On Saturday we stopped at Tara on our way back from Moomba South Australia at the Woolshed Bakery and purchased a pie and a custard tart and ice coffee, the total of this purchase came to $12.60 and they informed me because I was using my eftos card they would charge me .50 cents for the transaction was this ok and i said no but they charged me anyway, they are the only one in the whole town that charge this fee to use your key card. If anyone is going to buy anything from this shop make sure you have cash or you too will be stung. I have not come across this anywhere else in all of my travels, but from now on i'll be making sure that have some cash in my wallet .
justcruisin01 said
04:51 PM Apr 9, 2014
Had a similar thing a few yrs back at the truck stop/servo just north of Marybourgh,Qld. Lucky we saw the sighn before we refueled so questioned them about it.
After an exxchange of words I told them what they could do with their fuel as I still had plenty to go else where, which I did on principle .
JC
dazren said
05:18 PM Apr 9, 2014
Hi big wazza., Yep I agree that stinks, Personally I would have refused the deal, If they would not accept Eftpos payment without the fee, well they can keep the goods, as that is not the way a business should operate, !
oldbobsbus said
05:59 PM Apr 9, 2014
big wazza wrote:
On Saturday we stopped at Tara on our way back from Moomba South Australia at the Woolshed Bakery and purchased a pie and a custard tart and ice coffee, the total of this purchase came to $12.60 and they informed me because I was using my eftos card they would charge me .50 cents for the transaction was this ok and i said no but they charged me anyway, they are the only one in the whole town that charge this fee to use your key card. If anyone is going to buy anything from this shop make sure you have cash or you too will be stung. I have not come across this anywhere else in all of my travels, but from now on i'll be making sure that have some cash in my wallet .
You need to use your card for a $12.60 transaction??????????
I don't blame them it costs them a percentage of the transaction to put it on Eftpos plus a transaction fee..
Maybe you could consider carrying a little cash with you for when you need to buy a feed
Happywanderer said
06:07 PM Apr 9, 2014
I wouldn't call 50 cents being ripped off. Have you ever used your credit card at Aldi. They charge a percentage there.
In saying that, was it your credit card or eftpos savings card. I do know of a lot who will charge for credit card but never been charged with eftpos savings.
Santa said
06:31 PM Apr 9, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
big wazza wrote:
On Saturday we stopped at Tara on our way back from Moomba South Australia at the Woolshed Bakery and purchased a pie and a custard tart and ice coffee, the total of this purchase came to $12.60 and they informed me because I was using my eftos card they would charge me .50 cents for the transaction was this ok and i said no but they charged me anyway, they are the only one in the whole town that charge this fee to use your key card. If anyone is going to buy anything from this shop make sure you have cash or you too will be stung. I have not come across this anywhere else in all of my travels, but from now on i'll be making sure that have some cash in my wallet .
You need to use your card for a $12.60 transaction??????????
I don't blame them it costs them a percentage of the transaction to put it on Eftpos plus a transaction fee..
Maybe you could consider carrying a little cash with you for when you need to buy a feed
I'm with you on this one Bob, we always carry sufficient cash to pay for the odd meal or whatever.
Only use cards for major purchases, yep, sometimes a trader will impose a small fee for card use, no big deal, certainly wouldn't prompt me to attempt to name and shame em.
native pepper said
06:31 PM Apr 9, 2014
This has been happening for the last couple of years and more and more businesses are doing it. The majority have signs saying what they charge for using a credit card, which gives you the opportunity to decide whether you want to buy there or not. It's also a good idea to ask if they charge for a card before doing business. In one place they wanted to charge $5 to take money out, which meant that pub didn't get our business as we walked out, went back to the bus and moved to the next town.
So we carry cash, always ask for a discount for cash with a smile and 9 out of 10 times get one.
