Debit Card Holiday Charge

emilylemon

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone could advise on the following.

Booked a holiday online late at night and the website had issues so had to telephone next day to check if payment for deposit had gone through - it hadn't. So I paid while I was on the phone.
Charge was £4 more than expected. When I queried it, I was told this was because I had used a DEBIT card.
I said I thought there was no charge for debit cards but was told it was because most of the debit cards had 'Visa' on them now so it was a Visa debit card charge.

On getting paperwork, yes, in the small print is the £4 debit card charge.

My question is this. Is this a new excuse for companies to take 'extras' or is it to be expected to pay a fee for debit card transactions with cards that have the 'visa' symbol on them?

The reason I'm a bit dubious is that I have found alternative holiday companies that are not charging at all for debit card payments so I feel a bit fleeced (yes, yes .. it was in the small print but when I paid online, that £4 didn't show up in the deposit cost so I never realised there was a charge).

lisyloo

I don't think companies are making excuses to make more profit in the current economic environment. I think they are struggling to stay in business in very challenging times.

I don't think one can make any generalisations.
You need to check on a case by case basis and make sure you are happy with the company that you have chosen.

opinions4u

If the company is based in the UK and has not explicitly highlighted the charge before you've entered the card details then your local trading standards may be interested in hearing your complaint. Hiding the charge in the T&Cs wouldn't be considered fair.

That said, this won't get you your £4 back any time soon.

What method of payment would have been free?

My approach would be to forget it and make a point of never using the company again.