General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,830 posts)

48. You seem to be ignoring most of what I said.

Sat Apr 15, 2023, 02:07 PM

Apr 2023

Before 2013, the prohibition on surcharges was by contract, not by law. In other words, if you wanted to accept credit cards in your business, you were required to sign a contract agreeing not to charge extra for people to use credit cards. If you imposed a surcharge, you would be taken to court not for breaking the law, but in a private action for breaching your contract. So the vast majority of time during which surcharges were prohibited (from the advent of credit card usage to 2013), in the vast majority of states (all states prior to 2013), it wasn't illegal - simply a breach of contract.

Those contract provisions were declared unenforceable based on a lawsuit in 2013.

It appears that since then, a few states have decided the credit card companies had it right and have enacted state laws. Whether those state laws are enforceable or not, I don't know. It would depend on the basis of the 2013 court decision.

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Kia Dealer Slipping A Credit Card Surcharge To Their Service Bills...... [View all] global1 Apr 2023 OP

My advice...follow WITH your money. Enter stage left Apr 2023 #1

Where I live dentists, hair dressers, auto repair places, barbers, etc. DURHAM D Apr 2023 #2

Your information is only partially correct for debit cards in the United States GregariousGroundhog Apr 2023 #16

Well shame on me. DURHAM D Apr 2023 #18

Oh, Delphinus Apr 2023 #39

Just did a bathroom remodel. Custom shower door firm NoMoreRepugs Apr 2023 #3

+1000 GuppyGal Apr 2023 #27

Some restaurants are doing it too. raccoon Apr 2023 #50

I think the cc companies are at least partially responsible. OAITW r.2.0 Apr 2023 #4

I thought at one time is was illegal to charge more for credit card or to offer cash discounts bucolic_frolic Apr 2023 #5

Why would it be illegal? We don't have price controls. brooklynite Apr 2023 #20

It wasn't illegal, Ms. Toad Apr 2023 #22

Yes, that is my point, it was illegal at some point and remains illegal in some states bucolic_frolic Apr 2023 #35

There is a difference between being illegal, Ms. Toad Apr 2023 #44

To repeat the post to which you are replying, surcharges are prohibited in 10 states bucolic_frolic Apr 2023 #47

You seem to be ignoring most of what I said. Ms. Toad Apr 2023 #48

And yet the Fla DMV adds a surcharge for CC use. nt EX500rider Apr 2023 #52

I've seen Delphinus Apr 2023 #40

A lot of gas stations charge $.10 per gallon more for credit cards vs. cash wishstar Apr 2023 #54

It wasn't illegal, it was in the contract with the credit card companies... hunter Apr 2023 #51

It's common in Michigan at gas stations. roamer65 Apr 2023 #6

there is one station near me that does the 10 cents per gallon higher w/ cc. orleans Apr 2023 #28

Zappa! roamer65 Apr 2023 #29

lol orleans Apr 2023 #30

A Place Right By Our House Does 5 Cents ProfessorGAC Apr 2023 #53

Lots of companies have credit card surcharges, especially small businesses. TwilightZone Apr 2023 #7

I think it's a normal and expected cost of most business and should simply be built into the price. W_HAMILTON Apr 2023 #32

Coincidence! We just went to a Honda dealer to get a part, and Nixie Apr 2023 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author yonder Apr 2023 #9

Yeah, this is becoming more common. A local grocer (Chinese bodega) told me... keep_left Apr 2023 #10

If your dealer is fugazi, only take your car to them when it is imperative. TheBlackAdder Apr 2023 #11

It's legal Zeitghost Apr 2023 #12

Retailers pay a % to the cc company for credit card transactions. Mosby Apr 2023 #13

Just checked the service invoice and no credit card fee. Nixie Apr 2023 #14

I thought that they couldn't add a surcharge for using credit, but they can give a cash discount MiniMe Apr 2023 #15

That used to be the case, Ms. Toad Apr 2023 #25

My Honda dealership started doing that in February moose65 Apr 2023 #17

Time to go back to writing checks, I guess GoodRaisin Apr 2023 #36

Well, no.... moose65 Apr 2023 #38

Oh, well, GoodRaisin Apr 2023 #42

I pay mine off every month, too moose65 Apr 2023 #49

Telling you upfront that there'll be a credit card surcharge isn't "slipping"... brooklynite Apr 2023 #19

There was a time that credit card companies would refuse to do business with someone who charged Chainfire Apr 2023 #21

I just checked that - Ms. Toad Apr 2023 #23

I don't know about car dealers but FemDemERA Apr 2023 #24

If you want "fairness", stop gaming the perks! Thunderbeast Apr 2023 #26

I would prefer the discounts for cash moose65 Apr 2023 #41

My doctors' office is doing the same, adding 2 or 3% for Ilsa Apr 2023 #31

some gas stations have charged less for cash for years. AnotherDreamWeaver Apr 2023 #33

Credit card companies are like a 3% tax on everything we buy, payable to a private company lostnfound Apr 2023 #34

My Toyota dealer charges a credit-card fee nuxvomica Apr 2023 #37

Local companies do that all the time. I noticed that some gas stations started doing it. They even themaguffin Apr 2023 #43

It's the most fair way to me EX500rider Apr 2023 #45

There was a credit card surcharge back in the day because the vendors got charged for their use Hekate Apr 2023 #46