MSE News: Government to ban debit and credit card surcharges

chattychappy

Noisy_Parkser wrote: »

unfortunately, my bank account didn't have enough balance at that stage

That's your problem. Booking a skiiing holiday is hardly essential.

Noisy_Parkser wrote: »

so I had to use a credit card to pay up the balance.

No you didn't. You could have waited until you had the money. Or not gone at all.

Noisy_Parkser wrote: »

For this privilege they charged me £98.58 which seems very unfair and excessive.

They made you an offer if you wanted to pay by credit card. You accepted. What is it with this moaning culture?

2sides2everystory

chattychappy wrote: »

What is it with this moaning culture?

We take it you're alright, Jack? Nice job at the bank, keep takin' the pills from the doc and the pee from the hoi polloi, eh what?

Gromitt

Noisy_Parkser wrote: »

Here, in my view, is a great example of these extortionate charges:

That depends.

If the trip was £3000, then £90 doesn't seem that unfair. Its 2.5%, of which they'll be charged most of that for processing the payment.

You decided to pay for the holiday on a credit card knowing there was charges involved for doing so. You could have saved up the money and paid without the charges.

This is why the world is in the state it is - because people have this attitude that they can buy everything on credit and worry about it later, and then bash the banks saying the charges are extortionate for the credit they have been given. If you don't want the charges, don't ask for the credit.

bert&ernie

The last conservative government actually legislated to protect the practice of adding card acceptance surcharges. Without this, the card schemes would have outlawed the practice themselves.

The Credit Cards (Price Discrimination) Order 1990
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1990/2159/made?view=plain

Its also very amusing to read John Redwood's blog saying how wonderful the governments new plan is when it seems to have slipped his mind that he introduced the above legislation!

pigeonpie

What is a huge rip off on Ryanair is the practice of admin surcharge per person, not per booking, as they are only charged once by VISA etc no matter how many tickets are on one booking.
If they are unable to levy this surcharge, they'll just add it to the ticket or 'tax' price. Not just Ryanair, any extra cost is always passed on to us, the punters. And of course with airlines' online bookings, you do not have an option to pay cash.

chattychappy

bert&ernie wrote: »

The last conservative government actually legislated to protect the practice of adding card acceptance surcharges. Without this, the card schemes would have outlawed the practice themselves.

The Credit Cards (Price Discrimination) Order 1990
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1990/2159/made?view=plain

Its also very amusing to read John Redwood's blog saying how wonderful the governments new plan is when it seems to have slipped his mind that he introduced the above legislation!

Yep. In fact the Order targeted merchant agreements. It had the effect of deleting any condition imposed on a merchant preventing them surcharging by up to the amount they have to pay to the provider.

Eg if Barclays Merchant Services charge Shop 3%, then they can contractually prevent the Shop surcharging by more than 3%, but not prohibit a surcharge of less than this.

You might be right that without this legislation, the cards might have prevented this whole business of surcharging. But it's interesting to note that they didn't attempt to stop excessive charges (ie charges in excess of what they charge) and the legislation would have allowed them to do this.

Venusflytrap

My husband and I booked flights with SWISS which cost us £206.00 with an additional £9.00 CC charge. What I do not want to see with the abolishment of card charges is for this same flight to cost £215 next year.

zagfles

Venusflytrap wrote: »

My husband and I booked flights with SWISS which cost us £206.00 with an additional £9.00 CC charge. What I do not want to see with the abolishment of card charges is for this same flight to cost £215 next year.

Why not? Wouldn't you rather the total price be quoted up front?

2sides2everystory

Venusflytrap wrote: »

My husband and I booked flights with SWISS which cost us £206.00 with an additional £9.00 CC charge. What I do not want to see with the abolishment of card charges is for this same flight to cost £215 next year.

Exactly my question too. Why not? Then you'll know that Swiss have taken the pee and you can decide whether you will forgive them or try someone else but you cant easily make that decision whilst they are all adding different surcharges for everything under the sun and not telling you until you have reached the end of the booking process.

chattychappy

I would prefer SWISS to quote the price in the manner of its choosing and I will decide to buy not to buy on that basis. I flew with a few months ago, Munich/Geneva, City to Zurich. Very good I thought.

I've also flown Ryanair - I know what to expect.

I don't need the government telling me how they should quote prices or factor in credit card handling charges.

Ironic, when the biggest SWIZZ of all is the taxes that Gordon Brown loaded onto flying, ostensibly to save the planet. Now, if green taxes were limited to the amount used on carbon reduction.. well.. that would be progress.