AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[SOPOOR]

I pay my strata at AP using EFTPOS gift cards.

I play dumb and clumsy at the counter, so the staffs always roll their eyes thinking "another dumb customer who is going to take forever" and they would daydream or get distracted to realise I'm using EFTPOS card.

which ones are you using?

 

[Chicken]

Haven't had any luck at the counter 'those gift cards aren't intended to be used for bill payments sir' - they're especially on the lookout for Westfield XS cards.

The eftpos functionality has been removed from self serve at all the post offices I used to pay bills with Eftpos GCs. Interested if there are still any that work in Sydney.

I have to pay at the counter, since my strata is over $2000. It would take forever if I split into multiple payments.

I just put on the slow and clumsy theatre act, that 80 year old whose brain is operating at 30% of your speed. The staffs always roll their eyes then either start doing something else, or just daydream. Yep, I do this at different post offices, and met with the same reaction every time.

Why am I doing stupid corporate work? I should join the Sydney Theatre Company!

which ones are you using?

Think Eastfield card but bigger! They are actually cheaper than Eastfield cards.

 

[OzEire]

I've got a feeling these deft charges won't be reducing with interchange cuts. The only thing reducing will be the points we are making. Looks like back to BPay for strata
Probably worth one more pre-emotive payment before the new regime comes in.

Most issuers seem to be eliminating points from BPay as well.

I have also found that the definition of "government transaction" can be quite broadly applied to private bus companies, privatised utilities and AusPost... usually things that were once government owned. But that's like saying Telstra is a government department.

 

[albyd]

Most issuers seem to be eliminating points from BPay as well.

Last one to have it was Coles MC. That's gone now too. Many BPay billers have specifically not allowed BPay from CC. I recall there was a certain broker that was allowing it and no charge so I minted some points. Sadly, that opportunity is no longer available.
Looks like no points from BPay and from non CC accounts from now on.

 

[penegal]

Seems to be a theme here.

I paid my 1 June DEFT levies today. I write $2.75 on the bill, then add it up for them. Most AP operators have now been trained to remind customers of the fee which is good.

FWIW, This is still a great way to massively reduce the CC fees on levies for those in the knoseee.

 

[coriander]

Just re-adjusting my TPG FTTB account - noted "Customers who provide TPG with an American Express or Diners Club card for payment will incur a surcharge of 3.13% and 2.75% (incl. GST) of the payment amount respectively when TPG debits the card."

 

[cove]

This week our business received a merchant offer of 1.5% fee for taking Amex cards. We do quite a lot of Visa and MasterCard Premium card transactions for our customers who want to travel.

 

[whatmeworry]

Found out my Dentist no longer takes AMEX. He used to be on the AMEX shop small list.

 

[TheInsider]

Just saw that NewsLink at the airports is now accepting AMEX again!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just saw that NewsLink at the airports is now accepting AMEX again!

Given the prices they charge I'm sure they can afford it!

 

[djchuckles]

Given the prices they charge I'm sure they can afford it!

Weird thing is mo surcharge for Amex but there is for Visa and MasterCard!

 

[Danger UXB]

Greetings all.
Are Sensis classified as utilities and therefore only 0.5 points per dollar?
Thanks in advance

 

[moa999]

This week our business received a merchant offer of 1.5% fee for taking Amex cards. We do quite a lot of Visa and MasterCard Premium card transactions for our customers who want to travel.

Interesting.
Saw a post elsewhere where Amex offered to lower from 2.99% to 2 5% but only if any surcharge was no more than Visa/MAC, otherwise would increase to 3.5%

 

[daft009]

we're getting the odd customer wanting to pay by amex.
tried to open a merchant account with amex, got the forms easy enough, they were chasing me a couple of times/day to ensure I got the forms back to them ASAP and offered me 2.2%.

Once I finally did, no replies, no responses, tried calling "someone will call you back". After 2 months got sick of waiting.

Opened a square account which does amex with 1.9% or 2.2% if over phone/email, in a matter of minutes. boom! done!

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

Had to pay for a tertiary conference registration for work: CC was the only form of payment and there was a 3% surcharge on all cards (AMEX, Visa and MC). GTFOH!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Had to pay for a tertiary conference registration for work: CC was the only form of payment and there was a 3% surcharge on all cards (AMEX, Visa and MC). GTFOH!

That's illegal - you can't advertise a price (such as the conference cost) but have no way that people can pay that price without also being charged an unavoidable fee.

If a surcharge is applied to specific kinds of payment, there needs to be at least one payment method that attracts no surcharge: otherwise the total price (including the surcharge) needs to be the advertised price (similar to how Aussie airlines have to advertise fares inclusive of all taxes, or how prices quoted to the public must include GST, as these are unavoidable charges).

Depending on the size of the conference company, a 3% surcharge on Visa & MC may also be excessive and in breach of the new RBA regs which came in last year for larger businesses, or which apply to all business from later this year.

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

That's illegal - you can't advertise a price (such as the conference cost) but have no way that people can pay that price without also being charged an unavoidable fee.

If a surcharge is applied to specific kinds of payment, there needs to be at least one payment method that attracts no surcharge: otherwise the total price (including the surcharge) needs to be the advertised price (similar to how Aussie airlines have to advertise fares inclusive of all taxes, or how prices quoted to the public must include GST, as these are unavoidable charges).

Depending on the size of the conference company, a 3% surcharge on Visa & MC may also be excessive and in breach of the new RBA regs which came in last year for larger businesses, or which apply to all business from later this year.

Agreed on all fronts but what can be done? The conference is held independently across the world every 2 years so there is no one organisation responsible for registration. It's up to individuals in the host country and changes each time.

 

[Dr Ralph]

That's illegal - you can't advertise a price (such as the conference cost) but have no way that people can pay that price without also being charged an unavoidable fee.

This only applies to transactions which occur inside of Australia. If the conference/transaction was processed internationally then it is not bound by Australia law.

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

This only applies to transactions which occur inside of Australia. If the conference/transaction was processed internationally then it is not bound by Australia law.

The conference is being organised within Australia (by Aussies). It will be somewhere else in the world next time. But I digress as the point of this is that this feels like blatant gouging.

 

[CaviAck]

That's illegal - you can't advertise a price (such as the conference cost) but have no way that people can pay that price without also being charged an unavoidable fee.

If a surcharge is applied to specific kinds of payment, there needs to be at least one payment method that attracts no surcharge: otherwise the total price (including the surcharge) needs to be the advertised price (similar to how Aussie airlines have to advertise fares inclusive of all taxes, or how prices quoted to the public must include GST, as these are unavoidable charges).

Depending on the size of the conference company, a 3% surcharge on Visa & MC may also be excessive and in breach of the new RBA regs which came in last year for larger businesses, or which apply to all business from later this year.

So how does Regional Express get away with not offering a fee free option as well as not disclosing the internet booking fee in the advertised price online?