So I go to a gas station this morning (which will remain nameless but they are nationwide) and I decided to get a muffin and bagel bites to get me through the day at work... I go to check out (my total was 4.48) when the guy points to a sign that says "there is now a minimum fee of $5 for charge card purchases"... So I got charged a dollar extra and nothing to show for it. My bf and I have discussed this in the past week and he says this is illegal... He told me to go to visa.com and read up on it myself so i do... Here is what it says:
Minimum Purchase
Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items. They also are not permitted to charge you a fee when you want to use your Visa card.
If you run into a problem like this with a merchant, please notify the financial institution that issued you your Visa card. These institutions have access to the appropriate Visa rules and regulations and can help you document and file your complaint. You'll find their address and/or telephone number on your Visa statement. Their telephone number may also appear on the back of the card itself.
Im flippin mad but before I totally loose my cool Im waiting for my bank (my provider, its a check card) to open so I can double check on this...
My question is, if this was legal wouldnt all gas stations and businesses be inforcing this minimum fee? Ive run into a few gas stations that wont let you make a purchase if it is under $5 (which I think is bs... money is money) but never one that will charge you an extra dollar. I was off 30 cents give me a break here... I dont care about the dollar but I care that these businesses feel they can establish a minimum purchase amount on me... In that case they might as well make a minimum purchase on cash only purchases as well (its a check card its almost the same thing)... This business wasnt a small mom and pop gas station, it was a well known nationwide company????
Arrrr I cant wait to get the low down on this senario, I wish the bank would open sooner
Minimum Purchase
Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items. They also are not permitted to charge you a fee when you want to use your Visa card.
If you run into a problem like this with a merchant, please notify the financial institution that issued you your Visa card. These institutions have access to the appropriate Visa rules and regulations and can help you document and file your complaint. You'll find their address and/or telephone number on your Visa statement. Their telephone number may also appear on the back of the card itself.
Im flippin mad but before I totally loose my cool Im waiting for my bank (my provider, its a check card) to open so I can double check on this...
My question is, if this was legal wouldnt all gas stations and businesses be inforcing this minimum fee? Ive run into a few gas stations that wont let you make a purchase if it is under $5 (which I think is bs... money is money) but never one that will charge you an extra dollar. I was off 30 cents give me a break here... I dont care about the dollar but I care that these businesses feel they can establish a minimum purchase amount on me... In that case they might as well make a minimum purchase on cash only purchases as well (its a check card its almost the same thing)... This business wasnt a small mom and pop gas station, it was a well known nationwide company????
Arrrr I cant wait to get the low down on this senario, I wish the bank would open sooner