AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[jbman]

My usual GYG location used to take Amex, and then stopped quite recently. However, their app lets you order ahead and use PayPal (and thus Amex), so that's what I do now. It does however mean I stopped being the Local Champion.

Interesting, I was sure I had used AMEX there before

 

[docjames]

https://www.guzmanygomez.com/

Went into their store, machines have the AMEX logo on the digital display. Tapped my AMEX card and an error came up saying please swipe. Did the swipe and another error came up.

The staff member said, oh it's AMEX we don't take AMEX. I then showed the image on the screen and said the machine says otherwise.

I've been reporting these to Amex.

best is to send a photo to @AmexAU on twitter.

 

[jeza]

Rydges still running 3.5% Amex surcharge whuch IS declared on the Rydges website IF you book direct... but not shown if you book through PGR or GHA site (say if browsing all group hotels). I objected to Rydges Melb as there is not even a sign at reception, but they had zero interest and wouldn't budge. Paid with Visa and told manager I would not return to his property until surcharge is dropped. He couldn't care less.

I agree the CC is excessive.

On the PGR Summary page where you click that you accept the Terms & Conditions, there is a link to the T&C which opens up a pop-up outlining the CC fees. Had a bit of a (man) look on the GHA site but couldn't see anything similar. If there is nothing on the website when making the booking or on the reservation confirmation email can they legally apply a surcharge? Would telling you on check in suffice or is that too late?

 

[OzEire]

I agree the CC is excessive.

On the PGR Summary page where you click that you accept the Terms & Conditions, there is a link to the T&C which opens up a pop-up outlining the CC fees. Had a bit of a (man) look on the GHA site but couldn't see anything similar. If there is nothing on the website when making the booking or on the reservation confirmation email can they legally apply a surcharge? Would telling you on check in suffice or is that too late?

Indeed, i screengrabbed the GHA payment page showing Rate $xx_.00 plus (next line) taxes and fees $0.00.

May chase it at some point but small fry and i may not bother. Just irks me when not declared up front.

 

[ozstamps]

Have no idea how LEGALLY Rydges etc can charge 3.5% for Amex???

They are supposed to add their ACTUAL cost and nothing more - by law.

Like others here, Amex has been cranking DOWN my fees like mad in recent times. They phoned today to tell me it was now 1.5%. Do not even need to ask these days. Rydges will pay much less than me!

They ask you to verify you do NOT surcharge, and I never have, and I am sure they are aware of that. No-one should be in ANY business if a couple % to get a sale bothers them. :!:

For many types of Visa and MC I pay 3%. As a merchant you have no clue if a Visa card is a debit card (In which case I pay .85%) or a Ziroconian Visa that is 3% or so.

So I FAR prefer Amex, as there is some certainty.

Oddly in my field it gains me a TON of business, as stamp collecting is a very discretionary field.

If I take Amex at no fee and other dealers do not take it at all, or surcharge it is a no brainer for many. So here Amex are showing some savvy with the new lower rates.

 

[serfty]

In the last month or so, the Hyatt's in Oz dropped their Amex surcharge to 1.5%.

It had been 3% & the higher figure is still shown when booking.

 

[djchuckles]

I agree the CC is excessive.

On the PGR Summary page where you click that you accept the Terms & Conditions, there is a link to the T&C which opens up a pop-up outlining the CC fees. Had a bit of a (man) look on the GHA site but couldn't see anything similar. If there is nothing on the website when making the booking or on the reservation confirmation email can they legally apply a surcharge? Would telling you on check in suffice or is that too late?

I got my fees refunded because GHA doesn't display them. PGR said this to me back in June :

"Thank you for your contacting me via email & our facebook page. Whilst the charges are in line with the ACCC ruling for Amex, I appreciate not knowing about the charge would have been very frustrating on check out.

Whilst the information on payment fees appears on the rydges.com page and our confirmations, I did not see it on the GHA site so I am following with our GHA contact to determine how this can be rectified.

Our accounts team can reverse the charge of $6.13 on as you were not aware of the policy. This will appear as a refund within 10 working days"

 

[cove]

I have used my US Amex on our trip in America and no one surcharges us anywhere over here. All I have to do is book some currency when I get back to Australia to achieve a 79 or 80 cents exchange rate. So I get Kris Miles into a warehouse too.

 

[Daver6]

At the Kimberley Sands in Broome I was slugged 3.2% (or maybe 3.5%) Amex surcharge. They gave me my bill at the bar in the Amex book and all too. I raised with with Amex who are investigating.

 

[perthjay85]

At the Kimberley Sands in Broome I was slugged 3.2% (or maybe 3.5%) Amex surcharge. They gave me my bill at the bar in the Amex book and all too. I raised with with Amex who are investigating.

Just accepting Amex gives you the option of ordering the fancy signing books or pads.

Doesn't matter whether you charge a surcharge or not.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Two pieces of good news here.

1) Australia Post finally updated their EFTPOS software to read the AMEX chip (no more 'insert, wait, remove, swipe' dance). Didn't try paywave/Apple Pay as I wasn't even expecting the chip to work, but will try that next time.

2) Fetch TV now accepts AMEX, even though their website says that they only accept Visa and Mastercard. Just enter your AMEX number in the box and it works.

 

[N860CR]

1 Sep is nearly here! And that means that ALL merchant will have to stop the rip off surcharging and only charge actual costs, and if they don't, the ACCC will..... oh. Disregard.

 

[perthjay85]

one of my local pubs insists on charging 3.5% so I cannot wait until September the 1st.

My biggest gripe with this place is that there is no warning of the 3.5% surcharge until you are at the till paying the bill. I have informed staff twice that this is
unacceptable. On Sunday the same thing happened so I tried to find on the ACCC website where it states businesses must advertise the surcharge but I cannot find it anymore.

 

[kpc]

My local Japanese restaurant wants 50c fee for Amex tranasctions less than $20

 

[TheRealTMA]

My local Japanese restaurant wants 50c fee for Amex tranasctions less than $20

Actually that's fair - they will have a minimum fee per transaction.

 

[SOPOOR]

My local Japanese restaurant wants 50c fee for Amex tranasctions less than $20

I ve never understood set surcharges below certain amounts,

the merchant fee is a % so $20x10 would be the same as $200 in terms of fees

or is it for convenience and deterrant purposes

 

[unfunkable]

Who do you report excessive credit card surcharges too?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I ve never understood set surcharges below certain amounts,

the merchant fee is a % so $20x10 would be the same as $200 in terms of fees

or is it for convenience and deterrant purposes

No. While the fee is on a fixed % it is on a transaction by transaction basis with minimum service charge. Or, depending on the merchant, the fee could be on a sliding % scale according to the individual transaction value.

 

[perthjay85]

Who do you report excessive credit card surcharges too?

You can report businesses directly to AMEX or you can also report them to ACCC
Wait until September 1st before you report anyone though.

It only applies to Big businesses at the moment.

 

[perthjay85]

No. While the fee is on a fixed % it is on a transaction by transaction basis with minimum service charge. Or, depending on the merchant, the fee could be on a sliding % scale according to the individual transaction value.

I don't think that applies to AMEX only savings bank accounts.
Our credit card % are standard for any value.

If we process a bank card the charges are not a percentage under certain values.