Beware of bank charges when paying for gambling by plastic.

moonraker1958

I've just discovered a £6 cash advance charge and interest of a few pence on my credit card bill. I NEVER withdraw cash on my credit card so rang my bank to find out why. Turns out that it was because I'd had a go on Geosweep, a kind of online postcode lottery (I don't normally gamble at all) paying by credit card and was being charged £3 for each hit on the card, effectively doubling the entry fee. It would appear that all charges for gambling are treated as cash withdrawals, whether on a credit or debit card - how can this be legal?
I'm not best pleased and will be ceasing playing forthwith.

BEWARE!

shaun_from_Africa

It is legal and will be stated in the terms and conditions for your credit card. (both of mine shown below).
Cash advances have always been charged for by credit card companies, and as you were not buying a physical item, paying a gambling site can't really be anything other than a cash advance.

Buying foreign currency, travellers' cheques or other type of currency (such as money orders and using online gambling sites) also count as a cash transaction

Cash Advance means obtaining cash, foreign currency, travellers' cheques, or postal orders and Gambling Transactions.

Esoog

moonraker1958 wrote: »

I've just discovered a £6 cash advance charge and interest of a few pence on my credit card bill. I NEVER withdraw cash on my credit card so rang my bank to find out why. Turns out that it was because I'd had a go on Geosweep, a kind of online postcode lottery (I don't normally gamble at all) paying by credit card and was being charged £3 for each hit on the card, effectively doubling the entry fee. It would appear that all charges for gambling are treated as cash withdrawals, whether on a credit or debit card - how can this be legal?
I'm not best pleased and will be ceasing playing forthwith.

BEWARE!

Yeah its common industry wide practice I'm afraid