Why dont we do this in America?

[Anonymous]

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Brammy wrote:

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lohanck wrote:

What exactly should I say to the gas station down the street that has a sign stating a $5 minimum CC purchase?

I rarely carry cash, and when I do I like to save it for emergencies.

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They don't have the right to require a min purchase on anything you use your CC for. they do have the right to offer an upfront, plainly stated, discount for cash purchases.  You may have seen signs that show two different prices for cash and credit.  That being said, you can bring this up if you like.

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Just to add to Brammy's answer.  The first thing you can do is try to speak to the manager, and inform her/him that what they are doing is a violation of the Visa/MC merchant agreement.  In a few cases, just calling them out on it has worked for me, and they let me use my card under the minimum purchase simply because they knew they were wrong.

Failing that, you should try to use your card and let them refuse it.  Once they have refused your valid card for a transaction, you can report the business to Visa/MC.

If you can, try to get them to accept a MasterCard rather than a Visa.  The rules are the same for both, but MasterCard seems to be more interested in hearing about merchant violations than Visa.

Then give it a few weeks and go back to the business to see if the policy has changed.  If they are still requiring the minimum purchase, then wash, rinse, repeat.

Or you can take your business elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I visited Puerto Rico a few weeks back.  While there I did some shopping.  I primarly used my bank card.  They asked for ID for every transaction.  I knew (even then) that it is a violation of the visa master card quidelines.  Whould the rules be diffrent in Puerto Rico.

WBLAKE

[Anonymous]

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WBLAKE wrote:

I visited Puerto Rico a few weeks back.  While there I did some shopping.  I primarly used my bank card.  They asked for ID for every transaction.  I knew (even then) that it is a violation of the visa master card quidelines.  Whould the rules be diffrent in Puerto Rico.

WBLAKE

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Nopw Puerto Rico is still US territory isn't it?

[Anonymous]

It is a U.S. territory, but these aren't laws we're talking about, they're just rules put in place by Visa/MC.  Whether the rules are different in one place or another depends entirely on the agreements required by Visa and MC of merchants in that particular location.

I have no idea whether merchants in Puerto Rico have the same agreements as merchants in the mainland U.S., although one would think they would be identical.

Trying to enforce these rules can be tricky when you're traveling.  I recently traveled to Arizona on business, and every single place I used my card asked me for my ID.  I didn't put up too much of a fight about it because it would have been more of a hassle to find somewhere else to take my business since I didn't know the area that well.  Also, in NYC, where I live, it's easier to find a different place in a given area that sells what you're looking to buy.

Message Edited by cheddar on 12-08-2007 04:10 PM

[Anonymous]

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cheddar wrote:

It is a U.S. territory, but these aren't laws we're talking about, they're just rules put in place by Visa/MC.  Whether the rules are different in one place or another depends entirely on the agreements required by Visa and MC of merchants in that particular location.

I have no idea whether merchants in Puerto Rico have the same agreements as merchants in the mainland U.S., although one would think they would be identical.

Trying to enforce these rules can be tricky when you're traveling.  I recently traveled to Arizona on business, and every single place I used my card asked me for my ID.  I didn't put up too much of a fight about it because it would have been more of a hassle to find somewhere else to take my business since I didn't know the area that well.  Also, in NYC, where I live, it's easier to find a different place in a given area that sells what you're looking to buy.

Message Edited by cheddar on 12-08-2007 04:10 PM

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You have to pick your own battles.  I asked if PR was part of the US cause I was having a brain fart.  Visa merchant regulations apply to all US merchants and that includes territories.  It is not law by any means and the only thing that can override it is individual state laws. They may have different practices due to tourism fraud being so high but this is not endorsed by Visa regulations.