Credit Card Surcharges More than What Is Stated

dasher86 on 07/08/2023 - 10:10

TL;DR businesses charging more than listed CC surcharge.
4.5% instead of 1.75% - would you go back to get them to fix?

I wanted to understand what OzBs thoughts were on credit card surcharges being more than what is stated.
As we know credit card surcharges are usually calculated at check out after the bill has been tallied and usually if at all just shown to the customer quickly, and if you're like me you can't do the mental gymnastics that fast.

On reviewing my credit card statements I have noted that no less than two places have charged me more than what is marked on their registers.

The worse being a 82 cents surcharge on a bill of $18.00 - mind you the registers said 1.75%

Would you go back?

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 07/08/2023 - 10:13

    AMEX?

    • dasher86 on 07/08/2023 - 10:13

      Mastercard

      • jv on 07/08/2023 - 10:18
        +1

        😲

      • FreeUyghur on 07/08/2023 - 12:13

        why not visa debit?

    • HeWhoKnows on 08/08/2023 - 20:18
      -2

      82c on a bill of $18 ??????????????????????????

      is that even worth the post?
      is it worth wasting everyones time here?

      seriously

      hasnt OP got better things to do?

  • jv on 07/08/2023 - 10:19
    +13

    Report them…

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/08/2023 - 10:23
    +8

    In this day and age I’m surprised people don’t just build it into the price regardless. Everyone has already jacked the price up for everything else (postage, delivery, labour, materials etc) - then no one gets upset.

    Otherwise do what some ( mostly asian) restaurant do and offer discount for cash

    • MrThing on 07/08/2023 - 10:55
      +1

      pretty much this

      and yer, "discount for cash" or like the greek islands "oh our eftpos machine is broken, only taking cash today" ….. then the same the next day and so on

  • Drakesy on 07/08/2023 - 10:26
    +2

    Yeah, that's not legal.

  • Gdsamp on 07/08/2023 - 10:29
    -6

    yea cos everyone has to have a credit card that collects points and so someone has to subsidise it (either everyone via wholesale increase on prices, or via these surcharges)

    I am back to specifying I want to pay with EFTPOS (insert card rather than contactless). Still counts towards 5 monthly transactions on ING & BOQ

  • foxmulder on 07/08/2023 - 10:48

    How about this; a supermarket has min purchase of $20 to use card for free but 50c for anything under $20. I bought $2 water bottle then they charge $2.50 - is this actually ok?

    • Charlieeee on 07/08/2023 - 10:53
      +5

      From the ACCC website:

      Businesses are allowed to set a minimum amount for card payments.

      Businesses can also set a surcharge only for card payments below a certain amount. For example, a 50 cents surcharge for card payments under $10. If a business sets a surcharge in this way, the surcharge must comply with the ban and not be excessive.

      Example
      If business’s costs for payments by credit card is 1% and it charges a 1% surcharge for credit card payments, a customer buying a coffee for $4 would pay a four cents surcharge.
      If the business decides to charge a 50 cent surcharge for all card payments on transactions less than $10 and a customer buys a coffee for $4, that surcharge is a 12.5% surcharge. This would exceed the businesses cost of acceptance for that transaction.

      • Settero on 07/08/2023 - 11:30
        -1

        Do you have a link for that example , normal merchant fees are a set amount + % of transaction.

          • Settero on 07/08/2023 - 12:32

            @Charlieeee: Wow , yeah , that's very misleading, dosnt mention a minimum merchant fee and makes it look like just the % fee. So for same situation but cost to business is 1% but minimum 50c , the charge would be legal

          • dabs on 08/08/2023 - 11:18

            @Charlieeee: Hey what about if a business only accepts cash for checkouts below $20.

            This is a large asian grocery store and and even if the total amount is $18.50, you can't pay with card. Only cash. Drives my head in!

            So I need to add more items that I wouldn't have bought to make the total over $20 in order to pay with card.

