Corner Store Ripping People off (Card Surcharges)

Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:28
Last edited 10/01/2018 - 01:54 by 1 other user

Hello today I had abit of a argument with my local corner shop
I have been going there buying what I need and have always used my savings card

Today she decides to charge me a extra 20c because I used my savings card
I asked her why and she said because of using the card

I told her you had no right to do that as it’s not a credit card and is illegal to do so, she didn’t even have a sticker to let the public know extra charges may be made by credit cards or certain cards..

how can I take this further

I have a understanding she is charging people extra so she doesn’t pay the commenwealth eftpos machine rent charge and gets away with it

Ps I don’t know if this is the right thread :) but I’ll post anyways

Financial

closed Comments

  • IceCreamBandit on 09/01/2018 - 22:32
    +6

    According to the ACCC.

    The RBA has said that as a guide, payments through the domestic eftpos system (used to process payments from debit cards) are usually quite low. Accepting a Visa or MasterCard debit transaction may cost a business around 0.5 per cent of the transaction value.

    So depending on your purchase (likely not a high amount due to it being a corner store), then a 20c charge may be excessive.

    • Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:41

      My total cost buying stuff was $38.70
      I would totally understand if it was under $10

    • Slippery Fish on 10/01/2018 - 00:04
      +1

      Suncorp suggests 20c to their customers anz are more expensive (or were when we used them)

      Banks wouldn't suggest the sum if it was excessive or not legal.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2018 - 22:33

    Terrible! Reported to Scotty, founder of Ozbargain…

  • doweyy on 09/01/2018 - 22:33
    +8

    I think this site covers most of your quarrels.

    When you pay a business using certain payment types, for example a credit card, the business incurs costs for processing the payment. These costs are usually paid by the business to its bank. Some businesses include these costs in the price they charge for their goods or services. Others pass the costs on as a payment surcharge.

    The purpose of the ban is to stop businesses from charging payment surcharges that are excessive. That is, from charging a customer more than what it costs the business to process the payment.

    A business is not required to impose a payment surcharge, but if it chooses to then it is only allowed to pass on to the customer the costs that the business was charged for accepting payment of that payment type.

    The ban applies to all businesses, regardless of their size.

    Seems like they're in their right to charge a fee, as long as it's not excessive. Other businesses probably include it in the pricing of their goods.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2018 - 22:34
      +6

      Yes, end of thread…
      I hope op didn't spend 20cents of her/his time to make this thread

      • Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:42
        +2

        Lol wasn’t about the 20 c but the attitude on her pissed me off and yes call it revenge

        • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2018 - 22:43

          Yes, I agree.

        • fantombloo on 09/01/2018 - 22:51
          +8

          Who are you revenging against and how by posting here?

        • Kangal on 09/01/2018 - 23:18

          @thevofa:
          ….we will never know :'(

        • bobbified on 10/01/2018 - 00:06
          +7

          wasn’t about the 20 c but the attitude on her pissed me off and yes call it revenge

          haha I'm sure you probably didn't come across as the nicest person either. You were standing there, in her shop, accusing her of doing something illegal and ripping you off $0.20c!

          Can't expect the person on the other side of the counter to be acting all nice after that!

        • Layla11 on 10/01/2018 - 07:29
          +2

          @bobbified: lol I’m a nice person really I am but if someone talks to me like I’m nothing of course I’m going to stand my ground..:)

        • bobbified on 10/01/2018 - 08:07
          +6

          @Laura11:

          you had no right to do that as it’s not a credit card and is illegal to do so

          Admittedly, I've read some of your previous posts and you do sound like a nice person.

          But the words you've chosen in your sentence above would make a lot of people get defensive. There are certainly better words that can be used to raise the issue that won't cause an argument.

      • JIMB0 on 10/01/2018 - 06:45
        +3

        I'm charging OP 20cents to read this thread.

        • plague69 on 10/01/2018 - 23:49

          Sounds illegal… Are you sure that's a fair price? How about 5c? 1c per minute of your life…

    • califrag on 11/01/2018 - 01:45
      +1

      The merchant cost for an EFTPOS transaction is 0.15% or $15 per $10,000 (or 15c per $100). 20c on a $40 payment is excessive and ACCC can issue a penalty notice to the business if they are called.
      There are some hefty fines for excessive surcharge.
      https://www.accc.gov.au/business/business-rights-protections…

      • Layla11 on 11/01/2018 - 02:39

        Thankyou for that information :)

  • scrimshaw on 09/01/2018 - 22:34
    +2

    https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/08/excessive-charges-for-pay…

    a bit late to the party, but here's some info above.

  • ronnknee on 09/01/2018 - 22:38
    +9

    The 20 cents card surcharge is the least of your worries. Why are you even shopping at the corner store? You would be more likely to save more buying from a supermarket. I'm sure they just buy everything from the supermarket anyway and sell at a higher price for convenience.

