Traveling in the country recently, I shopped at a convenience store and since I don't lug cash around, I paid with my debit card. The clerk charged me some extra cash [$0.1] for using the debit card and was quite rude when I asked him why no one else had ever included the extra charge. So guys, are smaller stores permitted to charge an extra fee when you buy stuff and pay using your debit/credit card? Or was I just 'ripped' off?
Arco gas stations do not accept credit but only debit cards. They charge 35 cents per transaction. I never understood anyone charging on a debit since the money is removed instantly. The only good news if they charge on a debit and allow cash back, it is cheaper than the $2.00 to $3.50 most atms charge if it is not your banks. Seems they get you one way or another.
We have recently started seeing this happen at local convenience stores but only when it is used for a small amount. One store will only charge if your purchase is less than $2 and at another, it is for less than $5. They say that the card processors are charging them and that they have to pass the charge along to the consumer. I had thought that it was only for credit charges that the processors did that but maybe it is now happening with the debit charges, too. I usually just try and have at least $20 in cash on me at all times now.
I have never heard of something like this being done before. Currently, I don't get charged for making purchases on my debit card for any amount, but, of course, I do get charged for other things. I think I need to ensure that I carry cash on me in case my debit card company does any thing like that.
It recently became a law that debit cards could charge a fee if they choice to. It was passed the earlier part of this year I think.
A lot of business do it now to keep items cheaper for the consumer. You don't get charged by your bank for using your debit card but the store does. Same with credit cards, the store gets charged when people use them. The charge the company gives you is to make up for the charge they are getting. Arco for example, has gas prices much lower then everyone else and the reason they can do that is because they don't except credit at all (the charge when we use credit is higher than debit) and the 35 cents they charge us covers their debit fee. Some small business owner do it to cover their fee however some charge was too much but it because they can, there is no limit on what they can charge it is their business.
some smaller stores will eventually charge when the amount is not high. I think it's disrespectful to the client, but maybe they lose too much money if they don't? I don't understand why some stores will charge extra while some stores equal in size, product and clientele will not charge. But it's usually not such a high amount, so I don't complain.
Smaller stores especially outside of the city, I think are greatly at a disadvantage compared to the ones in the city or urban areas. Their client base is very limited and locals never really use card with them, its always spot on cash. Therefore whey you come with a debit/credit card, they know there is a high possibility that you are not from around. In some cases its standard policy that payment by card results in a extra charge for the client, because its extra work for them as they need to go and claim that money from the bank with the receipts. Which is why I think they charge as there is time and petrol to consider in that whole calculation. In other cases though, even in the city, where the banks and places are near them, they just choose to be greedy all in the name of competing with the bigger stores.
