Deceptive ways that stores and businesses add extra costs

@Asylum (47893)

Manchester, England

April 3, 2016 3:47pm CST

We have all seen the great priced items suddenly become less of a bargain by unreasonably high post and packing costs, or the offers of monthly payments that add up to much higher than the original cost. Of course there are many ways employed by businesses to boost profits while showing lower prices to the public. Recently I arranged for a company to lay laminate flooring in two rooms for me. After choosing a decent quality flooring I was quoted £700, which I found acceptable and agreed to. The fun came when I asked about payment methods. One option offered was to pay by debit card, which is an easy way to pay. Most companies charge a fee for using a credit card, but not for debit cards. To my surprise I was informed that it would incur a 3% surcharge, which I found laughable. I have no intention of paying £21 for this when I can walk into the bank and draw the cash freely.

14 people like this

15 responses

@rebelann (117238)

• El Paso, Texas

3 Apr 16

Wow, that's not kool at all. I would think many businesses have affiliated themselves with a particular credit card provider, I know I've saved quite a bit by using one of my cards which has such a deal and I've even gotten either 1 or 2 percent back per dollar spent in certain stores, even online.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

I have often known charges for credit cards, but have never encountered it for debit cards before. I suspect that it amounts to total profit and they depend on people not realising the difference.

@rebelann (117238)

• El Paso, Texas

3 Apr 16

I'm not sure about the UK @Asylum but a lot of businesses here are charged a percentage of their profits if they allow clients to pay with credit or debit cards .... if I pay my property taxes with either a debit or credit card they charge me an extra 1.9% of the amount I am paying.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

@rebelann This applies to credit cards here, bit not to debit cards. This is even the case when I book holidays or flights online, which never charge me for using a debit card.

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@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

3 Apr 16

That is why consumers must be diligent about fees and such practices and that includes online.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

It is indeed, but some of the charges added are completely unrealistic and just a way of boosting company profits.

1 person likes this

@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

3 Apr 16

@Asylum That's the reality of the world. You see such charges wherever you turn.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

@JohnRoberts I remember when I was young many stores had a habit of quoting prices in guineas so that they would appear to be lower.

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@SIMPLYD (90717)

• Philippines

8 Apr 16

Why on the first place would it incur a surcharge of 3% when you are already paying it outright because it's a debit card?

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Apr 16

Exactly my response and the banks would not charge the company a single penny either. I had no intention of accepting such a ridiculous payment method.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

11 Apr 16

@SIMPLYD There must be someone who would or they would not bother trying to charge it.

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@SIMPLYD (90717)

• Philippines

11 Apr 16

@Asylum No one would because of that surcharge .

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@eagletrek2 (5514)

• Kingston, New York

12 Apr 16

This why everything should be on paper and copy twice

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Apr 16

It did not need paper for me to refuse the idea.

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@LadyDuck (502491)

• Italy

4 Apr 16

This sounds ridiculous, I do not see the reason why they should charge the 3% when there are no fees on debit cards.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Apr 16

It can only be their way of boosting the profits involved, but they will be getting paid by debit card by me.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (502491)

• Italy

4 Apr 16

@Asylum I think it's better you draw the cash and pay them and use the £21 for a nice lunch outside.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Apr 16

@LadyDuck It turns out that they also accept online payments, so I can simply transfer the cash directly from my account.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

4 Apr 16

Good for you. Where I have my haircut, they prefer for us to write checks or use our debit cards. I prefer to use my cash back credit card, so I do.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Apr 16

As far as I know there are no hairdressers or barbers in England that accept credit cards. Of course I may be mistaken and get bombarded now by people correcting me.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Apr 16

@ElizabethWallace They may be in use in large hairdressing salons, but since I only use small barber shops I have not encountered this.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

9 Apr 16

@Asylum No kidding. Everyone (almost) takes credit cards here. At least everyone who works in a building does. Some service people, like my maid, only take checks.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61463)

• United States

7 Apr 16

We don't get charged extra to use a credit card or debit card, as a matter of fact it is illegal to charge more in this state however you can offer a discount for cash!! I even used my reward card to pay for my crown!!

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

7 Apr 16

We have some organisations that always charge a service fee for using a credit card, the airline and online holiday companies being a prime example. However, even they do not charge for a debit card to be used.

1 person likes this

@Hate2Iron (15724)

• Canada

10 Apr 16

I guess that they will try whatever they can get away with. If you refused... would they turn down your business? You have to wonder!!

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Apr 16

O did refuse and elected to pay by another method.

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

4 Apr 16

That seems like sharp practice to me - even for a credit card the charge of 3% would be high. I've never been charged for using a debit card either.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Apr 16

That is exactly my experience and why I always use a debit card. It seems like a very easy £21 extra profit to me, but it is also something they will not get from me.

1 person likes this

@rakski (156506)

• Philippines

4 Apr 16

What it is for? The surcharge? It is a debit card and not credit card?

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Apr 16

Precisely, which means that no such charge should ever be required. I can only assume that they expect some people not to realise and to simply pay the extra.

@Marilynda1225 (91116)

• United States

4 Apr 16

Charging a surcharge for using your card certainly is laughable but I think many stores/companies do this and the consumer doesn't realize it Good thing you checked before incurring an additional fee

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Apr 16

This is the first company that has ever suggested charging me a fee for the use of it, which they certainly will not get.

@TheHorse (238317)

• Walnut Creek, California

9 Apr 16

Did you pay them in cash?

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Apr 16

No, I transferred the money directly from my bank account to theirs.

@JudyEv (382104)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Apr 16

Some firms seem to think customers are stupid. And I guess maybe some customers are :)

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Apr 16

Unfortunately this is true, but the practice is still inacceptable.

1 person likes this

@mypointsju (583)

• Westland, Michigan

5 Apr 16

Wow, what rip off.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

5 Apr 16

It certainly is because the company will not be charged a penny by the bank, which is the whole idea of using a debit card.

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

3 Apr 16

We have to be vigilant all the time before we decide on how to pay.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

I was happy to hear that debit cards were accepted, but not so impressed when I discovered that they would take £21 extra that way. No other companies have ever charged me for the use of one.