Pejay said
06:57 PM Apr 9, 2014
Recently when purchasing the new annex for our new van, we put it on the credit card, mainly because I don't carry 'that' sort of cash with us, but have to say in this instance we were happy to pay the fee. But like others here, we make sure we carry a reasonable amount of cash on us for little incidentals etc.
moamajohn said
07:02 PM Apr 9, 2014
I confess that it really annoys me when the person ahead of you buys a coffee and bun and pays with a card ! why nobody does not carry at least $50 in your pocket or if your really that worried ...in 2 pockets then .I dont believe its about security I think its just the new age of laziness,Wife and I are both 63 and as yet we have never used an ATM or done the card thing at a s/market.etc. Clearly our time will come but jeeze I will try and fight it .! But yes .. we only use it for fuel, its a good way to keep tabs on fuel consumption .
nallingtoon said
07:05 PM Apr 9, 2014
I must be the worlds worst when it comes to carrying cash use my card for just about everything but will not pay these fees or the other rip off minimum spend on eftpos but can understand the charge on small purchases
Neil
Bryan said
07:57 PM Apr 9, 2014
The bank charges me a fee for every card transaction I take from customers so it's only fair that I pass these charges on bearing in mind my customers have the choice to pay by bank transfer, cheque or cash which do not attract any penalties. By the way our average invoice is around the $8,000.00 so transaction charges is substantial in $ terms.
Edit to add that I have no problems paying the same % rate the bank charges in any transaction I make with my credit card.
-- Edited by Bryan on Wednesday 9th of April 2014 08:06:25 PM
banjo said
08:13 PM Apr 9, 2014
Well we must be oddities as we never carry cash and use plastic for everything.
If I put cash in my wallet or pocket it just quickly vanishes (I spend it), by using my debit card we actually save money.
And as for charging fee's I was told by my bank (Bankwest) that this type of charge was illegal. Never proved this, but If asked to pay an extra fee I tell them politely where they can put it and move on to someone who wants my money, plastic or not !
As for a business passing on charges, well I thought that was called a "profit margin" usually built into the price anyway.
Vic41 said
08:32 PM Apr 9, 2014
Bryan wrote:
The bank charges me a fee for every card transaction I take from customers so it's only fair that I pass these charges on bearing in mind my customers have the choice to pay by bank transfer, cheque or cash which do not attract any penalties. By the way our average invoice is around the $8,000.00 so transaction charges is substantial in $ terms.
Edit to add that I have no problems paying the same % rate the bank charges in any transaction I make with my credit card.
Does that apply to Debit Cards as well Bryan (where the customer is using their own funds, not Credit ? )
I am not talking about Eftpos transactions, just the Debit Card which has your funds in the account?
Bryan said
09:06 PM Apr 9, 2014
I don't know Vic. The rates are displayed at the reception counter and I'll have to check them out. I don't even know how to use the machine anyway. We don't charge more than the bank charges us. Fair is fair
Most payments in and out are by bank transfer.
-- Edited by Bryan on Thursday 10th of April 2014 08:51:07 AM
Vic41 said
12:37 AM Apr 10, 2014
From what I have read on this Wiki link it appears it is up to the merchant as to whether they charge you a debit card fee or not.
Unsurprisingly, most credit card schemes,which opposed the payments system reforms, are also strongly opposed to
merchant surcharging. These fees directly impact on the likelihood that consumers will use their cards.
Visa thinks merchants should include the acceptance costs in their price, just as a shop does with other expenses such
as providing a car park or paying staff more on a Sunday, (even though not all customers drive, or shop on a Sunday).
One of the core tenets of the consumer experience is that the price of an item as advertised or on the price tag should be
the actual price paid at the checkout, argues General Manager Chris Clark.
This fundamental consumer protection has been recognised by governing bodies around the world.
If more merchants impose surcharges, it will unfairly penalise consumers at a time when they are already facing the challenges of a
difficult economy and increased cost of living expenses.
MasterCards opposition to surcharges is also fundamental our core issue is that surcharging passes the cost of
accepting payment onto consumers. And thats absolutely not fair, says David Masters, Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Affairs.
MasterCard argues that accepting card payments is a normal cost of doing business and shouldnt be separately charged.
Merchants get a lot of benefits from cards that they dont get from cash or cheques. Obviously, instant payment and protection from credit
losses and fraud. And, when they accept a payment by card (as opposed to cash) the money goes straight into their account
without having to protect and transport it.
