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Is this legal?

V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
A travel agency told me they would charge me more ( i think abt 4% extra) if I wanted to use an AMEX card. What kind of BS is that?

I gave them my visa, but I want to know if they can do that according to Amex terms and conditions that THEy are suppose to be bound on.

 
Amex allows it as long as all other cards are charged the same surcharge.

Visa and MC allow it only if it's phrased as a "cash discount" (which has the same net effect as Amex's restriction - if it's a cash discount, it doesn't apply to other cards so they much charge the same surcharge for every card).

In summary, they're violating Amex's merchant agreement.
 
It's against their merchant agreement with amex. They can give a discount for paying in cash, but can not charge extra for using the card. It sounds like amex is the only one getting the extra surcharge here.
 
Does anyone know where you can go and complain about merchant agreement violations? There is a sub place here that surcharges you $1 for credit card purchases, which is really annoying.
 
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Does anyone know where you can go and complain about merchant agreement violations? There is a sub place here that surcharges you $1 for credit card purchases, which is really annoying.
Click to expand...

That is fine, i think. If they are charging extra for all CCs.

In my case, they are specifically charging more for Amex and not at all for Visa/MC. I wonder if I can jus tpick up the phone to Amex and tell them....
 
sure it's legal, now whether or not its against the agreement the shop and amex has, that's another issue.
 
Originally posted by: LuNoTiCK
Why don't you just not use them?
Click to expand...

you mean why not use the best credit card service out there?

They have the best free rewards program. And cardholder benefits are unmeasurable. I have been charged double, wrong amount, etc. etc. and each time the money is refunded to me right after making the complaint. They hold the charger liable and check with them. not to mention the best customer service.
 
Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Does anyone know where you can go and complain about merchant agreement violations? There is a sub place here that surcharges you $1 for credit card purchases, which is really annoying.
Click to expand...

That is fine, i think. If they are charging extra for all CCs.

In my case, they are specifically charging more for Amex and not at all for Visa/MC. I wonder if I can jus tpick up the phone to Amex and tell them....
Click to expand...

Sure, but the travel agency will mysteriously screw up your travel plans. 😉
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Does anyone know where you can go and complain about merchant agreement violations? There is a sub place here that surcharges you $1 for credit card purchases, which is really annoying.
Click to expand...

That is fine, i think. If they are charging extra for all CCs.

In my case, they are specifically charging more for Amex and not at all for Visa/MC. I wonder if I can jus tpick up the phone to Amex and tell them....
Click to expand...

Sure, but the travel agency will mysteriously screw up your travel plans. 😉
Click to expand...

exactly my point 😉

But I didnt give them my amex account, and I am sure there is anonymity for complaints. Just wondering if I should call them now or in a month when i get back 😛
 
Open a credit card (non Amex), use that card for the trip and ask Amex if you can transfer the amount from that card over 😉. Actually, it might be better to ask Amex first.
 
Originally posted by: vrbaba
A travel agency told me they would charge me more ( i think abt 4% extra) if I wanted to use an AMEX card. What kind of BS is that?

I gave them my visa, but I want to know if they can do that according to Amex terms and conditions that THEy are suppose to be bound on.
Click to expand...

American Express charges the highest fees to merchants so I guess they are just passing that on to the consumer. 4% does seem kind of high though.
 
Originally posted by: Reel
You should check out the amex travel agency. I haven't had any complaints about them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I am sure they are 100 times better, but the prices were too good. I dont really have complaints of the agency, just that they wont let me use my favorite card... and I could have racked up 2-3k in points 🙁 (international flight)
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Open a credit card (non Amex), use that card for the trip and ask Amex if you can transfer the amount from that card over 😉. Actually, it might be better to ask Amex first.
Click to expand...

Plans have already been made. I just want to know if I can screw that travel agency over.

I would like to wait till the end of my trip, in case amex brings a class action suit against them and force them to bankruptcy 😛
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: vrbaba
A travel agency told me they would charge me more ( i think abt 4% extra) if I wanted to use an AMEX card. What kind of BS is that?

I gave them my visa, but I want to know if they can do that according to Amex terms and conditions that THEy are suppose to be bound on.
Click to expand...

American Express charges the highest fees to merchants so I guess they are just passing that on to the consumer. 4% does seem kind of high though.
Click to expand...

But I believe they are not allowed to, unless they do it for all credit cards that they accept. IIRC they do this for Amex and Discover.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Amex allows it as long as all other cards are charged the same surcharge.

Visa and MC allow it only if it's phrased as a "cash discount" (which has the same net effect as Amex's restriction - if it's a cash discount, it doesn't apply to other cards so they much charge the same surcharge for every card).

In summary, they're violating Amex's merchant agreement.
Click to expand...

link?
(not disagreeing, but a source would be handy)
 
Originally posted by: TheChort
Originally posted by: mugs
Amex allows it as long as all other cards are charged the same surcharge.

Visa and MC allow it only if it's phrased as a "cash discount" (which has the same net effect as Amex's restriction - if it's a cash discount, it doesn't apply to other cards so they much charge the same surcharge for every card).

In summary, they're violating Amex's merchant agreement.
Click to expand...

link?
(not disagreeing, but a source would be handy)
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to oblige you if the credit card companies didn't make this information so difficult to find. 🙂 I can tell you that I've verified the cash discount bit via e-mail with either Visa or Mastercard.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: TheChort
Originally posted by: mugs
Amex allows it as long as all other cards are charged the same surcharge.

Visa and MC allow it only if it's phrased as a "cash discount" (which has the same net effect as Amex's restriction - if it's a cash discount, it doesn't apply to other cards so they much charge the same surcharge for every card).

In summary, they're violating Amex's merchant agreement.
Click to expand...

link?
(not disagreeing, but a source would be handy)
Click to expand...

I'd be happy to oblige you if the credit card companies didn't make this information so difficult to find. 🙂 I can tell you that I've verified the cash discount bit via e-mail with either Visa or Mastercard.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you can find the MC info in here.

http://www.mastercard.com/us/wce/PDF/12999_MERC-Entire_Manual.pdf

Check section 7.2.3
 
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