    • scrimshaw on 09/01/2018 - 22:41
      +5

      That's exactly the price you pay for convenience :)

    • Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:45

      When you need to buy something you gotta buy it at any cost and yes sounds silly me complaining about 20c but it’s not about that

      She is ripping people off so she doesn’t pay her eftpos machine rent and using the extra charges to cover her rent

      • ronnknee on 09/01/2018 - 22:49
        +4

        When you need to buy something you gotta buy it at any cost

        Wow that's a very un-OzBargain thing to say.

        As explained above, shops can charge you a card surcharge to cover the cost of accepting the payment (the Eftpos machine and the transaction itself). 20 cents sounds reasonable for a $40 purchase (0.5%).

        • Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:51

          So basically she could charge me even though it was a savings card?

        • ronnknee on 09/01/2018 - 22:52
          +7

          @Laura11:

          Yes. Literally in the first comment.

          The RBA has said that as a guide, payments through the domestic eftpos system (used to process payments from debit cards) are usually quite low.

          Debit card = Savings card.

        • Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:54
          +4

          Thankyou for that information

          I loook like a complete goose
          But I’m still pissed

      • Slippery Fish on 10/01/2018 - 00:15
        +4

        You actually have no idea and are talking out your arse…

        You pay rental, then you pay the fee. The bank suggests a surcharge, we charge 10 cents under $10 nothing if over. 20cents is our banks suggested rate.

        I imagine the cost of running a small milkbar to be costly, that $1 here $2 there likely doesn't make this nasty lady rich. She likely struggles week to week and recouping that small bit just helps, then some entitled git comes in abusing you about something your bank suggested and you need to charge to get by.

        • Layla11 on 10/01/2018 - 07:34
          -5

          Yessss most likely they are struggling with there shop,that’s why I seen her husband jump in a nice car..

          Point is let people know charges may be applied..there was no sticker or note anywhere to be displayed…

        • Slippery Fish on 10/01/2018 - 09:03
          +7

          @Laura11: people can own nice cars? What does that even prove

        • plague69 on 10/01/2018 - 23:52

          @Laura11: yeah there should have been a note.

          How do you know it was her husband? Might be a lover :)

    • T-man on 10/01/2018 - 22:46

      Don’t you ever buy and support any corner stores? I sometimes shop there to buy something that I cannot find in the supermarket.

  • El Grande on 09/01/2018 - 22:55

    Who uses cards at mom and pop stores? 0.5% of purchase price is probably 5% of their profit.

    • Layla11 on 09/01/2018 - 22:56
      -2

      Lol I see your point :)

      • El Grande on 09/01/2018 - 23:09
        +10

        If you go to Coles late at night you can see many milk bar owners buying trolley full of groceries to go sell at their shops. I had seen my local one many times until they went out of business. I would often ask them why don't they buy directly from the supplier and they would tell me its cheaper at Coles than wholesale price for them.

        They are also paying for Electricity, Water, Labour, Expired food cost, theft, damaged items on top of the 20-30c markups. They work on very low margins. I think more people should support such businesses like you do. Making a complaint against the little man (woman) will only get you bad karma.

        • Slippery Fish on 10/01/2018 - 00:17
          +1

          My point exactly. And one of our suppliers is the same as igas and your lucky if you get the same price as an IGA special in their specials…

        • AlienC on 10/01/2018 - 22:22

          @Slippery Fish: yeah mom and pop convenience stores are more like your family or even your subordinates in the whole climate of the economy they don't make much pretty much peanuts.. the price you pay is probably cheaper than delivery sometimes and well yeah it is a luxury so it's not like they are forcing you to buy fRom them.

    • plague69 on 10/01/2018 - 23:55
      +1

      If you factor in all outlays, normal milkbar owners work 14 hours a day 356 days a week for $5 if you're lucky close to $10 an hour… Not an easy life. Easier to not offer card at all. That's what we did back in the day. Otherwise like some posts said, no profit

  • bobbified on 09/01/2018 - 23:59

    Ever since I was a kid, i've always had a good relationship with all my local corner stores.

    There's times that I'm some amount short or I just don't have my wallet on me and they either don't bother with the shortfall or they trust that I'll come back. It even goes the other way sometimes when they don't have enough change.

    I can't imagine arguing with them for 20c.

    how can I take this further

    And here you are asking us how to take this further? Too much time on your hands?

    • El Grande on 10/01/2018 - 00:47
      -1

      Lol we have all been 5-10-20-50c short. Tip them next time you are owed 20-50c. Oh and for god sake don't say keep the change. That's rude AF. More polite to say don't worry about the change.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2018 - 01:11
        +8

        In what universe is it rude to say "keep" instead of "don't worry". Is this another PC thing or?