And the big difference the existence of credit cards provides merchants with sales they wouldnt get if people could only spend the cash they could carry in their wallet. Before credit cards as we know them today, the extension of credit was something retailers did themselves, that risk (fraud losses) is now carried by banks.
American Express also told us that it believes the costs of card payments are, like all other costs, already built into the cost of goods sold. And the card industry regularly points out that its main competitor cash has associated costs for retailers that are often ignored.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 10th of April 2014 01:39:17 AM
sandsmere said
06:24 AM Apr 10, 2014
$12.60 and you have to use a card ???????
tezza said
08:01 AM Apr 10, 2014
guess you don't shop at ALDI either. they charge for eftpos. Just be smart and carry some old fashioned legal tender.
Vic41 said
11:08 AM Apr 10, 2014
tezza wrote:
guess you don't shop at ALDI either. they charge for eftpos. Just be smart and carry some old fashioned legal tender.
We don't have Aldi in the West, but they are opening here soon.
Other retailers (eg; Coles, Woolies, IGA, Myers, Supercheap, Bunnings etc, etc) do not charge for purchases whether by eftpos or credit/debit card and neither do most fuel outlets.
I am simply guessing but I wonder how many businesses build a percentage into their prices as a blanket means of covering their card expenses to their banks. The customer would never know and would save a lot of agro at the checkout, even though the business is entitled to charge a fee.
However if I use my credit/debit card for a purchase my bank (Bendigo) does not charge me a fee, but if I use eftpos I get a limited number of free transactions from the bank but after that am charged a fee by the bank for using eftpos.
So unless drawing money out (have to use eftpos) I always use the credit/debit option.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 10th of April 2014 11:14:09 AM
Roving-Dutchy said
12:45 PM Apr 10, 2014
Aldi don't charge for debit cards only credit cards.
I must admit that we find Efpos very useful and use it often for most bigger shopping transactions and am now using it for smaller transactions with Tap and Go for under $100 helps to be able to look at statement and see just how the money is being spent.
What I do find very annoying is the large credit card charge imposed by Jetstar and other airlines on every ticket even though it is one transaction on the card and the government does nothing to stop the practice, when it has been flagged as possibly illegal.
Cheers
David
in transit said
09:35 PM Apr 10, 2014
Our bank charged us a flat rate(50cents) to process an Debit card transaction, and a percentage to process a credit card. We might then wait up to 3 days before the money was available in our account. If you have been lucky enough to avoid retailers who want to recover their costs (not even making a profit), then you have been lucky.
However I suspect you have been paying it and a bit more in disguised charges.
Gerty Dancer said
11:44 PM Apr 10, 2014
We've met a couple of merchants who would have charged to use the credit card, but if you press "savings", not credit, there was no charge.
Big Wazza, you may find in some remote areas that there are no Eftpos facilities at all, you need to carry some cash for these occasions.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 10th of April 2014 11:46:38 PM
Vic41 said
10:26 AM Apr 11, 2014
I was just wondering, if a merchant charges card charges up front (not hidden in overall price) would the consumer be able to claim this as a tax deduction if they are still filing a tax return?
Likewise, would a merchant be able to claim their banks card charges to them as a tax deduction?
Happywanderer said
11:18 AM Apr 11, 2014
tsandsmere wrote:
$12.60 and you have to use a card ???????
I've often used my card for small purchases of around 10.00. Cash in the pocket is quickly spent. You think twice before using your card.
It is my money I've giving them being a debit card. Doesn't matter which way I give it to them.
Roving-Dutchy said
04:51 PM Apr 11, 2014
Vic41 wrote:
I was just wondering, if a merchant charges card charges up front (not hidden in overall price) would the consumer be able to claim this as a tax deduction if they are still filing a tax return?
Likewise, would a merchant be able to claim their banks card charges to them as a tax deduction?
I am not a tax expert, as a consumer I don't think you would be able to claim the credit card charges against your tax, you can deduct your bank fees off interest you receive before you pay tax on the interest, but if you are in business all costs of running the business are tax deductable you only pay tax on profit, which is the small amount you have left after paying all your costs.
