F'ing BP credit card surcharge

[steve_t]

Haven't confirmed it myself but my brother just rang me to say that BP just charged him an extra 1.9% to pay by credit card. I know that it was recently made legal to do but man, why is it always BP that leads the charge to rip the motorist off??!! :mad::angry2::bash:
Funny that BP and AA are in bed with each other too

[rwh]

Haven't confirmed it myself but my brother just rang me to say that BP just charged him an extra 1.9% to pay by credit card. I know that it was recently made legal to do but man, why is it always BP that leads the charge to rip the motorist off??!! :mad::angry2::bash:
Funny that BP and AA are in bed with each other too

I hadn't heard that the rules had changed - but the notice at BP Karori says the charge is effective from the 9th (IIRC - future, anyway).

That's a fixed fee though, not a percentage (though it's higher if you buy over a certain amount)

Richard

[sAsLEX]

Well about time I switched main providers.

[Slyer]

Shell or Caltex IMO.
Mobil are bastards

[quickbuck]

Shell or Caltex IMO.
Mobil are bastards

Ummm Yup.
A huge choice in Bulls!

Thankfully Sanson is only a few fumes away.... But Shell is the only station remaining there....

[cs363]

Yep, stopped using BP and Mobil ages ago (and yes, I thought the BP/AA tie up was a bit ironic..) 9 times out of 10 I use Shell, and at least they give you Fly Buys even if you have to buy 60 million litres to get anything decent! :lol:

[Scotty595]

Total BS. Saw the sign on my local BP the other day. Luckily I dont use them TOO much anyway

[sAsLEX]

From a recent Coro Trip
-----------------------Type-------L-----------$
29-12-09----36,457.0---ULT98-----12.83----1.819--BP Autobahn
29-12-09----36,642.0---V-Power---12.13----1.729--Shell Whitianga
30-12-09----36,811.0---V-Power---12.76----1.729--Shell Whitianga
30-12-09----36,978.0---ULT98-----10.49----1.809--BP Bombay

Shell was cheaper in Whitianga than BP in Auckland.

[steve_t]

But Shell V-Power is only 95 so you have to compare it to BP 95 (where available)..... still, stupid credit card surcharge!!

[cs363]

When we had to change over to using that BP Ultimate in NZV8's no-one could stay in the pit garage when the car was started, the stuff stinks and makes your eyes water like you wouldn't believe and it makes the exhaust run really black and sooty. I'm not convinced by it. Anyway, they're mates with the AA and we hates them.... Shell V-Power FTW!! :D

Can't beat that nice, safe, leaded, race gas..... :lol:

[scracha]

Credit card companies do charge retaillers extortionate fees but I'd doubt very much that BP are being stung 1.9% with their purchasing power. They are big enough to be able to issue their own credit card FFS.

[ukusa]

our work account uses Shell & Caltex, so no probs there. Personally don't use alot of BP either, there seems to be none on the main routes I use.
Will make a point to never use them.
If the others start, I'll have to start pushing.

[sAsLEX]

But Shell V-Power is only 95 so you have to compare it to BP 95 (where available)..... still, stupid credit card surcharge!!

I compared the "above 91" each company offered.


Also interesting to note that the Autobahns are generally 10 cents more a litre, not sure if many people notice that.

[White trash]

Also interesting to note that the Autobahns are generally 10 cents more a litre, not sure if many people notice that.

No they're not. BP 98 is 1.809 a litre at the moment, I know this because it's all I put in my car. BP/Autobarn Papakura has always been 1 cent a litre more expensive than any other BP. This is obviously because they are the busiest service station in New Zealand so think we should pay more for the honour of their stupid long ques. Cunts.

[sunhuntin]

makes me glad i dont use bp unless theres no other choice and tend to not use credit card. i refuse to use the local mobil as well as the owner is a cunt and refuses to put in security cameras, making it his staffs word against the customers if anything goes wrong never mind having footage of any holdups and drive offs.
always use vpower if possible... love the stuff.

at $2 shop, we dont accept any credit cards due to the fees. its great, no more worry about forged sigs.

