Bartender BS.. Tried to refuse to charge my credit card tab because it was less than $20..

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z

Originally posted by: PlasmaBomb

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

True, but so is demanding ID for credit card purchases...yet most places do it anyway...(because most people think it's a good policy and don't bitch).
There are lots of places here that have minimum purchase requirements for credit card purchases..."legal" or not.

Never been asked for ID when purchasing with a credit card...

I could understand though if it was for liquor.

They're supposed to unless you sign the back.

They're supposed to? surely you don't mean they're supposed to check id for any reason when using credit cards. Also I heard that if you sign the back of your credit card with "check ID" it is invalid.

I sign my card with "CID", this makes the cashier check to ensure my ID info matches my CC info. It is perfectly valid AFAIK.

 

[Vette73]

Can you guess Target's biggest cost after payroll?


Target tells the newswire that credit-card interchange fees are the retailer's second-highest expense, exceeded only by payroll.



http://www.minnpost.com/busine...est_cost_after_payroll

 

[Miramonti]

I don't know if reporting it to the CC company will do any good...they want the merchants business as much as the merchant want more of your business, and I doubt there will be any ramifications against the merchant by the CC company.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

I always keep cash on me. It's handy... and stupidly easy.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

And then you take a picture of their minimum sign and have their merchant account revoked.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
I always keep cash on me. It's handy... and stupidly easy.

Pocket change stinks.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

And then you take a picture of their minimum sign and have their merchant account revoked.

Try that and you'll find the credit card companies care about your inconvienance about as much as the merchant does. If you're to inconsiderate to care that the merchant loses money on the sale, do you really think the interchange bank is going to care you had to use a dollar bill to buy your soda? Use your right to not patronize the store if you feel so strongly about it, trying to get the merchant in trouble is just selfish and makes you a dick.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

And then you take a picture of their minimum sign and have their merchant account revoked.

Try that and you'll find the credit card companies care about your inconvienance about as much as the merchant does. If you're to inconsiderate to care that the merchant loses money on the sale, do you really think the interchange bank is going to care you had to use a dollar bill to buy your soda? Use your right to not patronize the store if you feel so strongly about it, trying to get the merchant in trouble is just selfish and makes you a dick.

They do care in many cases. They accept a CONTRACT to do business on the Visa/Mastercard/AMEX/Discover networks, and they need to either follow them or stop accepting them.

Visa/Mastercard require you NOT to set minimum charge limits. Breach the contract and they can drop your ass, and if they get enough complaints they will. First time will usually get you warned.

If I want to buy a 99 cent coke at a store that accepts Visa with my Visa then that is well within my rights.

Doesn't matter what you think, the agreement they accepted to offer that as a payment method is supposed to guarantee me that right. It is black and white.

 

[Thorny]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Thorny

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

And then you take a picture of their minimum sign and have their merchant account revoked.

Try that and you'll find the credit card companies care about your inconvienance about as much as the merchant does. If you're to inconsiderate to care that the merchant loses money on the sale, do you really think the interchange bank is going to care you had to use a dollar bill to buy your soda? Use your right to not patronize the store if you feel so strongly about it, trying to get the merchant in trouble is just selfish and makes you a dick.

They do care in many cases. They accept a CONTRACT to do business on the Visa/Mastercard/AMEX/Discover networks, and they need to either follow them or stop accepting them.

Visa/Mastercard require you NOT to set minimum charge limits. Breach the contract and they can drop your ass, and if they get enough complaints they will. First time will usually get you warned.

If I want to buy a 99 cent coke at a store that accepts Visa with my Visa then that is well within my rights.

Doesn't matter what you think, the agreement they accepted to offer that as a payment method is supposed to guarantee me that right. It is black and white.

I own a business that accepts credit cards and I can assure you they will NOT cancel a merchant for that, they MAY warn them to stop if there are enough complaints, but they will not cancel someone they make money from.

Just an FYI, I did not have to sign an agreement with the credit card company. There is no contract and the only thing they can do if I abide by their ToS is cancel my service, which they won't do because they make to much money from it. I offer their service as a convienance to my customers, one that I pay for, not the customer. The company is very aware where the money comes from, and customers that don't buy enough to cover the minimum charge are not much use to the business or credit card company.

