AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[cdp88]

Saw an interesting surcharge and card use policy this weekend. At a holiday apartment complex credit cards only accepted for $50 and above transactions. Usual Amex surcharge but the amount 4% seems a bit excessive.

 

[drewbles]

I can't think of any local (WA) petrol stations that surcharge. The one caltex that started near me stopped after about 6 months. Not sure why, but the coles nearby was consistently among the cheapest in the state so maybe they needed to get more competitive rather than less.

Caltex on Beach Road (cnr Duffy) in Carine surcharges. They were at 10% once upon a time, and MC/VC was 5%! My jaw dropped when I saw that. I believe it's lower now, but last time I filled up there (probably 12 months ago) I used a fleet card.

 

[mannej]

Caltex on Beach Road (cnr Duffy) in Carine surcharges. They were at 10% once upon a time, and MC/VC was 5%! My jaw dropped when I saw that. I believe it's lower now, but last time I filled up there (probably 12 months ago) I used a fleet card.

That is bordering on Ridiculous. I am aware that certain Woolworths Caltex Stores around that area did not accept (Connolly comes to mind), however since the new EFTPOS system came into place (i.e the $35 and under= no pin), they do accept AMEX.

 

[elemist]

Been to two different fuel stations in the last week or two, both surcharged for Amex.

BP Bull Creek - 2%
Caltex Byford - 2% (i think it was 2%) will check next time im out that way.

 

[Cynicor]

They no llonger surcharge, the Carine caltex is the station to which I was referring. it only lasted a few months, but the Amex surcharge was ~4% and visa/mc were lower. With the Coles express round the corner, they couldn't afford to surcharge for long, I'm sure.

 

[flight2010]

I started using Amex for nearly a month now and really happy with Amex acceptance. Except for the pie face shop in the Melb CBD accepts Amex but with surcharge, and the butcher shop (they dont even accept CC), and the take away shop closed to work - in fact they accept CC but they were super busy and I was too embarrassed to ask if they accept Amex (under $10/meal so I dont expect much).

 

[lovestotravel]

I was at a restaurant the other night, ended up just ordering 2 x coffee's and a dessert... It was $17..... There was a big blue Amex sticker near the register.

I pulled out the Amex and he pulled a face and muttered about the 3% surcharge and asked that I pay via another card. I said no.

He took the card and then said "It's a $20 minimum for Amex"

I said well I have no other way to pay

He advised me to go to the ATM next door while leaving my car keys and wallet with him

I said no

I offered to pay $20 instead of the $ 17.51 that the bill would come to.

He still said no

So I just sat down and said I have no other way to pay, I have no money in my bank account and want to use Amex.

He called someone else across, they ended up putting the $17 through my Amex, so no surcharge either

That being said I will never go back there as it was bad coffee and service as well.

 

[snailstail]

I was at a restaurant the other night, ended up just ordering 2 x coffee's and a dessert... It was $17..... There was a big blue Amex sticker near the register.

I pulled out the Amex and he pulled a face and muttered about the 3% surcharge and asked that I pay via another card. I said no.

He took the card and then said "It's a $20 minimum for Amex"

I said well I have no other way to pay

He advised me to go to the ATM next door while leaving my car keys and wallet with him

I said no

I offered to pay $20 instead of the $ 17.51 that the bill would come to.

He still said no

So I just sat down and said I have no other way to pay, I have no money in my bank account and want to use Amex.

He called someone else across, they ended up putting the $17 through my Amex, so no surcharge either

That being said I will never go back there as it was bad coffee and service as well.

Where was this?

 

[straitman]

I was at a restaurant the other night, ended up just ordering 2 x coffee's and a dessert... It was $17..... There was a big blue Amex sticker near the register.

I pulled out the Amex and he pulled a face and muttered about the 3% surcharge and asked that I pay via another card. I said no.

He took the card and then said "It's a $20 minimum for Amex"

I said well I have no other way to pay

He advised me to go to the ATM next door while leaving my car keys and wallet with him

I said no

I offered to pay $20 instead of the $ 17.51 that the bill would come to.

He still said no

So I just sat down and said I have no other way to pay, I have no money in my bank account and want to use Amex.

He called someone else across, they ended up putting the $17 through my Amex, so no surcharge either

That being said I will never go back there as it was bad coffee and service as well.

Where was this?

Another one to avoid.

