topic Re: Help on Amex Charges.. in Credit Cards

Help on Amex Charges..

JaeJae12 — Fri, 02 May 2014 19:20:52 GMT

Hi guys, my mom made a purchase for a watch online from a jeweler in CA.. We live in NY.. But when she received the watch she noticed that the price was different from what was quoted online. As I did some research I noticed that the jeweler charged my mom a surcharge of 4% using her amex credit card. Is there any way she can dispute the surcharge portion with amex?

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

Anonymous — Fri, 02 May 2014 20:06:41 GMT

I have never heard of this before. If I were you I would escalate this to the highest level at AMEX. Charging you a 4% fee without your consent seems illegal. Please fight this and I would love to know how this ends.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

Anonymous — Fri, 02 May 2014 20:12:02 GMT

yes its illegel unless they say cash price or something like that

see https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/credit_card_surcharges

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

Revelate — Fri, 02 May 2014 20:42:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
yes its illegel unless they say cash price or something like that

see https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/credit_card_surcharges

It's probably in the fine print somewhere unfortunately; 4% seems high, but more and more places are starting to charge for using a credit card because they can and a rewards card does cost them money directly in the transaction fee they have to bear.

Not really any different than personal transactions using Paypal asking for 4% higher if you do it for goods/services rather than gift on payment because of the Paypal fees.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

JaeJae12 — Fri, 02 May 2014 22:27:29 GMT

My mom just want to pay the price of the watch as originally stated but not the 4% fee... And it is a pricey watch so that 4% fee costs her amost $1000... We have called amex and they will update us by Monday..since today is Friday...but the supervisor we spoke to assured us that we will get a refund on the surcharge...amount....we had to upload the original receipt.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

Stralem — Fri, 02 May 2014 22:39:26 GMT

@Revelate wrote:
[...] but more and more places are starting to charge for using a credit card because they can [...].

The gas stations around here are now displaying different prices based on payment method. $4.19 when paying with cash versus $4.22 when paying with credit (OR debit!) for example. My right eyebrow shot through my sunroof when I first noticed that.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

Anonymous — Fri, 02 May 2014 23:44:22 GMT

Truck stops have been doing that for years. There isn't much margin on fuel by the time it gets to the pump.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

adavis425 — Sat, 03 May 2014 01:47:02 GMT

@Stralem wrote:

The gas stations around here are now displaying different prices based on payment method. $4.19 when paying with cash versus $4.22 when paying with credit (OR debit!) for example. My right eyebrow shot through my sunroof when I first noticed that.

It's different when you know (and consent) up front that there's a service charge. This happened to me once with a MC in a restaurant. I immediately called Mastercard and filled them in. Not only did they refund the entire dinner tab, but they reprimanded the restaurant's management. I would rest easy...AmEx will take care of it.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

NoAnchoviesPlease — Sat, 03 May 2014 06:17:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Truck stops have been doing that for years. There isn't much margin on fuel by the time it gets to the pump.

Fairly common (not pervasive) at gas stations on the west coast as well. I'd guess 1/3 to 1/2 of the stations I pass on the way to work have a credit rate. A couple of stations have credit/cash signage but the prices are the same...

The "cash discount" has long been a loophole in the "no credit card surcharge."

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

blondy250 — Sat, 03 May 2014 08:25:48 GMT

Its a regular thing in the NY metro area to charge 10 cents more a gallon for credit card purchase. Some as much as $1 a gallon more, they justify by saying there not charging more for a credit card purchase they claim there discounting cash purchases. To the OP contact AMEX or get a refund 4% seems excessive.

Re: Help on Amex Charges..

dollar_bill — Sat, 03 May 2014 12:27:03 GMT

I've ran into this kind of thing a few times myself, but I've always know about it up front. If it's a larger ticket item, I like the protection I have by using the card over using cash so it might be worth it.