Exorbitant flybe card charges

xiox

I had the misfortune to have with flybe and have just been stung for £20 of card charges for two return flights. It was £18 for a debit card so I went for the credit card as a get 1% back. Electron was the only way to avoid the charge.

Surely this should be illegal. The costs should be up front, particularly as electron is difficult to get hold of now. Is there an appropriate legal body to complain to?

cactusdust

It's not illegal.. the airlines just jump through a legal loophole and provide a card payment method that does not carry a service charge.

You just have to grin and bear it.. or simply do not bother next time.

xiox

How do you know it is not illegal? The cost of the charge is way out of proportion to the actual cost. I wouldn't be surprised if the EU investigates this if enough complaints are made - I just don't know the appropriate body however.

hxm

most people agree that these charges are unfair, the issue is being looked at. This article gives some information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12430635

NFH

The Consumers' Association (aka Which magazine) is making a super complaint to the OFT about exactly this. If you want to contribute and pledge your support, visit this page.

dmg24

hxm wrote: »

most people agree that these charges are unfair, the issue is being looked at. This article gives some information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12430635

Most people, or some people? I am not aware there there has ever been a national vote on the subject!

NFH

dmg24 wrote: »

Most people, or some people? I am not aware there there has ever been a national vote on the subject!

Who mentioned a "national vote"? It is clear that consumer opinion is strongly against these charges, so hxm's words are not inaccurate.

dickydonkin

xiox wrote: »

I had the misfortune to have with flybe and have just been stung for £20 of card charges for two return flights. It was £18 for a debit card so I went for the credit card as a get 1% back. Electron was the only way to avoid the charge.

Surely this should be illegal. The costs should be up front, particularly as electron is difficult to get hold of now. Is there an appropriate legal body to complain to?

The worrying aspect of these card charges is that many other organisations are jumping on the bandwagon.

This list gives an indication on what types of companies are now adopting a card surcharge which most people believe are unfair but in many cases cannot avoid them.

dmg24

NFH wrote: »

Who mentioned a "national vote"? It is clear that consumer opinion is strongly against these charges, so hxm's words are not inaccurate.

It isn't though, is it? All because a few journalists have jumped on the bandwagon, that does not mean that most agree. Indeed, all it really means is that it makes for sensationalist journalism.

NFH

dmg24 wrote: »

It isn't though, is it? All because a few journalists have jumped on the bandwagon, that does not mean that most agree. Indeed, all it really means is that it makes for sensationalist journalism.

It's not about journalists but about the general public. See the link I posted above for example. Who (apart from the airlines) do you think is actually in favour of these charges being added to fares rather than included within the advertised fares? Most consumers are against these charges which are misleading and a form of drip pricing.

malkie76

'most' suggests more than 50% of everyone, which no one can claim.
You should really complain to the card providers rather than the airline, but as usual people on these forums cry about LCCs when they are doing nothing other than being transparent about where the costs are.

Edit

Besides, they are 100% optional