well, how about that

[lauralh]

from the Visa Corporate FAQ

Can merchants set a minimum purchase or charge a fee for using my Visa card?
Visa has certain regulations that all merchants that accept Visa cards must follow. One of those rules is that Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items.

If you run into a problem like this with a merchant, please notify your Visa card-issuing bank. Visa member banks have access to the appropriate Visa rules and regulations as well as to the Notification of Customer Complaint forms which should be used by the bank to document and file merchant complaints.

Comments

[llarian.livejournal.com]

Huh, I'll be damned.

[perich.livejournal.com]

Interesting. If I ever want to screw over a dozen different take-out pizzerias I know where to go.

[chris.livejournal.com]

hmm, too bad a lot of the places that do that I actually like and wouldn't want to screw over. I wonder if *they* know that though.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

the only places I would screw over would be bars or bigger restaurants

[jimbojones.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

Also, knowing that many of those same places have a flat cost per transaction as well as a percentage cost per transaction, I don't think it's unreasonable for them not to want to, for example, incur a $0.25 transaction charge on a $2.50 purchase with no recompense. (It's ALSO against Visa's rules to charge extra to take Visa. Although some people get around that by offering "Cash Discounts" instead.)

[endquote.livejournal.com]

Maybe you can explain something else I've been wondering -- how come some places make me sign for charge purchases (pagliacci) but others don't (starbucks, pretty much anyplace in an airport)?

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

I think under a certain amount (say $10 or so) there's no need to sign.

[jimbojones.livejournal.com]

Signing is never actually required to put a charge on your card; it just makes it more difficult for you to try to screw the store later by claiming that you never made the purchase. "Well isn't that your signature?" Etc.

[xaotica.livejournal.com]

i wonder if that's referring specifically to credit vs. debit? 'cause i'm pretty sure the fees to the merchant are different based on which it is...

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

the story that prompted me to do the research was based on a credit card. He got a pizzaria's visa merchant account taken away b/c they had the min. purchase thing.

[crumblingchaos.livejournal.com]

I don't take a whole lot of stock into visa "rules"

For instance you're not supposed to have to show ID when you purchase something with a visa, but I can't remember the last time I wasn't asked to show ID.

[crumblingchaos.livejournal.com]

Further more I'm pretty sure, but not certain that even Mickey Dee's charged a fee for using a visa card at least until a little while ago.

I love how VISA doesn't answer the fee part. They mention it in the question, but the answer doesn't mention the fee at all.

I can't imagine the extra fee for using visa being against the rules because so many companies do it. Like if you pay for a lapdance at Ricks with a visa then 10% automatically goes to Ricks so you have to compensate by getting an additional amount out so the bouncers don't bounce you. Okay, so I don't know if they actually would if you refused to pay that extra 10%, but I'm not going to try to find out.

[hotcrab.livejournal.com]

i only getasked for id at the mall, but then again, i'm ancient

[pootrootbeer.livejournal.com]

The only time I've ever been asked for ID when paying by credit card was once at the FYE music store at the mall.

If they do it again, I won't hesitate to cite their merchant account agreement.

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

Yes, just about all credit cards make merchant agreements contingent on them taking the credit card for any purchase amount, no matter how small. The hand-lettered signs saying "minimum $10 for credit card" are violations of that agreement.

I've been tempted to report them, or at least say something, but since it's usually at some kind of mom-and-pop store or takeout place, I'd feel bad to do it, because they have to pay the cost for my convenience. But it does make me less likely to go back.