Another FYI, you have not RIGHT to buy anything at a business they don't want to sell you. I don't personally set a minimum purchase amount for credit cards, but if I want to I will and if you don't like it you have the RIGHT to shop somewhere else.

Just the fact that your too lazy to carry a $5 bill on you and would rather have a vendor lose money so you don't have to is incredibly self centered.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z

I sign my card with "CID", this makes the cashier check to ensure my ID info matches my CC info. It is perfectly valid AFAIK.

Not valid. Must be signed. They should not accept a card that does not have your signature on it. See my previous post.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: zeruty
8 years ago I worked at a mom & pop computer store, and they had a 3% surcharge for credit card transactions, which is against the contract....
They got around it though...
Because it was a cash, check, or debit discount you don't get if you use credit.

Similar story here, except it's not so much getting around it, it's just playing games and hoping the CC vendor doesn't call you out on it. And, If they do, you switch to another one or start charging the same for all transactions (Cash/credit). Most consumers don't know enough to complain to the CC company about the minimum purchase issues or credit card payment fees,so most places get away with it.

But, according to the rules it is not allowed, at least that I can recall. Since it's been a few years perhaps there are exceptions, but, I wouldn't bet on it. CC's are still setup in favor of the consumer and not to make businesses happy. IMO.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: ironwing
The solution to the OP's specific situation: If there is a CC logo on the door indicating that CCs are an acceptable form of payment was to tell the bartender to run it or they don't get paid. No scrounging for cash, no extra purchases, no ATM fees. Tell them to run the card or get bent.

And they have the right to kick your ass outta the establishment. You're not the only customer they have. :roll:

And after they lose their contract to accept CC a whole nice big chuck of their customers will go elsewhere.

Try and think before you type.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: hiromizu
but i wonder, who the heck goes to a bar with $8 cash?

Someone with a CC full of fucking money, maybe.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

Then you can say have fun not being able to accept CC in the future. Im sure that will drive in customers by the dozens.

 

[SunSamurai]

Originally posted by: A Casual Fitz
I always keep cash on me. It's handy... and stupidly easy.

The fucked up thing about this is; this is why people use CC.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: ch33zw1z

I sign my card with "CID", this makes the cashier check to ensure my ID info matches my CC info. It is perfectly valid AFAIK.

Not valid. Must be signed. They should not accept a card that does not have your signature on it. See my previous post.

I thought I had lol, well that's crappy..now I have to wait and see if anyone ever denies me!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
A local restaurant refused to accept credit cards because of the processing fees, and instead accepted personal checks and cash only. They were in business for only a year or two... it was too inconvenient. I skipped over them several times because I don't carry a check book and also don't usually have enough cash on me to buy dinner for a few people.

I went into waffle house once intending to order food and they said cash/check only. I left. I ordered at Popeye's chicken once and then when I broke out my plastic she said cash only. I left. Plastic is so ubiquitous that a store absolutely must take it now or they are hemorrhaging sales. There are processing fees, so really they need to raise costs. Accordingly, those who do in fact use cash end up paying more.

I personally think rampant credit card use is bullsh*t and costs us money and is a poor personal financial approach for most people. 99% of my purchases are now debit or cash. Since I stopped using my CC and "paying it off each money", and negligible points aside I feel awash with cash. I have money in checking at all times and my savings account has been growing like a weed on fertilizer. Best thing I ever did from a financial standpoint. I use my CC for online only now. When I buy anything it's truly money I've already earned and it's degrading toward zero my current balance, so it gives me pause.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Xanis
Don't a lot of places have a minimum charge for credit cards? I don't see how this is any more different or any less legal. Not saying it doesn't stuck, but still.

That is the point. Any minimum charge is against the CC agreement. Everywhere you see that, the company/business is breaking their contract.

didnt know that. thanks
bunch of stores have a $10 minimum around here. i will bring this up next time they refuse to let me buy a 75 cent soda on my cc

They will just say ok sorry no drink for you.

And then you take a picture of their minimum sign and have their merchant account revoked.

In the real world they will say sorry, you'll take the picture, send it to whomever, and never hear back again and their account won't be revoked. This is such a common practice that it goes without saying that these credit card processors are turning a blind eye to what these businesses are doing. In the OP's case, if you don't tell them up front about a minimum, I don't think you can charge one and the bartender was in the wrong.