For the bad coffee as much as the Amex issue :!:

 

[kyle]

Made a $30 instore purchase at Rebel Sport. After the card is swiped, the LCD display on the EFTPOS terminal actually says what the surcharge amount is (2%), and asks you to accept or not. So ended up being $30.60

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Guessing they had an NAB terminal? And that's interesting - the Rebel Sport in Westfield Chermside doesn't surcharge (as at about 2 weeks ago)


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[kyle]

Guessing they had an NAB terminal? And that's interesting - the Rebel Sport in Westfield Chermside doesn't surcharge (as at about 2 weeks ago)


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

Not sure if it's an NAB terminal, but it looks like the ones at BP with large hard plastic buttons. I was at Rebel Sport, Westfield Doncaster VIC.

 

[Alanslegal]

I have no problems at all with surcharging - they can charge whatever they want - as long as the merchant makes full disclosure prior to purchase.

 

[pointsjunkie]

I was at a restaurant the other night, ended up just ordering 2 x coffee's and a dessert... It was $17..... There was a big blue Amex sticker near the register.

I pulled out the Amex and he pulled a face and muttered about the 3% surcharge and asked that I pay via another card. I said no.

He took the card and then said "It's a $20 minimum for Amex"

I said well I have no other way to pay

He advised me to go to the ATM next door while leaving my car keys and wallet with him

I said no

I offered to pay $20 instead of the $ 17.51 that the bill would come to.

He still said no

So I just sat down and said I have no other way to pay, I have no money in my bank account and want to use Amex.

He called someone else across, they ended up putting the $17 through my Amex, so no surcharge either

That being said I will never go back there as it was bad coffee and service as well.

Love it! Well done for holding your ground! They don't expect people to be like that so I usually find when I'm firm, they give in - it's just the principle, I hate letting them win when they haven't communicated it properly and have silly rules. They don't seem to get it that they immediately lose a customer for life... so short-sighted!

 

[Moopere]

I have no problems at all with surcharging - they can charge whatever they want - as long as the merchant makes full disclosure prior to purchase.

Yes, I think I'm the same - though I had to consider for a while. I'm so used to feeling negative about surcharging I had to sit for a moment to remember _why_ it annoys me. You are right, its the lack of disclosure. Even when there is a tiny sign at checkout, its not enough (in my view) because I've already wasted time and shopped by then and the merchant is inviting a really negative response when he 'springs' this on me.

Merchants themselves must be well aware of how much it annoys customers else they'd put big and unambiguous signs up near the front door "we charge for credit cards" or something similar.

I've no problem with leaving my shopping behind and not going through with a sale in principle, but being generally time poor as I am I shop with purpose (haha) and having shopped need to get those purchases somewhere so they can be used, leaving the transaction behind and shopping somewhere else is pretty inconvenient ... no to mention that giving back ones business lunch is a tad difficult too (!).

Anyway, long rant shortened, if we are to continue to have legal surcharging I'd be in favour of government, through its various retail oversight bodies, making it compulsory to ensure there is adequate signage so customers don't get trapped at the till.

 

[lovestotravel]

Even when there is a tiny sign at checkout, its not enough (in my view) because I've already wasted time and shopped by then and the merchant is inviting a really negative response when he 'springs' this on me.

I've no problem with leaving my shopping behind and not going through with a sale in principle, but being generally time poor as I am I shop with purpose (haha) and having shopped need to get those purchases somewhere so they can be used, leaving the transaction behind and shopping somewhere else is pretty inconvenient ... no to mention that giving back ones business lunch is a tad difficult too (!).

Anyway, long rant shortened, if we are to continue to have legal surcharging I'd be in favour of government, through its various retail oversight bodies, making it compulsory to ensure there is adequate signage so customers don't get trapped at the till.

Totally agree!!!

I do walk out or create a small scene, as per my post above

If Amex did not have so many bonus rewards/points offers I wouldn't waste my time with them!

 

[docjames]

Intercontinental Fiji.

3% all CC's. Amex included!

 

[notzac]

Anyway, long rant shortened, if we are to continue to have legal surcharging I'd be in favour of government, through its various retail oversight bodies, making it compulsory to ensure there is adequate signage so customers don't get trapped at the till.

Agreed completely. Merchants should be required to have those credit card stickers at the entrance, along with any surcharge or minimums posted in the same place. That way, if the credit card usage conditions don't suit me I can go shop elsewhere without wasting my time in that store.

 

[straitman]

Intercontinental Fiji.

3% all CC's. Amex included!

Many places in Fiji are 3% on all CC.

 

[TonyHancock]

Amex not accepted by Doyle's at Watson's Bay.