XPost: nf.general 
 From: per.ardua@ad.astra 
  
 Terry wrote: 
 > Buying yesterday at the local store outlet of a national chain store I was 
 > advised that there would be a 25 cent charge if I used my debit or credit 
 > card for a purchase of less than $5! 
 > 
 > This was the first time I have experienced this. 
 > Is it common practice throughout Canada? 
 > It was also mentioned that another store charges 50 cents for the same. 
 > 
 > Twenty five cents on $5 is a 5% premium. 
 > If the purchase was less, say $3.00 for a carton of milk, or similar, the 
 > twenty five cent charge is 8.3%! 
 > Fifty cents on $5 or less could be a 10% or higher premium. 
 > 
 > Am wondering if this is a reflection of or is caused by how much the banks 
 > charge businesses for bank debit card transactions. My bank tells me that 
 > such extra charges by retailers are the exception and very unusual. 
 > 
 > I guess I won't be shopping at that store again. Also after being 
 accustomed 
 > to never having to carry money (except maybe  afew coins in the vehicle for 
 > the odd parking meter) hope that will be able to continue use of 'plastic'. 
 > 
 > Debit cards are best because, requiring use of PIN they are more secure 
 than 
 > a credit card. Also the transaction amount comes out of one's account 
 almost 
 > immediately, and does not incur interest charges. It's easy to get at any 
 > time an on-line or toll free telephone update of the state of ones bank 
 > account. 
 > 
 > Comments? Personally I'd like to see banks make it mandatory that sellers 
 > who accept their debit cards NOT charge any additional fees. 
 > 
 > 
 Two comments if you don't mind. 
  
 First, here is an excerpt from the Interac website; 
  
 ' A surcharge is a fee charged to cardholders by the Interac 
 Association member responsible for the Automated Banking Machine 
 or the Interac Direct Payment terminal. A merchant cannot 
 surcharge for the use of Interac Direct Payment. The surcharge 
 fee is in addition to any service charges the cardholders may pay 
 their financial institution for using the Interac shared services.' 
  
 Note the second sentence.  I'm assuming that the merchant in 
 question was using the 'Interac' system. 
  
 You can access the Interac website here; 
  
 http://www.interac.ca/ 
  
 Second, credit cards do not incur interest charges if paid within 
 thirty days and IMO, PIN notwithstanding, they are just as secure 
 as debit cards. 
  
 Carter 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)