[nosebleed]

Bugger, just filled the runabout today at BP and didn't notice any surcharge, nor any notices of surcharge. Thats not to say there wasn't a C/C surcharge - just that I wasn't looking for one.

Unfortunately years of having a company BP Fuel Card (for the co. vehicle - Diesel) lead me to automatically aim for BP's reagrdless of what I'm piloting.
Although for the as mentioned reason's I personally prefer alternative supplies

[pete376403]

[QUOTE=sunhuntin;1129601587
at $2 shop, we dont accept any credit cards due to the fees. its great, no more worry about forged sigs.[/QUOTE]

OK you obviously know what the credit card fee structure is (even if you don't accept them) - would you mind telling us?

[sunhuntin]

OK you obviously know what the credit card fee structure is (even if you don't accept them) - would you mind telling us?

wouldnt have a bloody clue mate. lmao. i only work there and spend ages telling the toffee noses that no, we dont accept credit cards and no, it wont go through even if you insist on trying it. went to palmy store today and they also have no credit cards, so it must be a head office directive as opposed to a store decision.
when i was at bp, they stopped taking amex due to the fees. whether that was the owner or the head office, i dont know.

[ynot slow]

If a C/C has been stolen AND the owner notifies their issuer then next time the crim goes to use it the eftpos terminal will let you know of the problem(they will push enter so as to sign the invoice),simple thing then is tell the thieving prick you have to get management ok,all the while holding the card.You have two things happen(in office ring cops)the crim will run/walk off or the cops will arrive and all good.

[cs363]

Credit card 'interchange fees' are up to 2% for the trading banks, but from memory Amex and Diners are considerably higher which is why hardly anyone accepts them anymore.

Edit: Apparently there are changes in the wind that may lower these fees and bring us into line with Aussie where the rate is 0.5%, though somehow I doubt our lot will go that low!

[steve_t]

OK you obviously know what the credit card fee structure is (even if you don't accept them) - would you mind telling us?

Visa and Mastercard have a fees of a % of the transaction. The fee each merchant pays is generally negotiated upon and relates to monthly throughput and average transaction amount.
Amex and Diners also have a fee which is a % of the transaction but it's generally quite a bit more. There are a LOT of places that accept visa and mc but not amex and diners.

I don't expect places like the $2 shop or dairies to accept credit cards. They'd probably get stung around 5% of the transaction which would severely lower their profits/ability to stay in business!

[sil3nt]

EFTPOS ftw?

[Toaster]

Well, I am ever in the position of knowing when I wll die, I will book an expensive holiday on credit card and go before its due for payment.

They can all go smell my corpse.

[Genie]

easy fix...dont' use your credit card for petrol. I did once and they charged an extra amount until my purchase cleared and then reversed the funds back.

[Mikkel]

Only for credit cards I take it - not EFTPOS?


No they're not. BP 98 is 1.809 a litre at the moment, I know this because it's all I put in my car. BP/Autobarn Papakura has always been 1 cent a litre more expensive than any other BP. This is obviously because they are the busiest service station in New Zealand so think we should pay more for the honour of their stupid long ques. Cunts.

Well, as long as they have got queues there is really no good reason why they shouldn't up the prices even more. Supply and demand you know...

[trevsnz]

I stop going to BP years ago... 9 out of 10 times its BP that puts up there fuel prices first.. which makes me wonder why AA supports them.

[steve_t]

I stop going to BP years ago... 9 out of 10 times its BP that puts up there fuel prices first.. which makes me wonder why AA supports them.

Cos AA are working for the motorist... hmm... anyone else seeing a Tui billboard right now?
I wonder how much AA get in "donations/sponsorship" from BP.

I guess BP's directors think $20billion net profit annually just isn't good enough :shutup:

[neels]

In churchur most of the BP stations are 1c more expensive than everybody else.

