Credit & Debit Card Charges

[sprayermick]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but i could swear that I heard on the news a week or two ago that apart from a few pennies or minor charges it was to become illegal to charge for paying by credit/debit cards, on my work travels I called in at a country petrol station yesterday to get fuel and noticed a sign saying "surcharge £2 if paying by credit card" I left and decided to call in at a small local pub for lunch, upon reading the menu it also had at the bottom add £1 if settling your bill by debit or credit card,can they do this?

[AlwaysConfused]

It seems they are still within their rights to do so

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12430635

[Old_Geezer]

Even debit card ? Unexpected. Blow that, were it important to me to pay by card then I'd eat elsewhere in future. That said the cost of a pub lunch ought not need a card. Do they never allow folk on, say a leaving do, put a card behind the bar to run a tab, without charge ?

[New Judge]

Most holiday operators and travel agents charge 2% for using a credit card (though most make no charge for using a debit card). This means £20 extra on a £1k holiday. I don't know of any plans to legislate against this practice.

[ABerrant]

A ban on "excessive" debit and credit card charges began on Saturday 6 April 2013. Under the new rules, payment surcharges will have to reflect the actual cost to the retailer of processing the card transaction. The new rules are being brought in earlier than the rest of the EU Consumer Rights Directive, because of the concern that was first raised by Which?

However, there are a number of sectors which are excluded from the new rules. Very small businesses and companies just starting out will not be subject to the rules until June 2014.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22042309

http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175298/13-719-guidance-on-the-consumer-protection-payment-surcharges-regulations-2012.pdf

[New Judge]

Well I never! I must try to keep up !! Thanks for the info, AB.

I note that traders will still be able to levy charges but that they must reflect actual costs incurred. I imagine this will therefore not prevent the likes of travel companies recovering the costs the credit card companies make on their transactions.