AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[JohnK]

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.

Would you like a real tax receipt for a taxi trip you have never taken?

From my understanding, and experience, a taxi receipt written on the back of the taxi business card is real....

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Would you like a real tax receipt for a taxi trip you have never taken?

From my understanding, and experience, a taxi receipt written on the back of the taxi business card is real....

Yeah those back of the card specials "$15.40 ride from XX to YYY" miss all of the information required on a legal tax receipt... ABN, date, GST amount....

I have to prompt the drivers for a *Real* receipt each time. Usually the line `I work for the ATO and this does not suffice as a legal tax receipt` does the trick.

Real receipts are printed from the machine and include all their information including abn, gst, time, cab# etc... Anything else won't pass an audit.

 

[oz_mark]

Yeah those back of the card specials "$15.40 ride from XX to YYY" miss all of the information required on a legal tax receipt... ABN, date, GST amount....

Is a tax receipt required for a $15.40 purchase?

 

[Mal]

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

What a great idea! Although getting the front desk person to recognise what they are might be a little difficult (depending on their age).

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

RBA: Legal Tender

According to the Reserve Bank Act 1959, Australian banknotes are legal tender. According to the Currency Act 1965, coins are legal tender for payment of amounts which are limited as follows:

* not exceeding 20c if 1c and/or 2c coins are offered (however, it should be noted that these coins have been withdrawn from circulation but are still legal tender);
* not exceeding $5 if any of 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c coins are offered;
* not exceeding 10 times the face value if coins in the range 50c to $10 inclusive are offered; and
* to any value if coins of value greater than $10 are offered.

But also keep in mind that Australia doesn't have a blanket rule (like some countries) that people *must* accept legal tender for debt.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

But also keep in mind that Australia doesn't have a blanket rule (like some countries) that people *must* accept legal tender for debt.

Then how could the law/courts enforce a debt if a one does not need to accept legal tender?

 

[Mal]

Then how could the law/courts enforce a debt if a one does not need to accept legal tender?

I'll defer back to the RBA's general advice:

It is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s understanding that, although Australian currency has legal tender status, it does not necessarily have to be used in transactions and that refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful. This is the case even where an existing debt is involved. However, a refusal to accept legal tender in payment of an existing debt, where no other means of payment/settlement has been specified in advance, conceivably could have consequences in legal proceedings, i.e. the creditor may be unable to enforce payment in any other form.

It appears that the provider of goods or services is at liberty to set the commercial terms upon which payment will take place before the ‘contract’ is entered into. For example, some toll collection points indicate by signs that they will not accept low denomination coins. If a provider of goods or services specifies other means of payment prior to the contract, then there is usually no obligation for legal tender to be accepted as payment.

 

[Skyring]

A sad situation last night. Called to "Butterfly Girls" in Fyshwick after midnight, a very disconsolate young man emerged. He asked if I took Amex, and on learning that my Taxi EFTPOS terminal (what does the "POS" stand for, i wonder) fed on them quite happily, he told me that he had been to three establishments and none of them did.

"Why don't you go to an ATM and get some cash out? They take cash, yeah?"

"I don't know my PIN," he confessed.

So there you have it, gents. You want to learn and remember your PIN before travelling to a strange land where you want a bit of female company without any long term commitment greater than (say) fifteen minutes.

Five minutes would have been pushing it with this bloke, and I was glad that I was middle-aged and no longer quite so attractive. Any female cabbie would have been in dire straits.

Or maybe not. He was quite young and handsome, just short of a PIN.

Oh well, at least I could give him a ride without needing to check money before he got in.

 

[Skyring]

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.

That's ridiculous. I've been driving since 2006 and from Day One I was issuing legal tax receipts, with details of trip, fare paid, my name, ABN etc. Just hit the "Cash Receipt" button on the EFTPOS terminal, enter the amount and it spits you out a real one. I have to enter my license number and ABN before I can log on.

 

[one9]

Yeah those back of the card specials "$15.40 ride from XX to YYY" miss all of the information required on a legal tax receipt... ABN, date, GST amount....

I have to prompt the drivers for a *Real* receipt each time. Usually the line `I work for the ATO and this does not suffice as a legal tax receipt` does the trick.

Real receipts are printed from the machine and include all their information including abn, gst, time, cab# etc... Anything else won't pass an audit.

The taxi driver has no obligation to give you a "real" tax invoice unless the fare is over $82.50.

A credit card receipt or invoice on the back of the taxi business card is sufficient for tax purposes to claim the GST providing the amount is under $82.50.

It is only for amounts over $82.50 where a proper tax invoice must be issued showing ABN, the words tax invoice, GST amount etc.

For more info see: Valid tax invoices and GST credits

 

[ChrisFlyer]

EFTPOS terminal (what does the "POS" stand for, i wonder)

The whole acronym stands for "Electronic Funds Transfer at Point-of-Sale"

 

[rwatts]

The whole acronym stands for "Electronic Funds Transfer at Point-of-Sale"

I think many of us believe in the case of taxi EFTPOS terminals, the "POS" stands for something entirely different !

Richard.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I think many of us believe in the case of taxi EFTPOS terminals, the "POS" stands for something entirely different !

Richard.

Haha ohhh I get it now... Little slow this morning... lol

 

[drewbles]

Would you like a real tax receipt for a taxi trip you have never taken?

From my understanding, and experience, a taxi receipt written on the back of the taxi business card is real....

Every time i've asked for one, they pickup their EFTPOS machine, put in a few things and it spits out a tax invoice, that's when paying cash. The machines in some cabs (not sure about all) have the ability to print out receipts only for cash-paid fares. Makes sense, but most cab drivers probably don't know or are too slack (most just throw you a business card and tell you to fill it in yourself).

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Every time i've asked for one, they pickup their EFTPOS machine, put in a few things and it spits out a tax invoice, that's when paying cash. The machines in some cabs (not sure about all) have the ability to print out receipts only for cash-paid fares. Makes sense, but most cab drivers probably don't know or are too slack (most just throw you a business card and tell you to fill it in yourself).

I've also had (many times) 'oh sorry the machine is broken' :-|

 

[NM]

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.

While a credit card (or substantial cash deposit) may be required at check-in, there is no requirement to actually pay the bill with the credit card that is presented at check-in.

Some people change to a different card to pay the bill as they don't want the "pre-authorisation" on their "working" card. Other change to a different form of payment - cash, EFT (from savings account) etc. The surcharge can easily be voided even though a credit card was used as a security "deposit" at check-in.

 

[Flashback]

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.

I've never had any issues....

 

[oz_mark]

I've never had any issues....

My experience is that the machines in Melbourne taxi's are as unreliable as most infrastructure in the city.

 

[Flashback]

My experience is that the machines in Melbourne taxi's are as unreliable as most infrastructure in the city.

Melbourne I've always been given a hand written one... never had a machine generated one!

 

[oz_mark]

Melbourne I've always been given a hand written one... never had a machine generated one!

Same here - although there has been a bit of a crackdown on 'broken' machines lately.

 

[Flashback]

Just received this e-mail:

Dear Flashware,

If you've ever been charged extra for using your Card, rest assured we are working hard to change this practice. We have a dedicated team working with businesses to stop surcharging, and we're happy to announce that we have already convinced thousands of merchants across Australia.

Check our mapping tool and you'll see that in your area your Card is now more welcome at Europcar, Bed Bath n Table, and Strathfield. You can also search by postcode or category to find other businesses that warmly welcome your Card. Plus, while you're there, you can also find out more about surcharging and the great steps we're taking for you to enjoy more places to use your Card everyday. We hope you find this information helpful.