I'm not sure when the law change takes effect, but expect to see more retailers passing on the credit card charges to their customers, when it happens you'll just have to vote with your feet if you don't like it. Interestingly Telecom have been doing this for ages and calling it a service fee if you pay by credit card. I can kind of understand it from the retailers point of view to stop bastards like me using my credit card for everything to accumulate enough points to pay for the xmas presents at the end of the year.

[Berries]

Shell or Caltex IMO.
Mobil are bastards

I've been boycotting Shell for a couple years since they wouldn't sell me a sandwich because I had my helmet on. The local BP was the only BP that didn't tell me I had to get off the bike to fill it up. Then one day the guy who had served me loads of times before pointed out the sign saying no straddling the bike so they are off the list as well. My only choice now is Mobil. If they piss me off I am really going to be in the shit.

[MaxB]

No they're not. BP 98 is 1.809 a litre at the moment, I know this because it's all I put in my car. BP/Autobarn Papakura has always been 1 cent a litre more expensive than any other BP. This is obviously because they are the busiest service station in New Zealand so think we should pay more for the honour of their stupid long ques. Cunts.

Remember reading in a trade mag that Papakura/Bombay/Pokeno service areas have the highest ground rents for fuel sites in NZ. So the out of towners and tourists that use SH1 get screwed 'cos they don't know how close they are to cheaper petrol off the motorway. That said the onsite McDonalds and BKs manage to keep their prices the same as the rest of the country.

[scracha]

Credit card 'interchange fees' are up to 2% for the trading banks, but from memory Amex and Diners are considerably higher which is why hardly anyone accepts them anymore.

Retailers are not banks. Low volume, low value transactions are as much as 6% for Visa / Mastercard. Average is about 2.8% for moi but the big boys get a better discount.

Don't blame BP, blame the greedy New Zealand banks. Put it another way, credit card users are being subsidised by non credit card users. BP should drop it's price per liter accordingly if they're doing the surcharge though.

EFTPOS, I dunno. It was MORE expensive when I first set up the merchant account.

[Gremlin]

EFTPOS ftw?
Except that some banks (and the accounts) charge for each EFTPOS transaction. The company account from ASB is charged on each transaction, my personal ASB account is not. Credit Cards, until now, didn't have any of those extra charges. Also, if you spend enough on the card, the higher up the range of cards you go (eg, gold etc) you start getting the extra benefits, like free travel insurance if you use the credit card to book travel etc etc etc not to mention the normal cash back rewards or points.

I noticed a couple of weeks ago, Caltex Thames was showing a 50c surcharge for credit card transactions... which I didn't get charged either time :lol:

[cs363]

Retailers are not banks. Low volume, low value transactions are as much as 6% for Visa / Mastercard. Average is about 2.8% for moi but the big boys get a better discount.

Don't blame BP, blame the greedy New Zealand banks. Put it another way, credit card users are being subsidised by non credit card users. BP should drop it's price per liter accordingly if they're doing the surcharge though.

EFTPOS, I dunno. It was MORE expensive when I first set up the merchant account.

Got to admit I thought it was more like the amount you quote but that's not what the gummint and others are saying: http://www.comcom.govt.nz/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/200607/commissionallegespricefixingincred.aspx
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/personal-finance/2933874/Deal-set-to-lower-credit-card-fees http://www.mastercard.com/nz/merchant/en/interchangefees/index.html http://www.visa-asia.com/ap/nz/mediacenter/factsheets/interchange.shtml
Whatever.....still agree we have some of the greediest banks in the world....

[p.dath]

I've been boycotting Shell for a couple years since they wouldn't sell me a sandwich because I had my helmet on. The local BP was the only BP that didn't tell me I had to get off the bike to fill it up. Then one day the guy who had served me loads of times before pointed out the sign saying no straddling the bike so they are off the list as well. My only choice now is Mobil. If they piss me off I am really going to be in the shit.

Better start learning how to brew your own alcohol. Sounds like the bike is going to need a lot of it. :)

[Genie]

what is a new zealand...most are foreign owned!

