Around my town and State, many merchants are adopting the policy of adding 4% to the charge of their items (be it food, services, etc.) that the CC paying customer has to absorb because per the merchant, that is the cost they are charged for providing the convenience of using CCs to their customers and they are trying to get that back to sustain business.
Now because of the times we are in, one could argue that this is necessary so that the businesses being hurt have a chance to thrive.
Another argument could be that we the customers have been hit hard due to the pandemic as well, and we are trying to save as much money as we can to get by.
When I post something like this on Facebook in one of my local town groups, most of the replies are all PRO the merchant, that if we the customer don't like it, TOO BAD, PAY CASH & save money. One needs to keep in mind that most of these who reply like this are not into the CC game like we MF'ers are on this forum.
Now I'll ask it here since we are in the CC game to save money. Do you feel its right that merchants add a 4% charge to your total? If you feel its OK, would you feel the same way if there was no COVID?
I mean, yeah, I feel for the businesses, I was a business owner for MANY years and had my struggling times. But as a consumer/customer, where does it end? I mean we as consumers are getting these CCs, or looking for coupons, or buying Groupons to save money, just for the merchants to charge more anyway?
You see what I mean? Curious to see your take on this.
I mean this topic for all - but going to add a few buddies below to get their attention and hear their thoughts on this subject too. 
@Gmood1 @Anonymous @Anonymous @M_Smart007 @coldfusion @Anonymous @JNA1 @cashorcharge @AllZero @Anonymous
Last I checked it was against the credit card agreement to charge a surcharge to offset the fee. There's a specific law for gas stations to be able to charge more for taking a card, but I don't remember what it is.
As for the fee itself, I really don't care about 4%. My problem is people become used to it and it doesn't go away. Prices and fees always go up and are added, but never lowered and removed. It just becomes a way of life.
@Wavester64 wrote:Around my town and State, many merchants are adopting the policy of adding 4% to the charge of their items (be it food, services, etc.) that the CC paying customer has to absorb because per the merchant, that is the cost they are charged for providing the convenience of using CCs to their customers and they are trying to get that back to sustain business.
Now because of the times we are in, one could argue that this is necessary so that the businesses being hurt have a chance to thrive.
Another argument could be that we the customers have been hit hard due to the pandemic as well, and we are trying to save as much money as we can to get by.
When I post something like this on Facebook in one of my local town groups, most of the replies are all PRO the merchant, that if we the customer don't like it, TOO BAD, PAY CASH & save money. One needs to keep in mind that most of these who reply like this are not into the CC game like we MF'ers are on this forum.
Now I'll ask it here since we are in the CC game to save money. Do you feel its right that merchants add a 4% charge to your total? If you feel its OK, would you feel the same way if there was no COVID?
I mean, yeah, I feel for the businesses, I was a business owner for MANY years and had my struggling times. But as a consumer/customer, where does it end? I mean we as consumers are getting these CCs, or looking for coupons, or buying Groupons to save money, just for the merchants to charge more anyway?
You see what I mean? Curious to see your take on this.
I mean this topic for all - but going to add a few buddies below to get their attention and hear their thoughts on this subject too.
@Gmood1 @Anonymous @Anonymous @M_Smart007 @coldfusion @Anonymous @JNA1 @cashorcharge @AllZero @Anonymous
Thanks for the page @Wavester64 !
funny you should ask, I have friends who have local small businesses and I had to twist their arms to get them to add the 4% surcharge to help offset their costs.
you know it's a situation that I wouldn't pay the 4% surcharge. I would pay cash, but for the business owner, they are recouping their cost and maybe a little bit for the trouble. Because the inter-exchange fees run anywhere from ~2% to 3%+.
so how do I feel about it? Well if I'm the consumer, I don't like it and would pay cash. For the business owner, they are just recouping their cost and it's up to you whether to pay cash or credit, either way is the same to them.
@coldfusion wrote:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXX/Chapter140d/Section28a
There's one version. Maybe that's what the deal was with gas, they're not charging more for card, they're giving a discount for paying cash.