Cheers
David
Vic41 said
05:42 PM Apr 11, 2014
Thanks David,
If the business is openly charging you the credit card fee, it would seem in essence that they should not be able to claim that charge as a bank expense to themselves as it is being passed on to the consumer.......hmmmmm.......curly one that one!
On the other hand, if the bank expense is disguised by them in their pricing, who would ever know, I would assume they could then claim it?
BruDi said
08:11 PM Apr 13, 2014
We use a credit card all of the time. Have done so for years. By the same token it is paid off every month; never have a carry over balance. We have rarely come across a business that charges to use the card unless it is Amex. We have an Amex and if they charge we use another card. If a business tried to charge for Visa or MasterCard we would not 'buy' from them. Our choice, their choice.
Several years ago when we bought a caravan one of the people at the Dealers suggested we could use a credit card to pay for whatever we were buying. He suggested we could use Amex quite comfortably, When we said about the extra charge for using Amex he suggested that the business should have negotiated its user charges. We were very sceptical. It turned out that he had been the State Manager for Amex.
Now, how true that was still haunts us.
Di
Vic41 said
09:29 PM Apr 13, 2014
About a year back, I used a Mastercard Debit Card (and made it quite clear it was) to pay for a caravan site at a Top Tourist Caravan Park at Dongara, WA.
They had a sign on their desk that they charged fees for using cards, and they added a charge to my site fees before I paid it. We were tired at the time and didn't feel like going elsewhere.
I contacted Top Tourist headquarters when I returned home and they said they had no control over what the caravan park charged for card use it was their choice whether they did or not.
SnowT said
09:30 PM Apr 13, 2014
One issue..
Was this a Credit card or debt card transaction..
I can understand Credit card fee's..
But debt card.. Sorry If they started to charge debt card fee's I know for a fact that I would be shopping around..
- We the customer's have in place on most of our cards an X amount of transactions that are fee free..
Now if the business is being charged a fee For clients doing Card[eftpos] transaction I find that a hard thing to deal with as it's the BANKS that are Pushing the EFTPOS system on us...
They will not Allow us to pay Bill's with coin's and I know for a fact I have a nice little collection of 5c piece's..
Juergen
Vic41 said
09:36 PM Apr 13, 2014
I don't have credit facility on my debit card, but you push the credit button when using it. It comes out of your debit card balance you have in there (your own funds). You can either use a pin or sign.
If you want it to come out of your savings, you use Eftpos, you need to use your pin for that, and also if you use it anywhere to get money out, but using that was the same, use the card, pay a fee according to the very unfriendly person in the office.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 13th of April 2014 09:37:34 PM
On Saturday we stopped at Tara on our way back from Moomba South Australia at the Woolshed Bakery and purchased a pie and a custard tart and ice coffee, the total of this purchase came to $12.60 and they informed me because I was using my eftos card they would charge me .50 cents for the transaction was this ok and i said no but they charged me anyway, they are the only one in the whole town that charge this fee to use your key card. If anyone is going to buy anything from this shop make sure you have cash or you too will be stung. I have not come across this anywhere else in all of my travels, but from now on i'll be making sure that have some cash in my wallet .
Had a similar thing a few yrs back at the truck stop/servo just north of Marybourgh,Qld. Lucky we saw the sighn before we refueled so questioned them about it.
After an exxchange of words I told them what they could do with their fuel as I still had plenty to go else where, which I did on principle .
JC
Hi big wazza., Yep I agree that stinks, Personally I would have refused the deal, If they would not accept Eftpos payment without the fee, well they can keep the goods, as that is not the way a business should operate, !
You need to use your card for a $12.60 transaction??????????
I don't blame them it costs them a percentage of the transaction to put it on Eftpos plus a transaction fee..
Maybe you could consider carrying a little cash with you for when you need to buy a feed
In saying that, was it your credit card or eftpos savings card. I do know of a lot who will charge for credit card but never been charged with eftpos savings.
I'm with you on this one Bob, we always carry sufficient cash to pay for the odd meal or whatever.