[nico]

i work for bp and there bastards, they screw every one quicker than a flash inc employees the list of perkes and benifits is geting shorter every year

[Woodman]

I don't understand the problem.
The gas stations get charged by the banks so they are passing it on to the end users. Seems fair to me. If you don't like it use another method of payment

[Robert Taylor]

Haven't confirmed it myself but my brother just rang me to say that BP just charged him an extra 1.9% to pay by credit card. I know that it was recently made legal to do but man, why is it always BP that leads the charge to rip the motorist off??!! :mad::angry2::bash:
Funny that BP and AA are in bed with each other too

Well if they are charging more I hope it goes into the BP retailers pockets than the oil company themselves. Retail margins on petrol are wafer thin and I wouldnt begrudge for a moment extra margin for those guys.
Just read a random selection of ''off the street'' comments in this mornings Taranaki Daily News and the common over simplistic and knee jerk theme is that many or most people in the street think that if retailers apply a surcharge if credit cards are used then they are ''ripping people off'' Point of fact the merchant cost to businesses of credit card usage are quite substanial, especially for small users. Many retailers are operating on VERY tight margins due to a whole myriad of pressures and I can understand why they would wish to recover the cost to them of credit card transactions.
Whos ripping who?

[davereid]

People don't seem to have a problem paying to have a credit card, or paying 20%+ to use its credit facility, yet they seem horrified that the poor old merchant should try and re-coup his costs.

This may well result in a drop off in credit card usage, which will result in the banks dropping merchant fees.

We may all end up better off !

[duckonin]

Other method of payment Cash, put in ten bucks worth, flick ten over the counter, outa there...

[vifferman]

People don't seem to have a problem paying to have a credit card, or paying 20%+ to use its credit facility, yet they seem horrified that the poor old merchant should try and re-coup his costs.

This may well result in a drop off in credit card usage, which will result in the banks dropping merchant fees.

We may all end up better off !
Good points, Dave.
However, if you think our largely foreign-owned banks are going to drop fees, I think you're being overly optimistic. They've shown time and time again that there's no real comptetition, and that they have an almost remarkable propensity to rip us off.

It's fair enough that the merchants pass on their costs - they are in a business to make a living after all. If they don't pass on the fees directly, they'll do it in other ways, like increased prices for goods and services.

[sunhuntin]

i work for bp and there bastards, they screw every one quicker than a flash inc employees the list of perkes and benifits is geting shorter every year

you have perks? hell, we didnt have any when i worked there, except on sunday the milkman would give me the due to expire primo milks. lol. we werent even allowed to take home the rock hard pies or the old sandwiches etc for the dogs... stupid. such a waste.

[Ixion]

Doesn't really bother me, I just pay cash if needed. So long as there's a BIG notice. Credit card is not lawful tender, retailer is not obliged to accept it, and if he does may do so on such conditions as he sees fit. One needs to factor th eloss of average 20 days credit into the cost equation, but that's normally only a few cents on a bike-size fuel fill.

[PrincessBandit]

I heard only Wellington mentioned in the news article re the surcharge on credit card use, but betcha it'll soon blanket the country. Petrol stations were blaming banks for it, banks were saying "no, we've not put up our fees, but legislation has made it possible now for retailers to recoup some of their costs via this so some are now going to do so".

We've generally paid for gas with credit card due to the immediate cost - e.g. $80 on the credit card which can be repaid at your convenience means $80 still in your cheque account for other things, but from now on we might just suck in our belts and buy petrol only when money is sitting there in our bank account. Probably a good way to go with most of life's monetary transactions wherever possible.

Just out of curiosity how many of us can remember life prior to credit cards? How did we cope back then! lol

[Quasievil]

What a bunch of whinging fuckers, here is an idea dont buy petrol..................or set up your own multi billion dollar oil rig and processing plants and refinerys and shipping and storage networks, do that.........now go and find some oil to work, pay the licensing fees and back handers to the governments........once you done that go and set up a distribution network and your good to go !!

