Still Being Charged More by Debit Card

Mikeinho

Hope someone can help, as I can't seem to find the info I'm looking for anywhere.

So, we are all aware that new legislation rolled out means you can't be charged extra for paying by debit or credit card for a product or service.

However, when renewing my subscription to a popular satirical magazine, I noticed that I was being charged £4 more for the year by debit card (one-off payment), than the £30 subscription fee if paying by Direct Debit.

I don't want to setup a Direct Debit, and have always paid by debit card. I don't recall ever paying more for an annual subscription simply for choosing to pay by debit card.

I've written an email to the publisher (or whoever manages the subscriptions), asking if it is legal for them to charge more simply for using a debit card, and received a generic and frankly unsatisfactory reply. I replied detailing my question more clearly, and have received no reply.

I've searched online and read multiple pages about the recent changes in the law for payment types / associated fees, but none seem to mention anything about card payment versus Direct Debit.

Can anyone clear this up? Can they charge more for paying by card than Direct Debit?

Lomast

I think you will find it is the other way round it is a discount for paying by dd not a surcharge for paying by card

Keep_pedalling

Discounts are allowed for paying by DD, just check out what happens to the amount you pay for gas and electricity if you do not pay by that method.

George_Michael

As above, they state that the £30 direct debit charge is a special offer so they are simply offering a discount for paying by direct debit rather than charging an extra fee for credit or debit card payments.

ssparks2003

Yes they can. They are not charging you a premium for paying with a debit or credit card, rather they are offering you a discount for paying via direct debit. If you don't want to pay by direct debit then don't, but you don't get to enjoy the discount offered.

Le_Kirk

Well, is a satirical magazine, maybe they are taking the p!!!!

Manxman_in_exile

Have you quoted Arkell v Pressdram to them!

Mikeinho

Thanks for the replies.

So, what we are saying here is any company could still effectively (and legally) charge more for using credit or debit card, so long as they state that payment by other means is a discount or special offer?

I think I'll write to the editor of the magazine and tell them they've "got a scoop" if they want to investigate and expose... THEMSELVES!

Mikeinho

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Discounts are allowed for paying by DD, just check out what happens to the amount you pay for gas and electricity if you do not pay by that method.

That's not the same. With energy companies, they provide you with a line of credit and the goods on demand, and we the customer pay this back in installments.

With magazine subscriptions, the customer is paying in advance for a fixed amount service, i.e. one copy fortnightly.

pmduk

Mikeinho wrote: »

So, what we are saying here is any company could still effectively (and legally) charge more for using credit or debit card, so long as they state that payment by other means is a discount or special offer?

They're not charging you more, you're paying the normal price. You get a discount if, and only if, you pay by DD.

You could always set up a DD for the initial payment then cancel it.

[Deleted User]

pmduk wrote: »

You could always set up a DD for the initial payment then cancel it.

What would that achieve? Cancellation of the Direct Debit would also cancel the discount applied for paying by DD.