Only use cards for major purchases, yep, sometimes a trader will impose a small fee for card use, no big deal, certainly wouldn't prompt me to attempt to name and shame em.
So we carry cash, always ask for a discount for cash with a smile and 9 out of 10 times get one.
Neil
The bank charges me a fee for every card transaction I take from customers so it's only fair that I pass these charges on bearing in mind my customers have the choice to pay by bank transfer, cheque or cash which do not attract any penalties. By the way our average invoice is around the $8,000.00 so transaction charges is substantial in $ terms.
Edit to add that I have no problems paying the same % rate the bank charges in any transaction I make with my credit card.
-- Edited by Bryan on Wednesday 9th of April 2014 08:06:25 PM
If I put cash in my wallet or pocket it just quickly vanishes (I spend it), by using my debit card we actually save money.
And as for charging fee's I was told by my bank (Bankwest) that this type of charge was illegal. Never proved this, but If asked to pay an extra fee I tell them politely where they can put it and move on to someone who wants my money, plastic or not !
As for a business passing on charges, well I thought that was called a "profit margin" usually built into the price anyway.
Does that apply to Debit Cards as well Bryan (where the customer is using their own funds, not Credit ? )
I am not talking about Eftpos transactions, just the Debit Card which has your funds in the account?
I don't know Vic. The rates are displayed at the reception counter and I'll have to check them out. I don't even know how to use the machine anyway. We don't charge more than the bank charges us. Fair is fair
Most payments in and out are by bank transfer.
-- Edited by Bryan on Thursday 10th of April 2014 08:51:07 AM
From what I have read on this Wiki link it appears it is up to the merchant as to whether they charge you a debit card fee or not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debit_card#Australia
The customer must be informed of the charges at the time of purchase, see this consumer link;
http://www.visa.com.au/include/Consumer_Fact_Sheet_Surcharging2013.pdf
This report by Choice for the NSW Fair Trading is interesting, see;
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/biz_res/ftweb/pdfs/About_us/Credit_card_surcharges_part1.pdf
In particular this section;
Surcharging opposed by card schemes
Unsurprisingly, most credit card schemes, which opposed the payments system reforms, are also strongly opposed to
merchant surcharging. These fees directly impact on the likelihood that consumers will use their cards.
Visa thinks merchants should include the acceptance costs in their price, just as a shop does with other expenses such
as providing a car park or paying staff more on a Sunday, (even though not all customers drive, or shop on a Sunday).
One of the core tenets of the consumer experience is that the price of an item as advertised or on the price tag should be
the actual price paid at the checkout, argues General Manager Chris Clark.
This fundamental consumer protection has been recognised by governing bodies around the world.
If more merchants impose surcharges, it will unfairly penalise consumers at a time when they are already facing the challenges of a
difficult economy and increased cost of living expenses.
MasterCards opposition to surcharges is also fundamental our core issue is that surcharging passes the cost of
accepting payment onto consumers. And thats absolutely not fair, says David Masters, Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Affairs.
MasterCard argues that accepting card payments is a normal cost of doing business and shouldnt be separately charged.
Merchants get a lot of benefits from cards that they dont get from cash or cheques. Obviously, instant payment and protection from credit
losses and fraud. And, when they accept a payment by card (as opposed to cash) the money goes straight into their account
without having to protect and transport it.
And the big difference the existence of credit cards provides merchants with sales they wouldnt get if people could only spend the cash they could carry in their wallet. Before credit cards as we know them today, the extension of credit was something retailers did themselves, that risk (fraud losses) is now carried by banks.
American Express also told us that it believes the costs of card payments are, like all other costs, already built into the cost of goods sold. And the card industry regularly points out that its main competitor cash has associated costs for retailers that are often ignored.
.....................................................
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 10th of April 2014 01:39:17 AM
$12.60 and you have to use a card ???????
We don't have Aldi in the West, but they are opening here soon.
Other retailers (eg; Coles, Woolies, IGA, Myers, Supercheap, Bunnings etc, etc) do not charge for purchases whether by eftpos or credit/debit card and neither do most fuel outlets.