            • cyan00FFFF on 08/08/2023 - 22:20

              @dabs: Yeah that's fine. There's no restrictions on what payment methods the business must offer, only restrictions on how they can surcharge.

            • foxmulder on 08/08/2023 - 22:23

              @dabs: Get some cash with you, thus you can buy as little as you can with that shop.

      • foxmulder on 07/08/2023 - 11:49

        That clarifies it. Nice to see an example to match the situation.

  • freefall101 on 07/08/2023 - 11:01
    +6

    They've charged you 50c + 1.75%.

    They need to properly sign it to say that's what they're charging. If it didn't say an extra 50c for transactions under $20 then yeah, you were overcharged, I'd complain.

    • Mugsy on 08/08/2023 - 08:49

      Good deduction!

      OP, if it's a store you intend to keep using, I would go buy something minor, then check the receipt for any excess surcharges. Question them on it to find out what it is and if they're errors, take out your old receipts and kindly ask them to fix up those purchases too.

      If they dispute any wrong doing, then yeah, report them and find somewhere else to shop.

  • PissLUR on 07/08/2023 - 11:22

    Australian or Overseas based credit card?

    • dasher86 on 07/08/2023 - 11:23

      Aussie.

  • Protractor on 07/08/2023 - 11:31

    Just complain anyway. The worst case scenario isn't going to cost you any more than the time and energy used to complain. Best case is inward $$.

    • dasher86 on 07/08/2023 - 12:14

      do you see this as being petty, or being seen as cheap?

      • Tee Rex Arms on 07/08/2023 - 13:07

        Both

        • dasher86 on 07/08/2023 - 13:33

          So, what would you do? would you accept it, and would you go back to the business?

          • Protractor on 07/08/2023 - 13:41

            @dasher86: Yes both.
            But clearly you have enough time to run a discussion online.So it matters to you. You are obviously $$$$ 'focused'. Drop a whinge on them. Let us know what happens so the whole post was not wasted

            • dasher86 on 07/08/2023 - 14:12
              +2

              @Protractor: This is more principle focused.
              The fact they are overcharging their customers.
              80 cents in this case wouldn't be worth my time going back to them, but it will be on my radar to let them know next time.

              I wouldn't say this post it wasted. it looks like a valid discussion, or to make other people aware that this is happening, and some people may not even know it.

              But what if it was $5?

              • Protractor on 07/08/2023 - 14:37

                @dasher86: "This is more principle focused." It looks anything but , judging by current your course of action.

  • jujube32 on 07/08/2023 - 15:25

    If you happen to buy stuff from the same place again, next time use a calculator on the spot and challenge them.

  • Porker on 07/08/2023 - 15:26
    +6

    My wife has a habit of checking receipts pretty much as we leave the checkout. It really annoyed me at the start, up until one time they double charged us for an item, and then I noticed a number of errors (at various times for various errors) since, including incorrect surcharges.

    Yes, it might seem petty but unless pointed out, the store is likely applying that same 'error' across the board.

    • Yola on 07/08/2023 - 16:14
      +1

      Glad you got on board and are no longer annoyed with your wife.

    • Mugsy on 08/08/2023 - 08:31
      +4

      Keep her!

      My wife wants the receipts checked but tells me to do it. You're getting the best of both worlds!

  • Marty156 on 08/08/2023 - 08:50
    +2

    You definitely need to check all receipts.

    2 coffees total $10. Receipt shows $10.23.
    When questioned, was told it was a credit card surcharge.
    The 2,3% surcharge is way above what the business is charged, hence I think it would be illegal.
    That's a couple of customers they have lost.
    We used to stop for lunch there often, so never again. Petty?

    Is it worth lodging a complaint with the ACCC?
    For the principle, not the money.

  • Trekky on 08/08/2023 - 09:26

    If a store charges me a CC surcharge, then I just start paying for future visits with cash. There are 2 that I use regularly (Just Cuts and Gloria Jeans).

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