topic Re: Discovercard ? in Community Chat

Discovercard ?

happycat — Sun, 28 May 2017 19:43:14 GMT

I only have a discovercard that I use for my online shopping. Twice recently, I have found an item I wanted to purchase, and the online merchant doesn't take discover. I know I can get a prepaid visa card. My question is however, are more places not accepting Discover?

Last week I had gone to my dermatologist and noticed they don't take Discover either.

Kind of thinking I might need to get a Visa or Amex.

Re: Discovercard ?

gidgetgh — Sun, 28 May 2017 19:52:01 GMT

We've had Discover for about 7 years. I've only run into one place that hasn't accepted it, my dermatologist's office. They accept only MasterCard and Visa.

Re: Discovercard ?

Pearlee — Sun, 28 May 2017 20:03:04 GMT

@happycat I have had my Discover card since the 1980s so I know for a fact that a lot fewer places used to accept it than accept it now. I used to always have to ask whether a merchant took or not, and oftentimes the answer was no. I haven't had to do that in many years because so many more places accept it now.

The reason was - at least when I used to get a lot of "no" answers - that Discover charged the merchants more than other credit card companies. So does Am Ex from what I understand. So places are more less inclined to take those two cards than others. Although,as I say, this has changed a lot since the 1980s.

I love my Discover card because it has a program like Ebates and Mr. Rebates where, if I link to a site through Discover Deals, I get rebates back. In fact, my Discover card gives 5% back on QVC purchages, although per the terms you can't use EZ pays or autodeliveries - you have to charge the full amount of the purchase from the get-go. But Discover Deals are good lots of places.

Re: Discovercard ?

Patlv — Sun, 28 May 2017 20:07:10 GMT

I also have run into some stores that do not take Discover and when I asked why they explained to me that their Merchant fees are more than Visa or MasterCard. Those stores have to pay a percentage or more to provide Discover services and thus elect not to offer Discover charges.

Re: Discovercard ?

Kachina624 — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:32:45 GMT

Don't try to use Discover in Canada either. They never heard of it and don't know what you're talking about.

Re: Discovercard ?

happycat — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:41:23 GMT

Thanks for your replies. Glad I'm not the only one noticing this. Thanks for the heads up as to why this is, too.

I think its time I look for another card.

Re: Discovercard ?

FrostyBabe1 — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:50:20 GMT

I don't use my Discover card that much, but do know that their merchant fees are pretty high. Friends of mine own a resort in Florida and the only credit cards that they accept are VISA and MasterCard. The merchant fees for Discover & AMEX are, in their words, "outrageous".

Re: Discovercard ?

gidgetgh — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:52:47 GMT

I love Discover cards points program and also their 5% cash back Discover Deals program.

I have an American Express also and a Visa and the points are better on Discover.

Re: Discovercard ?

SilleeMee — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:53:56 GMT

Chase Freedom Unlimited pays 1.5% cash back on ALL purchases. I love it.

Re: Discovercard ?

Billie1953 — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:57:28 GMT

The way around that is to have a paypal account, then you can use whatever card you add into your account.

Re: Discovercard ?

scatcat — Sun, 28 May 2017 22:19:59 GMT

It is not widely accepted in Eurpope either. We have both Discover and Visa for that reason. Both cards have benefits (cash back, hotel points)

Re: Discovercard ?

wingnut — Mon, 29 May 2017 00:10:52 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Don't try to use Discover in Canada either. They never heard of it and don't know what you're talking about.

That's strange. I spent 2 months in Canada last year and used my Discover card frequently.

Re: Discovercard ?

Mistreatedbycs — Mon, 29 May 2017 02:41:10 GMT

I am a merchant and I accept Visa/Mastercard and Debit only.

The merchant is paying for your cashback bonus, it's collected in fee's charged.

Please note for any card that has rewards attached to it, the merchant is paying for your rewards in fees collected.

By the time all the fee's are charged for clearing through various places, it cost me about 5%, sometimes more depending on what credit cards my customers have.

Re: Discovercard ?

truffle — Mon, 29 May 2017 03:02:02 GMT

I used my discovercard once for a q purchase that was on ezp and when it came time to bill the 2nd month, discover didn't pay it. I think their fraud division is so stringent they are going overboard and I promptly removed them from ezp. In fact I seldom use the card at all because I don't like to get phoned constantly asking if the purchase was made by me. They really overkill and should have a monetary guideline so small purchases are not impacted. I did find their settings to stop the incessant calls to me but it was a pain and just administrative stuff I had no time for. I've never been hacked on Discover ever and had the card for many, many years.

Re: Discovercard ?

happycat — Mon, 29 May 2017 03:13:27 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs, I don't blame you one bit. This has been rather enlightening. I wouldn't have thought that there would be such discrepancies in the amount of fee's these companies charge.

Re: Discovercard ?

happycat — Mon, 29 May 2017 03:18:37 GMT

@truffle, that would tick me off, since they had paid it the first time and you didn't complain. Crazy.

In all the many years I have had my card, I think they have called me once to check on a charge and another time, they said my card had been compromised and cancelled the old one and sent me a new one.

Re: Discovercard ?

sunshine45 — Mon, 29 May 2017 03:29:41 GMT

our business accepts visa/mc/discover/amex.

we dont mind taking visa, mc, and discover, but we discourage the use of amex whenever possible. we are not supposed to, but we dont like dealing with amex.

they take a higher percentage out AND the money is always processed at least a day later than the other three.

discover card is becoming MORE acceptable in canada. you can go to their site to see where you can use it.

Re: Discovercard ?

phoenixbrd — Mon, 29 May 2017 03:54:57 GMT

Love Chase Visa travel card....use it for everything, pay it off every month and get travel miles.