Kia Dealer Slipping A Credit Card Surcharge To Their Service Bills......

[bucolic_frolic]

35. Yes, that is my point, it was illegal at some point and remains illegal in some states

And I do remember it being stated as illegal in the 1990s, by the laws Congress passed. Credit card surcharges were verboten.

Here's the 2022 skinny on credit card surcharges:

https://www.valuepenguin.com/credit-card-surcharges-convenience-fees

"Credit card surcharges, convenience fees and minimum purchase requirements are all fees that merchants can add to offset the cost of pricey processing fees. Keep in mind that surcharges and convenience fees are illegal in some states and can only be applied to credit card transactions."

"Ten states prohibit credit card surcharges and convenience fees: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. It is illegal for merchants to add any surcharges to credit card transactions or charge convenience fees to nontraditional payment methods in these states."

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I remember in the 1990s signs saying something to the effect "cash same as credit, no cash discounts" and merchants asking at checkout, "cash, check, or credit card?". You could not wrangle $15 off a $500 item by offering to pay cash.

Once a USPS employee dryly pulled the 'cash, check, credit card' line on me at checkout. For a total amount of about 50 cents! He was a frustrated comedian.