There is no money in retail petrol so if you dont like the credit card fee dont pay with your credit card, pay eftpos or cash.

[Badjelly]

My daughter (bless her mercenary heart) has acted as a lawyer for the credit card companies (or banks) in a dispute with retailers over credit card fees, but even she was surprised to hear that the National Bank can afford to refund me 1% of what I spend on the credit card. So they've got to be raking it in!

I buy everything on the card these days, because I get free credit for 1-2 months and 1% back as well. (I always pay the balance in full at the end of the month--I'm not stupid.) However if a merchant wants to charge a fee I have no objection whatsoever, provided they tell me in advance. I'll pay by EFTPOS or I'll go somewhere else.

My daughter tells me that some of the Pak & Saves in Wellington tried charging a credit card fee a few years ago, but they only lasted a day till they caved.

[Naki Rat]

People don't seem to have a problem paying to have a credit card, or paying 20%+ to use its credit facility,....

Both credit cards here are zeroed every month, and have 1% cashback facilities that more than offset any 'annual fees'.
Chances are if you are silly enough to pay credit card interest rates then a relatively minor surcharge isn't going to make fak all difference.

[Ixion]

I heard only Wellington mentioned in the news article re the surcharge on credit card use, but betcha it'll soon blanket the country. Petrol stations were blaming banks for it, banks were saying "no, we've not put up our fees, but legislation has made it possible now for retailers to recoup some of their costs via this so some are now going to do so".

We've generally paid for gas with credit card due to the immediate cost - e.g. $80 on the credit card which can be repaid at your convenience means $80 still in your cheque account for other things, but from now on we might just suck in our belts and buy petrol only when money is sitting there in our bank account. Probably a good way to go with most of life's monetary transactions wherever possible.

Just out of curiosity how many of us can remember life prior to credit cards? How did we cope back then! lol

It was called money. Foldy bits of paper. or, even earlier, little metal discs. But, back then, most garages ran charge accounts for regular customers. So did the grocery store, the butchers, the newsagent....

[crazyhorse]

Big story on the news last night. Sounds like its started at the major service stations in the big centres, but admittedly, the smaller ones will be the loyal ones .

Will be interested to see what happens down the track, as alot of people pay by CC these days, and they make alot of revenue from these cards.

I reckon it won't last................... So I will keep watching this space :yes:

[sunhuntin]

It was called money. Foldy bits of paper. or, even earlier, little metal discs. But, back then, most garages ran charge accounts for regular customers. So did the grocery store, the butchers, the newsagent....

the local BPs still run charge accounts.

[The Stranger]

easy fix...dont' use your credit card for petrol. I did once and they charged an extra amount until my purchase cleared and then reversed the funds back.

Nooooooooo then you can't winge like a bitch. WTF were you thinking?

[PrincessBandit]

It was called money. Foldy bits of paper. or, even earlier, little metal discs. But, back then, most garages ran charge accounts for regular customers. So did the grocery store, the butchers, the newsagent....

Ah yes, the good old days, when businesses could be assured that their customers were honest and could be counted on to pay up at the arranged time...
The only place I still see that is the staffroom of only one of the three high schools I teach at - the good ole notebook on the counter for morning tea money. (Which I never use as I hate owing people money! If I ain't got jingly stuff in my wallet, I go hungry!)

[sefer]

^^ you have to pay for morning tea!! Should be in primary then, it's part of our contact ;)




(we just work longer, teach every subject, get nearly zero release time, and get paid less....great trade off, really :) )

[robboh]

People pay by CC coz they dont (didnt) get charged bank fees. Thats the main reason. Oh, and of course XX days free credit, as long as you pay the bill fully. If you dont, then they rape you. As a vendor, you need to take into account that a purchase, especially a larger one, is going to get raped by the CC company to the tune of 2-4%. That can add up to some serious $$$ off your bottom line.

