InDaPub - Minimum Spend and Card charge

Simian1977

Ok its my first post so bear with me. Ive been a long time observer and fan of the site and normally find an answer online to my query but im having trouble with my latest bugbear..

Is it illegal for pubs to ask for a minimum spend?
if not why do they do it?

It bugs me something cronic when you have to buy something else to go over the the "magic number" they dictate. Im sure ive read before its breaks their terms with the transaction peeps by essentially just passing the cost of transaction direct to the consumer when it was the venues choice to provide the option of card payment.

Then last night .. the straw that broke the camels back. I was told I was going to get charged £1 for using my card on a £5 bill. I said that was ridiculous. He said it happens all the time I said it certainly does not. I should have just walked out but I had the drink in front of me and miles from a cash point but i promised the annoying man id never be back. Now im pretty sure this is either illegal or out or order in some respect im just not sure exactly how. Id love some info to tell me either way so i could actually either dob them in or point out exactly why that practice isnt allowed.

Any links to furthur info would be greatful and thankyou for you time

(oh and another pub related question - Your sitting in a bar with 2 friends, they order food you just drink, bar brings out their food but also brings you food even though you didnt order it. Everyone has already paid upfront so the food is free in essence, aside of any moral issue if i ate the food .. is that stealing?)

Simon

Simian1977

There is this link..

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/merchants-who-violate-credit-card-terms-1275.php

but it doesnt really cover debit cards and i think i may be covering US law but cant be sure. The line 'merchants pay fees that cannot be passed on directly to individual consumers' says it all but like to now what the case is in the UK and what it is in regards to Debit cards and not just credit cards and what i could do to complain (if i have a right too)

alwaysonthego_2

The above link is referring to USA law and not UK.

As far as I am aware retailers can charge a fee as long as they inform you of it.

Mark7799

Charging for making payment by card has been legal in the UK for several years (or only accepting card payments providing the transaction reaches a specified level) I am unsure if your comments about the 'minimum spend' refer to card payments but all retailers are entitled to do this.

VfM4meplse

Simian1977 wrote: »

Is it illegal for pubs to ask for a minimum spend?
if not why do they do it?

It bugs me something cronic when you have to buy something else to go over the the "magic number" they dictate.

Agreed it is annoying, even more so when bars won't keep a tab which means either use cash or rpt minimum spends over the course of the evening. Either way it stops me from ordering multiple rounds, or drinking more than is good for me although I don't think promoting responsible drinking is quite their intention!

uktim29

Simian1977 wrote: »

He said it happens all the time I said it certainly does not.

Apart from Supermarkets many other retailers will have some sort of minimum spend. I would guess over 50% do.

Simian1977 wrote: »

just passing the cost of transaction direct to the consumer when it was the venues choice to provide the option of card payment

Unless a fee is charged then they're not passing on any cost. Just making the transaction a reasonable size due to the fact there is a fee. If in any case there was a fee for using a card which they get charged then whats the problem with paying it? If you don't like it then pay by cash.

Brooker_Dave

Simian1977 wrote: »

Is it illegal for pubs to ask for a minimum spend?
if not why do they do it?

Because they get charged merchant fees.

Blacksheep1979

I think it's out of order that people go to the pub without enough money then repeatedly buy drinks in £5 lots rather than setting up a tab or buying rounds(or having the foresight to get cash) thus making everyone have to queue for 3 times as long as they would have as the transaction goes through.