I have recently been booking a holiday for a special family occasion next year and have tried to pay as much as possible by credit card in order to get the additional protection for my payments. However I have been shocked by the number of travel agents, hotels and other travel companies who are now charging a surcharge for payments by credit card (v debit card) - in some cases up to 5%.
Is there any regulation about this aspect? Other than trying by buy elsewhere, are there other ways around this scandalous practice?
No regulation, it's perfectly legal, it's not scandulous (providing only recouping costs) and it's not new and the subject comes up on here quite often if you care to do a search.
Your alternatives are to negotiate a reduction, use alternative payment methods, use dual payment method (1 on credit card, rest on Debit card) or shop elsewhere.
I have been shocked by the number of travel agents, hotels and other travel companies who are now charging a surcharge for payments by credit card (v debit card) - in some cases up to 5%.
5% is a bit steep, but around 2% would be reasonable, as this is what the merchant card services charge to process the transaction.
There used to be a regulation (or rather a contract condition in the merchant agreement) that companies could not charge more for CC customers than cash ones.
However many years ago the Monopolies Commission ruled that this was an anti-competitive clause, so it no longer applies.
So not only is it fully legal, it's not scandalous, and you could almost say it's officially encouraged.
5% is a bit steep
Not if you're using Amex it isn't.
You dont have to pay as much as you can on a CC for protection. You can pay the minimum amount by CC and the rest by DC. You are still covered for the whole amount. there have been threads on here about it.
