AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[oz_mark]

I drove past the Rivervale station this morning, and had a look at the signs out the front. There are two signs, one large one that has the big 4c per litre offer and this sign makes no mention of CC fees.

The smaller sign, that displays the Unleaded, Leaded and Diesel prices does have a strip along the bottom about the credit card surcharges, but I only noticed that because I was actually looking for it.

The other Caltex a couple of kilometres down the road has the sign about CC surcharges as well.

 

[StevePER]

I drove past the Rivervale station this morning, and had a look at the signs out the front. There are two signs, one large one that has the big 4c per litre offer and this sign makes no mention of CC fees.

I had a look after work today and the 4c per litre sign does say "plus credit card fees" under the discounted unleaded price in small print.

Steve

 

[oz_mark]

I drove past the Rivervale station this morning, and had a look at the signs out the front. There are two signs, one large one that has the big 4c per litre offer and this sign makes no mention of CC fees.

I had a look after work today and the 4c per litre sign does say "plus credit card fees" under the discounted unleaded price in small print.

Steve

And I thought I had read the whole sign.....Right down to the *terms and conditions apply at the bottom of the sign

 

[oz_mark]

Went to update my details with my ISP (TPG), and discovered that Amex and Diners Club cards get a 2.75% surcharge if you use them.

 

[straitman]

According to American Express:

...the cost of paying your Telstra bill with your American Express Card has decreased. As of 29 January, American Express Cardmembers pay the same surcharge rate as all other credit cards (0.69%).

I'll certainly check when I pay my next bill. I'm sure when I last paid (two weeks ago) that the difference still existed. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Thanks oz_mark,

I forgot to post this before disappearing for 2 weeks.

You are correct as usual oz_mark. My last Telstra bill had AMEX at 0.69% surcharge which is the same as all the others except Diners. 8) 8) 8)

 

[JohnK]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Did we mention somewhere that Downtown Duty Free recently introduced a surcharge of 2% when paying by Amex?

I have just purchased duty free from BNE airport Downtown Duty Free, paid with Amex and was surprised that no surcharge was applied to the bill.

I am sure I paid surcharge in April.

 

[Mal]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Did we mention somewhere that Downtown Duty Free recently introduced a surcharge of 2% when paying by Amex?

SYD Arrivals has told me they charged a surcharge the last few times I've been there. Last Intl arrival for me was early June. So if they've dropped it, it was only recent.

 

[roego]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Strathfield Car Radio charge 2.75% on Amex so no point in using it is there.
As for duty free well wait till you get to Singapore and no fees.
Aldi charge 1%,and display this prominently, on Visa and Mastercard and Visa. They say they are charged .8%. If that is he case then that is reasopnable. But the others are just using it as money grabbing.

My tiny Delicatessen was charged .65%(yes point 65%) and a dflat $1 on debit.

So the others could be lying.

Take cash and then they have to count it and bank it.Or go back < where you can, and use a check.

Credit card and thwey have the money in the bank within 24 hours all automatically.

 

[NM]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

As for duty free well wait till you get to Singapore and no fees.

But Amex will then charge about 2% foreign exchange fee. So unless the goods are cheaper in SIN (and likely to be the case for most things) the foreign exchange fee may be similar to the shop surcharge in Sydney.

 

[kelix]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

perhaps we should boycott places that dont accept AMEX? I was appauled that Origin Energy didnt accept it! A major utility company should make it as easy as possible to pay and accept an absolute plethora of methods! beyond me.. anyways... Telstra now charges the SAME surcharge as Visa or Mastercard so.. i remained a loyal telstra company

 

[shillard]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

After 8 years of custom (7 as a gold charge card member), I've finally decided to give Amex the cough.

Consistently poor customer service, off-shore call centre operations, incessant increase in merchant charges/ decreases in merchant availability and a plethora of high-limit Visa/ Mastercard options have all combined to sign the death warrant for Amex in the Shillard household.

I suppose the slide started around 4 years ago when the QF bonus points programme was pulled.

I estimate my spend on the card over the past 8 years (including 2 corporate cards I've held) would be well over $1.0M. Whilst hardly the number 1 Amex spender in the land, it certainly isn't pocket change.

My mind was made up when I went to pay over the counter at an Amex office on Friday, and was charded $2 for the priviledge - AND asked to show photo ID. Sod that.

