topic Re: Credit Card Surcharges in Community Chat

Credit Card Surcharges

Mersha — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:48:12 GMT

I just received an email that my vet is issuing a 2.5% surcharge on all bills paid by credit card. They no longer want to pay the charges as they have in the past.

To avoid the surcharge, they suggest using alternate payment methods such as debit, cash or check. Not many clients will use a check or cash and many do not like debit cards.

Those of us with pets know how high these vet bills can go so the surcharges will be a significant amount. Also, the cost for services are quite high.

This is the first notification I received on surcharges for credit card purchases.

Are you seeing this more now too?

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Love my grandkids — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:55:42 GMT

@Mersha I'm just wondering how you know which clients won't write a check, use cash or a debit card?

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Kachina624 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:56:02 GMT

@Mersha. We've gotten to the sad point where everyone is trying to sc×rew everyone else financially

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

OneHappyHiker — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:09:43 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Mersha. We've gotten to the sad point where everyone is trying to sc×rew everyone else financially

@Kachina624 @Mersha Consider yourselves very lucky that you are only now experiencing what many places have instituted for about four or five years now. There are many places we go throughout the US while travelling that have routinely "warned" us before purchasing anything of these extra charges. They don't want to pay for the convenience of their customers' cc purchases. It's "our" purchase, therefore "we" should pay it ourselves is what it boils down to.

We like using a credit card because we get points which we then use later, we pay the balance off each month, and I always feel there's an added bit of security using a cc v a personal check when it comes down to being sure whatever it is we purchased is exactly as stated. I also don't want all these places having our personal banking info printed checks. I don't use debit cards at all, so I either end up paying that extra $ or use cash. Again, I do like the added protection of using a credit card because if there's a problem with the purchase, we have the cc behind us.

So, nothing new here and I'm happy for you both that this is something new. That means all these years we've been paying the upcharges, you didn't lol. I guess @Kachina624 they've been "trying to scxew" us before you ever knew it haha.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Snowpuppy — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:12:46 GMT

My local hair/nail salon has added a 5% swipe fee a few years ago but I usually use cash and always a cash tip.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

OneHappyHiker — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:20:19 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
My local hair/nail salon has added a 5% swipe fee a few years ago but I usually use cash and always a cash tip.

@Snowpuppy That's HUGE! The highest I've ever seen (so far) is 2.5% at some lawn tractor place. A 5% swipe fee for these higher-priced items REALLY adds up!

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

patbz — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:39:46 GMT

With a Vet, Dental or other medical bill, see if they take Care Credit ( most do) and you can apply online and get approved instantly, if you have decent credit. If your bill is over $300 you can pay for it in monthly installments over 6 mths to 24 months ( depending on amount charged) with no interest. The caveat is that if you don't make timely minimal payments the balance is due with accrued interest ( steep interest). DH, me and my adult son have charged and paid off a total of $50,000 using this. I highly recommend this Credit card.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

shoekitty — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:25:19 GMT

I think sadly, that with rising costs everyone is just trying to make ends meet. I don't think they are trying to shiv us, just making do. I think after Covid, with rising insurance costs, lost business, higher wages, and such there is no way out. I think in many cases rather than raise prices over and over, they tack on charges...and tips, lol! Credit card charges can be stifling. It used to be the cost of doing business. But there was more check, cash business. Now everything is cards. Everything. So few pay cash

those credit , atm surcharges add up. If you are a smaller business it is harder to take off taxes. Banks don't charge us to use our arm, credit card but they charge the business. Many businesses started doing this Covid. I know my vet, hairdresser and plumber have done this since 2021.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Q-Checker — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:28:41 GMT

Two dentists that i have seen, one an oral surgeon, pass all or part of the surcharge on to the patient. In one case, the dentist and the patient each pay 50% of the surcharge. I think that more and more places will be passing the surcharge on to the consumer in the future.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

shoekitty — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:29:37 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
My local hair/nail salon has added a 5% swipe fee a few years ago but I usually use cash and always a cash tip.

@Snowpuppy I think 5% is a little high. Standard fees are 2-3.5% But it does encourage people to,pay cash. I had a plumbing job of 7500. There was a fee of 2.5% for credit card, even atm. You can bet I whipped that check book out quick. lol.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

shoekitty — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:35:01 GMT

I also think many of us just use our cards for convenience or points businesses know this. I have started to carry cash, not more than I can afford to loose...but enough to get around. I laugh because sometimes the young kids have trouble counting back cash in small stores where the cash register may not tell them. lol. Or they have trouble counting money. My mom used to teache me to count back money with her. It was fun, and good math lesson.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Snowpuppy — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:35:17 GMT

It pays to shop around. Don't pay ATM fees, you can find a better bank, credit union, etc with 0 fees and free checks.

Is nobody asking for a discount using cash? Pumber, carpenter, handyman, landscape/snow removal services?

Sheesh! 🤔

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

AuntMame — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:38:31 GMT

Both my dentist and car mechanic recently informed customers that there would be a 3 percent swipe fee. They said the credit card companies have been raising the fees so high they have little choice. At least they're giving customers a choice rather than raising prices. I'm sure restaurants and retail stores have added the fees to their prices.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

shoekitty — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:04 GMT

@AuntMame wrote:
Both my dentist and car mechanic recently informed customers that there would be a 3 percent swipe fee. They said the credit card companies have been raising the fees so high they have little choice. At least they're giving customers a choice rather than raising prices. I'm sure restaurants and retail stores have added the fees to their prices.

@AuntMame I am sure that some restaurants amd small business can't afford new menus, or to recode all merchandise. So they just add the fees, easier. My dentist added the fees too last year. I think businesses are seeing people either pay fees or give cash. I can't blame them if I was in their shoes

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Kachina624 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:04:42 GMT

@OneHappyHiker. I can always whip out a check at warp speed. I always have my checkbook with me.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Mersha — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:29:25 GMT

@Love my grandkids wrote:
@Mersha I'm just wondering how you know which clients won't write a check, use cash or a debit card?

@Love my grandkids My children never carry much cash and would NEVER write a check while out and about for anything.

Last time, at the grocery store, I wrote a check and the clerk looked at me with a perplexed face. A manager had to help him deal with it. That was last time check writing.

Using a credit card is a no brainer as most earn rewards when paying a bill.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:16:04 GMT

@Mersha

I've always had a check in my wallet with a blank post it note and write the number on it.

If I need to write a check, which isn't very often, I can just jot down the dollar amount. That's enough to jog my memory if I don't put down who it was written to. I put the post-it in my wallet or phone.

IMO, a check is a good emergency method for an unexpected expense.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

OneHappyHiker — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:21:24 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@OneHappyHiker. I can always whip out a check at warp speed. I always have my checkbook with me.

@Kachina624 LOL Best part of this is picturing you whipping out that checkbook at warp speed! haha

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

rms1954 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:30:48 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Mersha. We've gotten to the sad point where everyone is trying to sc×rew everyone else financially

I don't think it's that "everyone is trying to screw everyone." I think businesses are finially in a position that they can breathe easier and now they need to recoup their losses.

Re: Credit Card Surcharges

Jk9 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 06:42:23 GMT

We're seeing that more often around our area. Our vet has had the surcharge in place for months now. Our propane provider is the same and those bills are large when our propane tank is filled. Several restaurants charge more for credit cards and so do other vendors. We write checks so that isn't a big problem for us but it does prevent our getting points on a our credit card as much as we did.

I still have checks and keep several in my handbag in case needed.