As for the petrol. Everyone grizzles about BP (and I dont like 'em either) but my vehicles always seem to run better, and get better mileage, on BP 95 than anything else. Shell's and Caltex, I'll typically get noticeably less milage on a tank; cage or bike.

[The Stranger]

As for the petrol. Everyone grizzles about BP (and I dont like 'em either) but my vehicles always seem to run better, and get better mileage, on BP 95 than anything else. Shell's and Caltex, I'll typically get noticeably less milage on a tank; cage or bike.

Yes BP's refineries are the best.

[MarkH]

That said the onsite McDonalds and BKs manage to keep their prices the same as the rest of the country.

I think that the margins are a tad higher on burgers than petrol! As in the burger that you pay $6 for would have a cost to McDonalds of $1.20 or less. Obviously you are paying for the staff costs and rent and everything else.
My understanding is that the margin on petrol is much less for the petrol stations.

[Jantar]

It was called money. Foldy bits of paper. or, even earlier, little metal discs. But, back then, most garages ran charge accounts for regular customers. So did the grocery store, the butchers, the newsagent....
But if you pay by folding stuff today, the business has to pay a cash handling fee when they deposit it into the bank. This fee varies but can be as high as 2%. I guess the next step will be for a surcharge to be applied when you pay by cash.

[scracha]

I'll pay by EFTPOS or I'll go somewhere else.

EFTPOS fees are criminal. I have an even bigger surcharge for EFTPOS.

1% cashback sounds good though. Better than the 0.1% or whatever the hell Westpac's hotpoints add to.

EDIT. Bah, first 50K only. So after their annual fee you'll only make $400 bucks. Still....if I get the girlfriend one too that's $800. Beats a kick in the teeth.

[swbarnett]

But if you pay by folding stuff today, the business has to pay a cash handling fee when they deposit it into the bank. This fee varies but can be as high as 2%. I guess the next step will be for a surcharge to be applied when you pay by cash.
Which is exactly why the charges should be absorbed as a standard business expense. It seems that no matter how you pay there are bank charges involved.

I'd rather see a minor price increase across the board than specific charges depending on how you pay.

[sefer]

^^ and since those costs are already built in to the product (didn't see any price drops to account for the customer now footing the fees, did you?), there should be no change at all.

[XRVrider]

If you want to use your credit card, you will pay somewhere for the privilege, why should the business you shop at pay for your choice of payment method. They get charged it and are now legally passing it on to those with the choice. If you dont like this then its still very simple, just use eftpos or cash. There are now Q cards, Farmers cards, Farmlands cards... and a heap of others... they are only in existence because they make money off you, this new law has just highlighted it.

[McJim]

Speaking from experience this has been badly managed by the retailers. They should have raised ALL of their prices then offered a discount for Cash and Eftpos users. It's exactly the same thing but from this perspective it's fair. I don't use a credit card so why the fuck should I have to stump up extra cash to pay for all the borrowers that cannot manage their own cash flow? Major credit cards in New Zealand charge an annual user fee. Go to UK or US and you will not find this user fee anywhere. Major credit card issuers charge exorbitant interest from their cardholders. It has been a bit of a duopoly in the past which has allowed these companies to overcharge both sets of users (retailers and cardholders). About time the playing field was levelled. But what would I know? I'm only a qualified credit professional from the UK so don't take my word for it.

[sefer]

You seem to be under the belief that these place do not get charged a similar fee for both cash handling and eftpos transactions, which they pass on through their products exactly the same way as they pass on the credit card charges. Add to that the retailers convenience of not having to have handle, store, and transport large amounts of cash.

My point still stands, given that the credit card fees have dropped, and will do so further, and they are now pass the fee onto the customer anyway, did you see a single price decrease to account for the companies no longer footing this fee?

[XRVrider]

My point still stands, given that the credit card fees have dropped, and will do so further, and they are now pass the fee onto the customer anyway, did you see a single price decrease to account for the companies no longer footing this fee?