        • kolorijo on 10/01/2018 - 08:18
          +2

          People are too sensitive these days, PC gone mad.

        • wordplay on 10/01/2018 - 21:48

          this universe, its so insulting, absolutely rude. best way to find out is to say it and have the chnge thrown at you (ps i want change always now)

  • Davo1111 on 10/01/2018 - 00:35
    +4

    Today Tonight.

  • spackbace on 10/01/2018 - 03:29
    +12

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/user/133669/nodes

    S8+ for hubby, ipad for toddler, considering ivf, yet disputes $0.20 charge from store known for higher prices.

    Yeah, this thread ain't gonna fly around here…

    • Slippery Fish on 10/01/2018 - 09:05
      +7

      You guys love your stalking ROFL :)

      • Layla11 on 10/01/2018 - 15:30
        -2

        Lol that’s funny and weird at the same time
        Why would anyone look at my history

        Hmmm

    • plague69 on 10/01/2018 - 23:57

      Wow… OZB… Like no place else…
      I tip my hat to you

  • SnoozeAndLose on 10/01/2018 - 07:01
    +3

    Can you just walk away without take what younhave bought? Pay Less pay cash next time.

  • kolorijo on 10/01/2018 - 08:17
    +1

    Vote with your money and stop shopping there. Let them know that it's the last of your 20 cents that they will ever get from you.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2018 - 08:19
    +3

    I mean it's a corner shop. They are already expensive compared to bigger shops (I understand they need to be to survive) so I don't see why you are complaining about paying more.

  • woodwa on 10/01/2018 - 08:21

    I used to live next to a busy 7-11 store and they had an advertisement covering the readout off the register..

    prices never added up during the "drink customer" hours my flatmate had a few heated debates about the price of twisties and flavoured milk :)

    • El Grande on 11/01/2018 - 00:57

      Maybe the customers were drunk and couldn't add. Just ask for a receipt.

  • ThithLord on 10/01/2018 - 10:00
    +1

    Is it a CBA terminal? I'm pretty sure CBA stipulate in their contract that stores cannot add a fee for using EFTPOS functions.

    EDIT: Actually, it may be that they can't enforce a minimum amount to use EFT.

    • Layla11 on 11/01/2018 - 02:44

      Yes actually it is.

  • try2bhelpful on 10/01/2018 - 10:16

    Again, this sounds like a post where someone needed to step back and get some perspective before posting. (However, I think we have all been guilty of that at times).

    We stopped going to our local milk bar when we realised just how much of their stock was out of date. We mainly went when we needed milk, cream or something small so we didn't need to wander down to the supermarket. Now we just do the walk.

  • pandadude on 10/01/2018 - 13:36

    The RBA allows the merchant to include the following fees for the surcharge: merchant service fees, terminal fees, and any other fees incurred in processing card transactions.

    The EFTPOS site it self shows a Interchange for for a proprietary EFTPOS fee of $0.150. This isn't including the terminal fees or other fees and any additional fees the banks decide to charge.

    Actually I noticed a few banks have changed EFTOPS transaction to a percentage.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2018 - 14:25
    +1

    if you didn't want to pay the fee, just leave without buying what you wanted, that would surely cost the business more than 20c in profit

  • Roney on 10/01/2018 - 14:58

    The word 'surcharge', regardless of cost, is always a harbinger of missed business opportunities in cashless trend.

    • MathNerd on 10/01/2018 - 15:07

      harbinger

      I just googled that, you learn something new everyday.

  • HeWhoKnows on 10/01/2018 - 21:51

    Complaining about 20c. Thats penny pinching really.
    I would suggest that you shop elsewhere if you are not happy or otherwise PAY CASH !
    Whatever anyone says here wont change anything

  • Briefcase Mong on 10/01/2018 - 22:51

    Why can't you use cash ? Your acting like a child grow up

    • Layla11 on 11/01/2018 - 02:46

      Please who are you to sit there and tell me how or what I should be paying with

  • Layla11 on 11/01/2018 - 02:52

    ONCE AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DONT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH!!!

    ITS NOT ABOUT THE 20c ITS ABOUT THE FACT THERE WAS NO NOTICE TO SAY CHARGERS MAY APPLY!!!

    End of post,thankyou all who bothered to help me with some information!!

  • nobarginsarehere on 11/01/2018 - 04:34

    Stop going there if it's such a problem

    You are getting all wound up, coming to a forum and complaining OVER 20 CENTS HAHAHAHAHA

    NOW YOU ARE ANGRIER AND ALL CAPSING HAHAHAHHA

    What did you think this post would result in? your 20 cents back?

    Jesus Christ you are destined for an early grave if this is how you deal with life

  • Layla11 on 11/01/2018 - 04:49

    :) end of post

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