With a credit card I can report a fraudulent charge and I'm not responsible for it.

[maxpowr9]

You're right that many people do this, but there are good, valid security reasons to do so. If your debit card information is stolen, and money is taken directly out of your bank account, you are liable for that loss and you may never recover it. With a credit card I can report a fraudulent charge and I'm not responsible for it.

Exactly. Most banks [at least Bank of America] will only cover $300 per fraud case.

[opinterph]

With a credit card I can report a fraudulent charge and I'm not responsible for it.

What entity is responsible to cover the associated loss?

[Jack Springer]

A good question to ask -- who were the retailers involved in the class action suit?

That might tell you who plans on adding the fees to purchases.

My suggestion would be to look over your receipt before you sign it, keep your receipts, and review your credit card statements closely.

I'm surprised that this type of fee was not rejected in the CC law that the Obama administration pushed through in it's first term. ( )

[eastofeden]

In California we already have gas that has a cash price and a credit price. Same when I go to auctions...10% commission for cash and 13% for credit.