> Merchants can pass the CC surcharge through
Can they? I was under the impression (unverified) that they are under contract to provide the same prices for CC customers as they do for cash or debit card.
Can they? I was under the impression (unverified) that they are under contract to provide the same prices for CC customers as they do for cash or debit card.
I believe there are a few states in the US left where merchants can still be required to charge the same, but in most places in the US that's not the case.
The no-surcharge terms are plainly anticompetive and should have been reigned in a long time ago. But customers get really mad about extra fees and think it's the merchant that is ripping them off and not Visa/Mastercard.
I think you can also advertise the credit card price and offer a cash discount.
Debit cards still have transaction fees, though lower ones I believe, so they usually get the same price as credit cards, but none of the benefits like points.
[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_v._American_Express_Co%...