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EPS charge on Shopping bills

I know what EPS charge is on shopping bills but what I want to know is how it's used or calculated.

I bought £14.19 worth of groceries from Morrisons and the total bill came to £16.19. I added up the items on a calculator so the £14.19 total is correct.

The receipt says 2.5% is included in the total for the EPS handling fee. But how does £2 of £14.19 = 2.5%, it should be £0.35

Does anyone know what I'm missing?

Is it 2.5% or a minimum £2 handling fee or something.

Thanks in advance.
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Comments

  • JasonW_2
    JasonW_2 Posts: 705 Forumite
    The 2.5% should be included in the full cost - ie you dont pay it, the supermarket does, or claims to! You should pay the same whether or not you pay by card.

    If you have been charged £2 extra, then check your receipt again just to save any embarassment in the store, and if its still corrrect, go and ask them for an explanation and your money back.

    D
  • lipidicman
    lipidicman Posts: 2,598 Forumite
    Dont you find it weird that if the card fee is included in the bill that you dont get a discount for cash - a cash handling fee methinks! I think it might be funny to ask for a discount for cash, but I dont think the cashier would get it!
  • dougk_2
    dougk_2 Posts: 1,403 Forumite
    It normally costs the shop to p"pay in" the cash - think of someone counting it all, the cost of transporting it to the bank (armoured vehicle), the banks time weighing or counting the money - the odd dud note or coin....

    I guess 2.5% charge is "cheap" to get your money electronically.
  • Xbigman
    Xbigman Posts: 3,918 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I thought that it was something to do with VAT. Instead of selling you something for £1 they sell it to you for 97.5p and then charge you the 2.5% handling fee. So they save a tidly bit of VAT, but if your a supermarket it must add up to millions.

    I've no idea who told me that or if its right but you can bet its some accountancy fiddle. However, you shouldn't have paid £2 extra. Complain.
    Regards



    X
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  • esalan
    esalan Posts: 411 Forumite
    Xbigman is correct, it's a way for supermarkets to save/make money!

    It's most unlikely that Morrisons would charge you £2 extra or that their adding up is wrong. Are you sure, fergusonf, that you have not made a mistake with your calculator? If you are 100% certain, simply go back to Morrisons and tell them they have made a mistake.
  • lipidicman
    lipidicman Posts: 2,598 Forumite
    dougk wrote:
    It normally costs the shop to p"pay in" the cash - think of someone counting it all, the cost of transporting it to the bank (armoured vehicle), the banks time weighing or counting the money - the odd dud note or coin....

    Thats what I meant by 'a cash handling fee methinks!'
    People used to ask for a cash discount at a shop I used to work at and they were quite surprised when I told them that banking the cash would cost us round about the same as taking a credit card (does anyone have up to date figures for the charges?)
  • Xbigman,

    I was under the impression that food, books, newspapers and young children's clothing has no VAT (0%).
  • Spendless
    Spendless Posts: 24,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    fergusonf wrote:
    Xbigman,

    I was under the impression that food, books, newspapers and young children's clothing has no VAT (0%).
    That's correct, though some food carries VAT for example biscuits but cake doesn't (except if chocolate), unless this has changed in recent years.

    Sanitary towels carried VAT also (though i think that may have changed or reduced in recent years) but disposible nappies did not
  • lipidicman
    lipidicman Posts: 2,598 Forumite
    Spendless wrote:
    Sanitary towels carried VAT also (though i think that may have changed or reduced in recent years) but disposible nappies did not

    Moneysaving opportunity here! Might not be as discreet though!
  • Murtle
    Murtle Posts: 4,154 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    from memory - VAT is charged on "Luxury" items, hence chocolate being charged VAT and sanitary product, clearly they are a luxury.... :mad:

    Baby and children stuff to a certain age is "needed" not luxury.....
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