Credit card surcharge policy

lacooper

Hi, does anyone know if there are rules concerning how online holiday companies operate when charging by credit card and adding an additional 2% transaction fee. In this particular instance I booked a holiday online and it was certainly not made clear anywhere about the extra 2% charge when paying by credit card, in fact through various screens 'total payment' was mentioned without the additional cost. I am normally really careful about these things. I only realised about the charge when I checked the invoice they emailed me. I was annoyed so subsequently called to complain and ask for the charge to be refunded, and felt that I was just being fobbed off. Any guidance re this appreciated.

bris

It's normal practice in the travel industry, the charge reflects the cost to them from their merchant so they don't actually make anything from it.


I can almost definitely guarantee you they have it covered in the small print, just you missed it. Who is the travel agent?

PeacefulWaters

Any charge should be clear before you hit the send button on payment.

lacooper

The charge was mentioned 'underneath' the total in small numbers. It really was not made obvious about a charge, which is why I am so annoyed about it. It was the Mark Warner holiday online booking system. Are there any trading standards rules regarding this? I also had to call them to book some activities, again no mention on the telephone about the surcharge. At the same time I complained about the charge I had seen on the final invoice emailed to me, and then when I asked about the extras I had just booked, they confirmed that there would be a credit card surcharge fee, which they did refund. I do understand retailers need to pass these charges on, that is fine, but they should make it very clear beforehand to give consumers the chance to use a different card, eg debit, and therefore not get charged extra.

YorkshireBoy

The charge is mentioned in condition 1b (of 20) on page 1 (of 6) of the booking conditions. Were you not asked to confirm you'd read, understood, and agreed to them? What else have you missed?

fifeken

lacooper wrote: »

The charge was mentioned 'underneath' the total in small numbers. It really was not made obvious about a charge, which is why I am so annoyed about it. It was the Mark Warner holiday online booking system.

Seems obvious to me. Even updates as you select the card type.