Um why should they drop their prices, they were always charging the same, just now they dont have to give some away. Seems only fair to the seller to get the price they asked for, not a bit less got you popped the credit card onto the counter.

[sAsLEX]

I don't use a credit card so why the fuck should I have to stump up extra cash to pay for all the borrowers that cannot manage their own cash flow? .

Utilising the interest free period that credit card companies offer and leaving your cash in an interest earning account then paying the credit card bill before it accrues interest charges is actually a recommended cash flow management technique.

http://www.consumer.org.nz/reports/best-ways-to-borrow/revolving-credit

[sefer]

Um why should they drop their prices, they were always charging the same, just now they dont have to give some away. Seems only fair to the seller to get the price they asked for, not a bit less got you popped the credit card onto the counter.


Please, surely you don't actually believe that they have just been "giving away" their credit card fees. Any company that did would be a very badly managed one. All costs, whether they are staff, bank, power, product, or bank fees are build into product cost, that's how retail works.

[JimO]

Please, surely you don't actually believe that they have just been "giving away" their credit card fees. Any company that did would be a very badly managed one. All costs, whether they are staff, bank, power, product, or bank fees are build into product cost, that's how retail works.

same with supermarkets charging for the previously "free" plastic bags.....free my arse

[newbould]

same with supermarkets charging for the previously "free" plastic bags.....free my arse

Before or after we free Tibet?


Where have the smilies gone when you reply with quote???????

[XRVrider]

Please, surely you don't actually believe that they have just been "giving away" their credit card fees. Any company that did would be a very badly managed one. All costs, whether they are staff, bank, power, product, or bank fees are build into product cost, that's how retail works.

Not all. Ring up a travel agent and ask them. They always add it later, whether House of Travel, Flightcentre, United. They all do it, and it can be very large sums of money where the fees mean hundreds and they would actually lose money beacause of tiny margins of profit... not good for business. (1 or 2 special circumstances where they get the airline to wear it)

[mazz1972]

User pays, fair enough I guess, as annoying as it is. It's been happening in some other countries for years.

But it's only fair if retailers adjust prices accordingly by lowering them, even if it is only by a sniff. Otherwise the add on charge for credit card users is just another income stream.

[breakaway]

Okay I just read this thread, and apparently its "just been made legal" for the retailers to charge this extra?

This sort of credit card surcharge has been standard practice most computer parts shops throughout New Zealand. There was a time when almost all shops charged 3% extra on top of your total order amount as a 'convenience fee' for credit cards. However, they soon realised that they were losing out business to stores who weren't greedy for the 3% and decided to knock off the surcharge.

Whole 'surcharge' business is dodgy as fuck if you ask me.

[imdying]

I'll just go back to buying my gas in multiples of $20 notes (as that's what the hole in wall spits out), which means no more buying the extras (Red Bull, pies.. the things they make their proper profit on) that I do on my credit card. So good luck with that petrol stations.

[Blackflagged]

If you sold your motorbike, for say $6000.
And the buyer wanted to pay by paypal.
You the seller would wear the 3% $180 fee?
Or the $5900 cash offer.

[sefer]

I'll just go back to buying my gas in multiples of $20 notes (as that's what the hole in wall spits out), which means no more buying the extras (Red Bull, pies.. the things they make their proper profit on) that I do on my credit card. So good luck with that petrol stations.

I'd suggest everyone does this. Not only are they going to lose income on those extras, but their costs are likely to actually increase due to the extra money transportation and handling fees. They really aren't thinking ahead here for both the above reasons, and also the extra issues with having even larger amounts of money, both in safe and in register (got to make up change as well as what's taken in).

Actually if any of my local gas stations start doing it, and I can't avoid them I might just start finding large amounts of loose change I need to get rid of.

[Usarka]

About time i ditched the fucking credit card anyway. Too easy to spend money - just put it on the card.

No money, no banana thickshake or happy finish from the homeless bum around the corner unless I kick him in the balls and steal his tin cup full of coins and run like a bastard.