Help on Amex Charges..

[JaeJae12]

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?

[cakebuilder]

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. 

[john398]

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

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

[Revelate]

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@john398 wrote:

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

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

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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.

[JaeJae12]

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.

[Stralem]

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@Revelate wrote:

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

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 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.

[Anonymous]

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

[adavis425]

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@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.

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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.

[NoAnchoviesPlease]

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@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.

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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." 

[blondy250]

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.