Credit Card Fee

[txrandom]

I'm going to pay the application and processing fee for my apartment next year, and my mom wants me to use her credit card. The lady on the phone says that using a credit card has a fee attached.

I thought businesses weren't allowed to charge more for using a credit card? Of course, I probably won't bring it up cause I don't want to piss off my future landlords.

 

[mugs]

What kind of card? If it's American Express, they can charge a fee as long as they charge the same fee for other cards.

If it's a VISA or MasterCard, they can't charge a fee. They can however offer a "cash discount" which is essentially the same (it's a pretty stupid loophole)

 

[imported_cheapdude]

You know they have to pay 2-5% of the entire amount to the credit card companies as processing fee right?
Most places might built that price into consideration, but for some smaller business they might not be able to absorb the extra cost and only provide people that option if they really can't come up with the cash / willing to pay the extra fee.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

they can't charge you a fee for using the credit card, but they can charge you a processing fee. I know...it's semantics.

 

[txrandom]

It'd be either amex or visa, I'm failing to see the difference between charging a fee and a cash discount. lol

 

[Riverhound777]

A couple places here don't accept credit cards at all, and charge a fee for using debit card, I fvcking hate it cause I rarely carry cash anymore.

 

[txrandom]

Yah, I never use cash. Whatever I cash I get for gifts, i keep until i runt out

 

[oogabooga]

For Mastercard you cannot be charged a fee just for using your card. They can offer a cash discount, and they can charge a fee for specific transactions provided they charge that fee regardless of payment method.

they are not allowed to surcharge (charge for using a mastercard)

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: cheapdude
You know they have to pay 2-5% of the entire amount to the credit card companies as processing fee right?
Most places might built that price into consideration, but for some smaller business they might not be able to absorb the extra cost and only provide people that option if they really can't come up with the cash / willing to pay the extra fee.

You know that it costs money to build restrooms and incurs recurring cost associated with them right? They're not required to let their customers use their restrooms, but most do and such cost is a tax deductible expense of doing business. How many places charge a fee to use their bathroom?

The "smaller business" are not required to accept credit cards at all. It is not some kind of law that they must accept cards. They have the choice of accepting cards and abiding by all the rules or not to accept at all.

If they want to charge you a fee, say no, but argue no further. File a chargeback complaint with CC company later.