Comments on: Both Sides Urge Justices To Resolve Credit Card Law

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 17:32:19 +0000

REGARDING:
“Charging less for cash IS the same as charging more for credit, no matter what you want to call it.”

In the effect, yes, but discounts are allowed, surcharges may not be. (Just as Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) fines for not getting health insurance are legal as taxes since Congress is allowed to tax us, but not as fees since Congress is not allowed to force us to buy insurance.)

I was at Harbor Freight a few years back listening to a man complain he had to pay MORE for cash than with a credit card. He didn’t want Big Brother knowing what he was doing, which a credit card would do.

I was tempted to mention he had been on camera since he parked outside but he would probably have worn a burka if he thought too much on it. I didn’t want him to risk a heat stroke.

David for discounts and burkinis
(bikinis too, but for the wrong reasons)

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:55:26 +0000

I’m with Mark but I think that fisherman’s last sentence makes sense also. Most people who do this are trying to ‘bypass’ the IRS. Had a friend who did it for years many years ago. Got caught. They proved to him he was spending more than he made a year. It is bad enough to pay income taxes but you don’t want to pay the fines 3 or 4 years down the road that are normally 3 to 4 times what you owed initially.

By: FL_Girl31

FL_Girl31 — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 11:53:30 +0000

@ Mark

As usual, the statute was written with the provision that the state and county governments are exempt from this rule.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 22:39:34 +0000

@Fisherman, when you go down to the city to buy a permit, they add the fee to you permit amount. So not a third party. When you pay for your tag and pay by credit card at the tag office they charge a fee.

By: Ponderosa hill

Ponderosa hill — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 13:54:39 +0000

Any businessperson with a LICK of sense

By: Pen411

Pen411 — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:58:05 +0000

Charging less for cash IS the same as charging more for credit, no matter what you want to call it. There was a time when merchant agreements prohibited retailers from charging more, offering a discount for cash or requiring a minimum purchase to use a credit card.
What you pay for processing depends on your merchant account and what type of card you are accepting. Amex has always been the most expensive for retailers, pin based debits are the cheapest.

@mark The law prohibits the state from accepting less than the full amount for payment of taxes and fees. They charge a “convenience” fee, which yes is the same as a surcharge for using credit. Since when did the government have to play by its own rules?

My guess is that they are charging exactly what the processing company is charging them rather than the arbitrary amount some retailers are using.

By: fisherman

fisherman — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:26:59 +0000

@Mark
I think you are paying through a third party not directly to the City, state and county. I could be wrong. The banks charge the businesses for them using the card and they are passing the charge back to customers. Just raise the prices by 5% and let it go.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 10:18:14 +0000

If it is against the law for company’s to charge the 3% it coast them to run the card, how can the City, state and county charge us?