Community Chat

[Mersha]

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?

[Love my grandkids]

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

[Kachina624]

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

[OneHappyHiker]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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

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@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.

[Snowpuppy]

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.

[OneHappyHiker]

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@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.

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@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!

[patbz]

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.

[shoekitty]

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. 

[Q-Checker]

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.

[shoekitty]

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@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.

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@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.