AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[drron]

And as I said on another thread-the new AMA Amex rate is 1.49%.Surely hotel chains can get at least that rate so any surcharge above 1.5% is a blatant rip off.Then again using CCs reduces the cost of cash handling so surcharge IMHO should be in order of 1%.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Hotels pushing any kind of surcharge is VERY poor form IMO.

I agree, which is why we pre-booked our visit through Qantas Hotels - the $4.95 fixed credit card fee worked out to be much less than the 1.5% if we had of booked directly (while still earning 3QFF/$1 on top of the 1QFF/$1 Amex earn), and I was also able to book a better room type that was no longer available for direct booking... The 1.5% was just for room service, which also earned a total of 4QFF/$1

 

[dede]

Domestic or International? I've just discovered www.hotels.com (courtesy of a friend) and found better rates than anywhere else I normally look.
And no, I don't work for them!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Domestic or International?

Domestic - and the $4.95 Qantas CC fee was worth it considering I'd be earning a total of 4QFF/$, which you only receive by using Qantas Hotels or booking with one of their FF partner hotels directly... although I will have a look at hotels.com next time I need to book something - but often find it's cheaper to book directly with a hotel if they don't surcharge and have a "lowest online rates" guarantee

 

[iluvmyamex]

It is interesting that some hotels have decided to surcharge credit cards.
When in fact most hotels will NOT let you check in without you giving them credit card details. Why? In case you run off without paying for something. They then recoup these funds, whether you are guilty or innocent. THIS IS FREE INSURANCE FOR THE HOTEL.
I had a chat with a Hotel Wholesaler recently and he pays a fraction of the rates we pay. Even though he is booking a lot I was stunned at the discount!
As Joe Blow Public you are paying a premium, even when it is a special!
So when a hotel say's it is surcharging credit cards, I say humbug!!!!!!
They want to get their cake and eat it too!!!! and then ask for a second piece.
When you book a hotel ask if they surcharge credit card transactions. If they say yes go somewhere else!!!! A majority of Hotels do not surcharge!!

 

[notzac]

A majority of Hotels do not surcharge!!

Unfortunately, that is changing in Australia. Why? Because the law allows them to surcharge - and it's rapidly becoming an accepted practice. I don't like it, but that's reality for you..

 

[docjames]

The law really should be changed so they cant surcharge more than what they are paying the cc company.....

 

[trippin_the_rift]

The law really should be changed so they cant surcharge more than what they are paying the cc company.....

* trippin_the_rift likes this

(Y)

 

[drron]

And I second,third and fourth the motion.

 

[zzyss]

I agree with the sentiment, but have to admit that the reality that it will never happen.

Why? Because different vendors offer different rates to different businesses. Therefore making surcharging transparent like that would "out" the discrepancies between different businesses.

Not to mention the practical implications of having to work out weird percentages to 1/100th of a percent for small transactions. People would get annoyed at the nickle-and-diming that will inevitably occur (on either side of the transaction).

 

[docjames]

I agree with the sentiment, but have to admit that the reality that it will never happen.

Why? Because different vendors offer different rates to different businesses. Therefore making surcharging transparent like that would "out" the discrepancies between different businesses.

Not to mention the practical implications of having to work out weird percentages to 1/100th of a percent for small transactions. People would get annoyed at the nickle-and-diming that will inevitably occur (on either side of the transaction).

Uh, i doubt many businesses that accept CC operate without a calculator or cash register.....

Wouldnt "outing" the surcharge be a good thing (for consumers and small businesses??)

 

[JohnK]

Hotels pushing any kind of surcharge is VERY poor form IMO.

Extremely poor.

The way it's going, you're gonna run out of hotels to stay at !!

What is wrong with including the commission into the cost of the room rate as a cost of running the business? Don't tell me that debit card users and people paying cash will be disadvantaged by credit cards.

The law really should be changed so they cant surcharge more than what they are paying the cc company.....

Surcharges of any kind should not be allowed. We have weak people in control and these big companies are allowed to get away with anything they want.

Don't forget that we have allowed the credit card society to evolve and we are now paying for gouging that goes on way too often

 

[cove]

I pay cash for taxis because of their ridiculous 10 per cent surcharge.

Sofitel Brisbane have a surcharge so we wont bother going there again.
Vote with your feet and these places will have to figure out why their occupancy is low.

 

[JohnK]

Sofitel Brisbane have a surcharge so we wont bother going there again.
Vote with your feet and these places will have to figure out why their occupancy is low.

Sorry to say this but these places have no idea.

Really I am being serious...

 

[Mal]

I pay cash for taxis because of their ridiculous 10 per cent surcharge.

Yeah it's crazy ... Cabcharge have a lot to answer for (and are currently dealing with the ACCC over a few matters as well )

Sofitel Brisbane have a surcharge so we wont bother going there again.
Vote with your feet and these places will have to figure out why their occupancy is low.

Emailing management / advertising it here / advertising it on other forums (inc. places like Tripadvisor) all help to 'encourage' the hotel to do the right thing.

As a stand, the next time I have an Australian hotel bill I'm considering handing over a wad of $5 notes instead of using Credit Card. It's a pity coins aren't legal tender for that sort of amount as well... otherwise you might see me with a wheelbarrow of 5c pieces

 

[oz_mark]

As a stand, the next time I have an Australian hotel bill I'm considering handing over a wad of $5 notes instead of using Credit Card. It's a pity coins aren't legal tender for that sort of amount as well... otherwise you might see me with a wheelbarrow of 5c pieces

If you want to drive them nuts, just remember $1 and $2 notes are still legal tender

 

[SOPOOR]

I must admit,

credit card surcharging in general doesn't annoy me,
actually depends on how tight the margins are,

if its one of those businesses that have a few % margins, then a surcharge doesn't bother me, and it must be reasonable,

however, when I see Amex charges more, then VISA/MC, this really gets my blood boiling,

I get annoyed at AMEX and diners, they have the guts to charge more as a merchant, thus exploiting their position,

eg if you saw a Mcdonalds charging more because all of the other ones near by had closed down, all hell would break loose,

so when I see these merchants charging more, I feel like boycotting them completely, I probably don't use most of the features of a credit card, and hence it must be the reason why, I see no difference between an AMEX and a MC/Visa,

so in a perfect world, I would love to see Amex and Diners go bankrupt from being boycotted

 

[SOPOOR]

Yeah it's crazy ... Cabcharge have a lot to answer for (and are currently dealing with the ACCC over a few matters as well )



Emailing management / advertising it here / advertising it on other forums (inc. places like Tripadvisor) all help to 'encourage' the hotel to do the right thing.

As a stand, the next time I have an Australian hotel bill I'm considering handing over a wad of $5 notes instead of using Credit Card. It's a pity coins aren't legal tender for that sort of amount as well... otherwise you might see me with a wheelbarrow of 5c pieces

And so is the $5 Coin released in 1988 or around then!!!!!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I pay cash for taxis because of their ridiculous 10 per cent surcharge.

I find it's impossible to get a real tax receipt from ANY taxi driver when paying cash, that's the only reason I use card.

 

[JohnK]

As a stand, the next time I have an Australian hotel bill I'm considering handing over a wad of $5 notes instead of using Credit Card. It's a pity coins aren't legal tender for that sort of amount as well... otherwise you might see me with a wheelbarrow of 5c pieces

Why $5 notes? Remember that a certain amount of coins are still legal tender.

And if the hotel gives you any grief about paying a bill with $1 coins then just say to them you do not have any other means of paying. See how quickly they accept the coins....