Community Chat

[CalminHeart]

I didn't see anyone chide people about wanting paper statements from Synchrony.  I think they were saying it's your choice to pay the fee, go online/paperless, or don't use the credit card.

Paying for paper statements has been the norm with many banks and credit card companies for at least 20 years. 

I investigated fraud for many years. I love the idea of my statements and personal info not going throukgh the mail.

If one is concerned about online fraud, scams, etc, there are countless ways to help mitigate it, many electronic and some just common sense use of the internet. It's each person's responsibility to learn about them and choose the best option for them.

[occasionalrain]

Discover doesn't charge for paper statements, so I moved all my savings and when CDs matured at my other banks, I closed them and opened CDs at Discover.

Banks make money on my deposits and I resent being nickled and dimed by them.

[CJC]

Both my hair stylist and dog groomer charge an extra fee for using debit/credit card. I pay with check. I attend many craft shows in tourist areas of Florida, and they also upcharge for cards. I carry cash to those shows. 

[deeva]

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

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@deeva wrote:

I always carry cash. Not going back to writing checks, 
Too many ways a check can be compromised. 

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@deeva Cash can be lost or stolen and gone forever, but one can put a stop payment on a lost or stolen check.  Checks are safer.

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

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@deeva wrote:

I always carry cash. Not going back to writing checks, 
Too many ways a check can be compromised. 

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@deeva Cash can be lost or stolen and gone forever, but one can put a stop payment on a lost or stolen check.  Checks are safer.

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A thief has all the info they need on your check. With the routing number and account number someone can order new checks with their name and address on them. 

They can also steal money directly from your account electronically. So a stop payment is useless 

[Stray]

This has been in practice for a long time in my area, NNJ. I pay all bills online & write a check at my nail salon; I’ve gone to the same nail salon for 25 years. In addition, I only write a check for trusted people/organizations like my contractor, plumber, IRS & local taxes. I believe CC companies charge a surcharge to businesses for CC transactions.

[Pecky]

When I went to the Daytona 500 a few years ago they only would take cc.  They didn't charge a fee.  Most concerts that I go to only want cc as well.  It's much easier for them than dealing with cash.

[kitty60]

@NYCLatinaMe , agreed.  Years ago it was in your conractual agreement with credit card processors that you COULD NOT charge a fee!  Boy has that changed.  I cannot believe so many have said they do not pay a fee for cc use.  More and more businesses have gone to this. A couple of years ago it was mainly restaruants and they would ask how you wanted to pay.  Now businesses do not even disclose the fee which upsets me.

I only use my cc when points are equal to or exceed the %.  I always have some cash so I do not have to pay fees when not  to my benefit. I do ask if I do not see it posted if there is a fee for cc use.

[Kachina624]

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@Icegoddess.  I wonder if said seamstress is taking a nice tax deduction for "business expenses"?

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@Kachina624 I am not sure where you are going with this, don't understand what deduction or wht business expenses, but businesses have to pay a fee per transaction for the use of cards.  The fee is lower for debit cards, and some credit cards charge higher fees than others.

It used to be that charging extra for paying with a card was prohibitted, at least here in NY (it may have been a State law, I don't recall), but I don't think the law is around any more because businesses are pretty blatant about preferring cash to avoid the fee, meaning, they have posted signs.

If the vendor was trying to avoid paying taxes, they wouldn't have taken the check either.

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 @NYCLatinaMe.  The point is, they may be double dipping.  They may be charging a fee to use a credit card and taking a tax deduction for paying those fees, as a business expense.

[Etoile308]

I always carry some money in my wallet and smaller bills in my change purse. I always have a couple twenties and a few singles tucked away in my car. I also realize that I'm blessed for being able to do that. I always have at least one credit card on me for convenience and emergencies.

I have never come across a place charging more for credit card use, but for many, many years I've frequented places that offer a discount for using cash.

[tends2dogs]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@deeva wrote:

I'll start carrying cash before I write a check. Too many ways a check can be compromised. 

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@deeva  I've never had a check compromised, have you ?

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@Kachina624  I haven't.  I write around 6 or 7 checks a month.  I refuse to pay a service fee for automatic debit.  For those, I just call in the payment and have it taken out of the checking account. 

Also, as far as businesses charging the customer back for bank fee of using a CC, this has been going on for months and months.  We eat out alot and know the places that charge that.  We carry cash for those outtings and use a CC for the others so we can get our rewards $$.