Amex can go to hell - I now hold a Citibank Plat Visa and CBA Plat Mastercard that offer more than suffucient funds for my needs. Game over.

Less hassle, more acceptance, lower merchant fees and over $120K combined monthly purchase power. Who needs Amex?

 

[roego]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I went into Stathfield Car Radio the other day and used Amex and did not check docket until I got home and was charged 2.something percent.
So 2 things I no longer use Amex and will cancel on renewal date and as a matter of principle no longer will shop Strathfield.(shopped there for 7 years).
Also yesterday in a store and sign was up for Diners and Amex at 1.9%.So no value as the points are not worth that.
And if you use a Westpac Amex as I do only worth 1 Qantas point and Qantas ponts are very expensive.Many airlines are up to 20% less points but eg> Singapore Airlines costs $2 a point in Australia on credit card, unless you can tell me where I can get a better deal.
Also Diners now only 14 days and the mail from Melbourne takes at least 5 days to get here where I am,at least and then of course 36% interest. And when u call up you go through to Bangalore in India.
No longer worth having Diners also.
Plus the exchange rates though Citibank are very savage

 

[oz_mark]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Also Diners now only 14 days and the mail from Melbourne takes at least 5 days to get here where I am,at least and then of course 36% interest. And when u call up you go through to Bangalore in India.
No longer worth having Diners also.
Plus the exchange rates though Citibank are very savage

I have a Citibank Diners, but that is just about to get the flick sue to the reasons listed above. I was waivering a bit after the 14 day thing was brought in, but when I saw the exchange rate on a recent transaction it is clear that Citibank are quite clearly engaging in some price gouging.

 

[Newcastle Flyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I have noticed a lack of responses from anyone who is on the other side of the fence. I am a small business owner who accepts BANKCARD, MASTERCARD, VISA and AMEX.

I pay approx 0.5% for Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa as opposed to 3.5% for AMEX. We pass on 3% for AMEX charges but nothing for the other cards. I actually stopped accepting AMEX but a lot of customers are so eager to maximise their points that they are prepared to pay a surcharge.

We have large signs up on the counter stating 3% Amex and no charge for other cards. I have had one customer complain to AMEX and when AMEX phoned me I told them that the only way I would do away with the surcharge would be if they were to lower their merchant fees. Obviuosly AMEX where not in favour of doing anything that would effect their profit.

I do not accept Diners Card because they wanted to charge an even higher fee.

By the way...I have a Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners.
I am never insulted or surprised when asked to pay a surcharge on Amex or Diners but I think it is going too far to charge for all cards. At least my business still offers a fee free card payment, even though you may not accumulate as many points.

 

[FrankC]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I pay approx 0.5% for Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa as opposed to 3.5% for AMEX.

Mind if I ask which bank are you with?

 

[Newcastle Flyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

We bank with Westpac.
For banking purposes I negotiate with the bank with 10 other similiar business in the same industry and we get our Bankcard/Visa/Mastercard rates based on the groups total turnover on our eftpos terminals.

What rate are you paying?

 

[FrankC]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I don't actually have a business, but am curious about the rate charged by the banks. 0.5% sounds very good for VISA & Mastercard. Is there a minimum charge?

Is it a flat fee for Eftpos?

 

[Newcastle Flyer]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Yes, there is a flat fee for eftpos transactions, however I can not remember what it is but I do know it is very cheap. Lower than 50 cents by memory.

The so called 'CASH PRICE' is a thing of the past. Eftpos, Visa and Mastercard are to my way of thinking a safer option as we do not need to hold large sums of cash on the premises and don't have to worry about getting robbed going to the bank. We are probably 99% electronic transactions. I usually never carry any more than about $20 as I use cards for everything.

 

[StevePER]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Just got our council rates yesterday and we now have a 0.72% surcharge on all credit card payments. Do most councils charge a credit card surcharge?

Steve

 

[coco50]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

[quote=StevePER]Just got our council rates yesterday and we now have a 0.72% surcharge on all credit card payments. Do most councils charge a credit card surcharge?

Steve[/quote]

Thanks for the prompt, Steve. I got two lots of rates, Ballina Shire and Tweed Shire this week and didn't even check if there was a surcharge. The only way I can pay these conveniently is either BPay or PostBillpay on CC.