 

[Fritzo]

They should take the advice of this ancient greasy spoon diner we have in the middle of our town. The 142 year old owners have had a hand written sign in the window that says "WE DON'T TAKE CHARGE PLATES" for what looks like the last 50 years.

lol- I think my grandma called them charge plates.

 

[Modelworks]

The reason most stores get away with it is because people are not going to take the time to call their bank, file a formal complaint and do the followup. I understand the cost with processing cards. My brothers business is mostly cash with a a few debit cards, the occasional credit card. Still the processing charge on his account for low volume of cards, less than 100 a month, is 1% of the purchase. Not what I would call something that would hurt a bar , $20 @ 1%, wow they lose 20 cent.

 

[Ksyder]

While we are on the subject, how about places like Wal-Mart who try to coerce you into doing a pin-based transaction in order to pay lower fees? Along the lines of "press cancel for credit." They try to make it inconvenient for you to do a credit transaction.

Also, regarding the cash vs. card debate, I would think most people use a bank debit card as credit because this is widely accepted. For people who stick to a budget, it makes it much easier to track transactions in a check book rather than take a $100 or whatever out of the ATM and then have to rely on receipts to be able to track where that money went. I'm sure this qualifies as being anal but it just boils down to a convenience thing.

I've been thinking it would be nice to use cash so that merchants could provide lower costs for us all but I'm sure even if I stopped doing credit transactions the prices at the grocery store wouldn't change.

 

[Modelworks]

About the check book thing, I use online banking. It allows me to have much more information than a checkbook. I can see the amount, date and time of purchase and store location .
I can scroll back to last year if I want and see what I spent instantly. It also shows a pie chart every month that automatically categorizes utilities, grocery, deposits, etc.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
A local restaurant refused to accept credit cards because of the processing fees, and instead accepted personal checks and cash only. They were in business for only a year or two... it was too inconvenient. I skipped over them several times because I don't carry a check book and also don't usually have enough cash on me to buy dinner for a few people.

I went into waffle house once intending to order food and they said cash/check only. I left. I ordered at Popeye's chicken once and then when I broke out my plastic she said cash only. I left. Plastic is so ubiquitous that a store absolutely must take it now or they are hemorrhaging sales. There are processing fees, so really they need to raise costs. Accordingly, those who do in fact use cash end up paying more.

I personally think rampant credit card use is bullsh*t and costs us money and is a poor personal financial approach for most people. 99% of my purchases are now debit or cash. Since I stopped using my CC and "paying it off each money", and negligible points aside I feel awash with cash. I have money in checking at all times and my savings account has been growing like a weed on fertilizer. Best thing I ever did from a financial standpoint. I use my CC for online only now. When I buy anything it's truly money I've already earned and it's degrading toward zero my current balance, so it gives me pause.

I'm glad you use all debit and can be so self-righteous about credit card use

It's a very poor financial approach. For instance, I zero out my Amex balance every month and now have enough Starwood points for two round trip plane tickets. I think I carried a balance for a month, the finance charge was like $30.

So let's see, I bought what I normally would, except using my Starwood Amex. I slipped and carried a balance once, after Christmas. I accumulated enough points to fly my fiancee and I domestically, thereby taking out the second biggest cost in our annual summer trip to San Diego.

Yes, it takes discipline, and nobody's perfect with it. But if you can stay close to the plan, the rewards can be very good. Let's face it, with the prevalence of plastic, prices have gone up to accomodate the fees. If you're paying pure debit (as in, you type in your PIN at every transaction) or cash, you're paying some portion of those fees anyway. Might as well get something in return.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: Ksyder
While we are on the subject, how about places like Wal-Mart who try to coerce you into doing a pin-based transaction in order to pay lower fees? Along the lines of "press cancel for credit." They try to make it inconvenient for you to do a credit transaction.

Walmart runs thin margins as it is. They make their money on volume. Credit card transaction fees eat into their already thin margins, so I sort of see using cash/debit as a personal cost of doing business there.

I don't know if I'm an asshole or what (read: yes), but I tend to use PIN/debit payment at places that I feel aren't screwing me, and credit everywhere else. For instance, groceries at Harris Teeter? Credit. Groceries at Shoppers or Safeway? Debit.