Credit Card Booking Fees

hazelize_uk · 3 February 2006 at 4:03PM

Avoiding Paying Credit Card Booking Fees - This is my first thread so hope im doing it right!! Not sure if this belongs here or Credit cards so i'll stick it in both!!

Im sure i'm not alone - but I REALLY object to paying the 2% credit card handling fee when booking holidays - I usually try and get away with it by insisting that the advisor promised to waive the fee at the point of booking, but this year Thomas Cook are having none of it!! They insist that the charge is made by the Credit card Company and not by them. Does anyone know if this is true??

just trying to figure out now if going overdrawn for a month would be cheaper than the £30 CC Charge!

The telephone advisor tried to point out that it is ONLY £30 - but i still think its £30 id rather keep than fritter away if i dont have to!! (I sound so cheap now!) :rotfl:

If anyone knows a way to get around this i would love to know! I need to pay the balance by 9th Feb so i need an answer quick!

jonesMUFCforever · 3 February 2006 at 10:27PM

I always book holidays online these days so talking to an adviser is a no no.
If I did go to a travel agent or telephone sale I would ask them the following
1. Who gets the interest on the money you pay by credit card until you travel?
2. Is it not safer and more efficent to process a card payment rather then to count and bank cash or cheques?
Then if they persist in still saying that the charge is levied by the card company then ask in view of points 1 and 2 of a discount in price equivalent to the charge.

Blackjack_Davy · 4 February 2006 at 12:41AM

Whenever I book an EasyJet flight I avoid the credit card surcharge by paying with a debit card

saveapenny · 4 February 2006 at 2:11AM

Shop around there will always be one or more agents that dont charge the C/C.
If they say they dont charge get another quote to compare.
Simply if they charge but give you extra discount because the company charges thats fine because your not paying it, it's more than likely coming out of the agents commision but if they say they are not charging but the price is higher or the same as ones that are up front about it...DONT BOOK with them.

I think with people like easyjet its worth that extra couple of quid because you are covered then if they go belly up...I would use CC for all budget airlines and independently booked hotel but not package holidays

hammy_the_hammer · 4 February 2006 at 2:40AM

the retailer is charged by the cc company a percentage

TRAVELMAN_2 · 4 February 2006 at 10:24AM

Hazelize-if holiday is already booked with them you will have to pay it if it is under their terms & conditions. Nothing you can do short of cancelling your Holiday. As you've ALREADY booked then, sorry, tough-they are within their rights to charge it. Travel Agents ARE charged 1.95% by card companies-entirely up to them if they wish to apply the charge or offer a discount!

Chris

johnnytee · 4 February 2006 at 11:36AM

Blackjack_Davy wrote:

Whenever I book an EasyJet flight I avoid the credit card surcharge by paying with a debit card

Not so! I have booked two Easyjet flights from Bristol in the last week and was charged £1,00 each time for using my debit card!

JT

kenshaz · 4 February 2006 at 11:58AM

johnnytee wrote:

Not so! I have booked two Easyjet flights from Bristol in the last week and was charged £1,00 each time for using my debit card!

JT

How can that be avoided.?

kenshaz · 4 February 2006 at 12:02PM

johnnytee wrote:

Not so! I have booked two Easyjet flights from Bristol in the last week and was charged £1,00 each time for using my debit card!

JT

It is against the law to charge with a debit card if they call it a surcharge,they just change the name ,the law is an A

sloppychops · 4 February 2006 at 12:45PM

Found this on Easyjet website

http://www.easyjet.com/en/Book/importantnotes.html

johnnytee · 4 February 2006 at 2:14PM

kenshaz wrote:

How can that be avoided.?

Quite simply.you can't! Unless you have one of the two cards which are exempt stated in sloppychops link!
JT

Credit Card Booking Fees

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