I am simply guessing but I wonder how many businesses build a percentage into their prices as a blanket means of covering their card expenses to their banks. The customer would never know and would save a lot of agro at the checkout, even though the business is entitled to charge a fee.
However if I use my credit/debit card for a purchase my bank (Bendigo) does not charge me a fee, but if I use eftpos I get a limited number of free transactions from the bank but after that am charged a fee by the bank for using eftpos.
So unless drawing money out (have to use eftpos) I always use the credit/debit option.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Thursday 10th of April 2014 11:14:09 AM
I must admit that we find Efpos very useful and use it often for most bigger shopping transactions and am now using it for smaller transactions with Tap and Go for under $100 helps to be able to look at statement and see just how the money is being spent.
What I do find very annoying is the large credit card charge imposed by Jetstar and other airlines on every ticket even though it is one transaction on the card and the government does nothing to stop the practice, when it has been flagged as possibly illegal.
Cheers
David
However I suspect you have been paying it and a bit more in disguised charges.
We've met a couple of merchants who would have charged to use the credit card, but if you press "savings", not credit, there was no charge.
Big Wazza, you may find in some remote areas that there are no Eftpos facilities at all, you need to carry some cash for these occasions.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Thursday 10th of April 2014 11:46:38 PM
I was just wondering, if a merchant charges card charges up front (not hidden in overall price) would the consumer be able to claim this as a tax deduction if they are still filing a tax return?
Likewise, would a merchant be able to claim their banks card charges to them as a tax deduction?
I've often used my card for small purchases of around 10.00. Cash in the pocket is quickly spent. You think twice before using your card.
It is my money I've giving them being a debit card. Doesn't matter which way I give it to them.
I am not a tax expert, as a consumer I don't think you would be able to claim the credit card charges against your tax, you can deduct your bank fees off interest you receive before you pay tax on the interest, but if you are in business all costs of running the business are tax deductable you only pay tax on profit, which is the small amount you have left after paying all your costs.
Cheers
David
Thanks David,
If the business is openly charging you the credit card fee, it would seem in essence that they should not be able to claim that charge as a bank expense to themselves as it is being passed on to the consumer.......hmmmmm.......curly one that one!
On the other hand, if the bank expense is disguised by them in their pricing, who would ever know, I would assume they could then claim it?
Several years ago when we bought a caravan one of the people at the Dealers suggested we could use a credit card to pay for whatever we were buying. He suggested we could use Amex quite comfortably, When we said about the extra charge for using Amex he suggested that the business should have negotiated its user charges. We were very sceptical. It turned out that he had been the State Manager for Amex.
Now, how true that was still haunts us.
Di
About a year back, I used a Mastercard Debit Card (and made it quite clear it was) to pay for a caravan site at a Top Tourist Caravan Park at Dongara, WA.
They had a sign on their desk that they charged fees for using cards, and they added a charge to my site fees before I paid it. We were tired at the time and didn't feel like going elsewhere.
I contacted Top Tourist headquarters when I returned home and they said they had no control over what the caravan park charged for card use it was their choice whether they did or not.
Was this a Credit card or debt card transaction..
I can understand Credit card fee's..
But debt card.. Sorry If they started to charge debt card fee's I know for a fact that I would be shopping around..
- We the customer's have in place on most of our cards an X amount of transactions that are fee free..
Now if the business is being charged a fee For clients doing Card[eftpos] transaction I find that a hard thing to deal with as it's the BANKS that are Pushing the EFTPOS system on us...
They will not Allow us to pay Bill's with coin's and I know for a fact I have a nice little collection of 5c piece's..
Juergen
I don't have credit facility on my debit card, but you push the credit button when using it. It comes out of your debit card balance you have in there (your own funds). You can either use a pin or sign.
If you want it to come out of your savings, you use Eftpos, you need to use your pin for that, and also if you use it anywhere to get money out, but using that was the same, use the card, pay a fee according to the very unfriendly person in the office.
-- Edited by Vic41 on Sunday 13th of April 2014 09:37:34 PM