charging for using your debit card

[pushybabe1]

i have never been charged by a shop for using my debit card until today, as i used to work in a very large supermarket i know the diffrence between a debit and credit card and if using a credit card they almost always incur a charge when buying things but never knew some charge for using a debit card cos after all the money is there and the debit card guarantees that, they have told me that the charge is because they are charged by the bank to process it, so has anyone else been charged extra for the privilege of shopping with a particular shop lately, to say i am annoyed is putting it lightly, thanx

[bednobs]

did they not tell you? My local shop wont take cards for under £5 (or if they do, they charge you extra)

[Buenchico]

Shops pay two lots of charges for accepting debit cards. Firstly, they're charged a flat fee for each transaction. That's typically around 35p (but small retailers, with lower trading volumes, might get hit for 50p, whereas big multinationals will pay much less). Then they pay a small percentage (perhaps 0.7% but, again, it varies) of the value of the transaction.

It's quite common for smaller retailers to either refuse to accept debit cards for low value transactions, or to impose a charge (typically 50p) for accepting them. So, if you're buying a few groceries (that only have a small profit margin), from a small shop, you'll probably have to pay a fee. But if you're buying a brand new Ferrari from a Park Lane dealership, you almost certainly won't have to.

Chris

[milly143]

One of the pubs I used to work in would charge 50p if the customer paid by card which they said was to cover what they are charged for each transaction.

[ljdksa]

A lot of the shops here have a £5 or £10 minimum if you want to pay by debit card. If the total is less than that, they charge 50p

[pushybabe1]

it was a firm called cheque centre and i got £500 worth of euros as they had quite a good exchange rate so it wasnt as if i was only spending a few pounds or cashing a cheque or getting a payday loan which they also do, she did tell me before it all went through but 50p isnt alot it was just that i was a bit annoyed about it so asked her why, so really i think the 50p should have been waivered as i spent alot but what the heck its done now so hols here i come

[spudqueen]

Always a good idea when getting foreign currency to check not only the exchange rate but also the commission charged (if any) and now it seems, if they charge for you using your debit card!

[boxtops]

Seems daft really, on a transaction like that - a card is safer than pushybabe wandering in with £500 in her bag in cash! Did you get a good rate, PB? I don't ever take currency with me these days, I just get it out of the hole in the wall when I get to my destination. I'd worry more about losing it.

[dzug2]

You might find your debit card company has charged you as well - many visa debit card providers (but not all) do so for currency purchases.

[weecalf]

Concert ticket cost about £5 admi.fee if paid by debit card.

[Whickerman]

sorry but I would flat out refuse to pay a fee to use a card. I understand and don't mind the 'minimum purchase' rule in small shops but if they want to charge me extra I would refuse, hand them back their goods and take my business elsewhere every single time.

[cc1]

A friend of ours, if he's buying an expensive item, will negotiate with the shop to get a reduction in return for him not using a credit card.