Local shop charging over £5 to use card machine. Won't let us top-up electric or gas by card?

cardtexpert · 16 March at 2:40PM

Its not illegal but not the best either. Probably paying through the teeth for their card transaction fees.

MyRealNameToo · 16 March at 3:04PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6265056/local-shop-charging-over-5-to-use-card-machine-won-039-t-let-us-top-up-electric-or-gas-by-card

Make sure you keep cash or go to a different shop

They cannot charge you for using a card machine but if they are using an older style account its likely they pay a fee for each transaction (and a percentage on top for credit cards) that makes a sale unprofitable. There terms may include that they can't set a minimum transaction, can't see them from here, but it would be up to their card services provider if they want to enforce the terms or are happy to turn a blind eye. Whilst the Visa terms say minimums shouldn't be set a small shop won't be contracted directly to Visa so thats irrelevant.

There are various arrangements possible with cash machines some may make you want everyone to use them and others dont. Presumably it's not in a position that you can just use it despite the sign? Our local charges £2 or so for using it so not ideal but never out of order.

The same local shop used to be a minimum £5 spend on cards until a coop opened a few doors down, now they won't turn away any sale but the shop is dead compared to how it used to be. Its complex though as they have some good stuff and some junk at silly prices, the owner got awards during Covid for giving free delivery and splitting commercial flour sacks to small retail sizes etc then it came to light he was on a student visa and so he's been fighting deportation since with his cousin operating the shop now.