Visa and MC: No Charge Is Too Small

 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118384822474060134.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

No Charge Is Too Small
By DIANA RANSOM
July 8, 2007

The next time a merchant says you can't use plastic unless you spend more
money, ask to speak to the manager.

Requiring consumers to spend $20, $10 or even $5 before they can use a
credit card is a violation of merchant guidelines from both Visa and
MasterCard. Those companies say store owners who accept their credit and
debit cards are obliged to do so regardless of the size of the purchase.

Justin McHenry of Web site IndexCreditCards.com says some merchants flout
this rule because the transaction fees they pay are a bigger imposition on
smaller purchases.

Clearly, the best way to avoid hassles is to carry enough cash to at least
cover smaller purchases. But Mr. McHenry also recommends reminding a
store's manager of the rules. "That might scare a merchant enough to do the
transaction," he says.

You can also complain. Visa recommends calling 1-800-VISA-911, the number
on the back of your card or the financial institution that issued your
card. Card issuers "have the ability to fill out a complaint on the
cardholder's behalf," says Betty Riess, a spokeswoman for Bank of America.

Once a complaint is lodged, "it's a matter of education and usually that
puts an end to" the practice, says Randa Ghnaim, a Visa spokeswoman. If
violations continue, she says, offending merchants face "possible fines"
and the loss of their ability to accept Visa cards.

To find the complaint form on MasterCard.com, start by clicking on "Contact
Us/FAQs" and then "Merchant Violations." MasterCard spokeswoman Barbara
Coleman also says "consumers can choose to take their business elsewhere."

Write to Diana Ransom at diana.ransom@wsj.com

 

Just because its in the purported mechant agreement doesnt make it legally
binding.


And legally they are welcome to do that.


Not a chance, you wont be the first to have chucked a tantrum about it.


And the merchant will file that 'complaint' in the round filing cabinet under
their desk where it
belongs.


Bare faced lie.


Another bare faced lie.


Must be one of those rocket scientist bare faced liars.

And any consumer with a clue realises that operations with those limits are
likely to have better prices than the fools who buy the Visa/Mastercard lies.


Get fucked.

 As I understand it, on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:48:28 +1000, "Rod Speed"


binding.

    It does in the U.S.  Contract law 101.
    Both parties agreed to the no limit rule.  And there is
nothing illegal about requiring no minimum purchase amount.


    Further, there are enough people willing to accept the minimum
purchase that the owner/manager won't care a great deal.


their desk where it

    If they get enough, they'll take notice.  Of course the number
of complaints vs. the number of people who don't care means it will
take a while to reach the magic number.


    I question the claim, but if you can produce evidence that
it's a lie, please do.  I'd like to examine it.


    See above.


    So customers can't choose to take their business elsewhere?


    It's possible they do, however, this doesn't excuse the
violation of contract law.


Vegetarian:  Indian word for lousy hunter.

 

binding.


Thats a kindergarten version of contract law, child.


That aint the only reason that a particular contract condition aint binding,
child.


So the purported contract condition aint actually binding.


Nope, they know that some dont like that and do it anyway.


There is no magic number.


The obvious evidence is operations that maintain that particular practice.


See above.


Nope, that its always been obvious that they can do that.


law.

You aint established that it is a violation of contract law, just claimed that.

 As I understand it, on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:54:26 +1000, "Rod Speed"


binding.

    Yep.  That you're too pig ignorant to know this doesn't change
this simple truth.


    Most introductory courses are called [insert course name] 101.
    You should try learning something rather than displaying your
lack of education.


child.

    Oh do tell, great and powerful legal expert.


    It is.  That there are those who chose not to have it enforced
does not mean it can't be.  No amount of your ignorance of this will
change that.  


    They can know, but if no one complains it won't matter.


    You really are dumb, huh?  And here I thought it was all an
act.
    Each business will have the number of complaints they're
willing to tolerate.  Once that number is reached, the magic number,
they'll take notice.


    So you have no evidence.  Got it.
    Another unsupported claim by the fool known as Rod Speed.


    So you have no evidence.  Got it.
    Another unsupported claim by the fool known as Rod Speed.


    You claim Barbara is a clad faced liar, then state you agree
with her.  Pick a lane, dullard.


law.

    Try educating yourself.  Take an introduction to law class.
You'll eliminate some of that massive ignorance you display.

--
Kent
Vegetarian:  Indian word for lousy hunter.