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I am unaware of the Laws concerning this and do not know where to look to find them. Therefore I am reaching out, to ask and possibly start a discussion.
Basically, is it legal to have a minimum purchase requirement when you use either a Debit or Credit card. If it is, is there any precedence that requires that minimum fee to be informed to the purchaser before hand or posted somewhere.
Last night, I went to a bar and purchased a drink for $5.00 which I payed for with my card. I wanted to close out, however was then informed that there is a $15.00 minimum. I thought that was ridiculous and the bar tender simply replied why don't you buy one for your friends or have another one. My issue is what stops them from having a $20.00, $50.00, or $100.00 minimum that they just tell you after the fact.
Yes the price wasn't that much, but I believe it is the principle of the thing. If they would have just told me of the minimum in the first place and not sprung it on me, I would not be opposed to going back as I am now.
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You say the price wasn't that much, but through my rereading I can't tell if you actually mean that there really wasn't a $15 minimum and that it was less than that. I'll assume that it was $15.
That's ridiculous!
Edit: I don't drink so can't help you here, maybe someone else can.
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There's no law, but they can just deny you service.
It goes back to the minimum, it's circular.
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And the term you're looking for is violation of a merchant's agreement.
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Usually minimums are for debit or credit cards, like your said. Cards aren't free and businesses end up paying a small fee each time they're used. Did they also deny your cash too?
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I purchased a beer for $5.00. I wanted to leave so I asked for my tab. I was then informed that the bar had a $15.00 minimum on all Credit/Debit card transactions after my order of my first drink. So I had to add an extra $10.00 onto my tab, before I could close out and receive my card back.
No there was no minimum on cash orders. Again my complaint is mostly about being told about the minimum for cards after the fact. If they would have said such before my original order, I would not be as upset or at all. Because then it is my conscious choice to take on that extra $10.00 cost.
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I cant believe this is the first time you have ran into this situation. Did you just turn 21?
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It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there.
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On September 02 2012 04:31 Atlantian wrote:
I purchased a beer for $5.00. I wanted to leave so I asked for my tab. I was then informed that the bar had a $15.00 minimum on all Credit/Debit card transactions after my order of my first drink. So I had to add an extra $10.00 onto my tab, before I could close out and receive my card back.
Pretty sure they have to tell you that before you use your credit/debit card. Call up the owner of the bar and file a complaint. You might get a couple free drinks for compensation even.
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Just pay with cash, it's safer that way because it's harder to overspend.
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Ha, no I did not just turn 21, and have run into minimums plenty of times before. But again, this is the first time I was at a place that did not tell you or post their minimum policy. I am just taking offense to not being told before hand. I am fine with paying a minimum when I know there is one in the first place.
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This is pretty standard but usually minimum order is more like 5 dollars to keep people from ordering a 1 dollar special drink/shot and using their card that way. The vendor has to pay for every credit card transaction they do, and it isn't worth it to the business to be paying that fee for 1 dollar tabs.
Anyway easy way around this is carry cash just in case. Some bars are cash only too and require you to pay extremely high fees to use ATMs I have seen 15-20 dollar charges for ATMs.
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First, always have some sort of cash on hand just in case. Second, according the US rulings a business has the right to choose payment methods.
You may have a case to get your money back if they failed to provide adequate communication of their policy.
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On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there.
What Torte de lini said was correct though. It's a made up rule that establishments use to avoid paying the 2.75% service charge or whatever number they negotiated.
To the other guy, going to their boss probably won't help. Chances are the owner is the one wanting to have a minimum so that he can not report some/most cash income to the IRS and avoid the 2.75% expense incurred from accepting credit cards.
You can tell the bartender or whoever is charging you that they have no right to do that, alternatively you could also call up visa or whatever card you used and report them, chances are they get hit with a fine and you get your money back since they are, as torte de lini said, violating their agreement.
A company like Visa won't be happy that one of their customers was shafted and they lost money because a bar decided to create their own minimum to avoid giving them money that was agreed they would get.
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United States24632 Posts
It is normal for restaurants (especially pizza places I've found) to have minimums on credit cards. Normally this isn't a problem because you haven't consumed the food/drink yet when you try to pay. They will inform you of the minimum and you can adjust your order, pay the extra, or walk away from the products.
In the case of a tab (usually a bar) this sucks because you have already consumed the drink and now owe them money. If you don't have cash they kinda have you by the 'balls.'
On the other hand, I don't agree with the 'minimum purchase' at all. How about, for purchases less than X (15 for example) you pay an extra 1-2 dollar convenience fee? If you buy a 5 dollar item, the 10 dollar gap to meet the minimum is unnecessarily large to cover the CC expenses.
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On September 02 2012 04:44 Thenerf wrote:
First, always have some sort of cash on hand just in case. Second, according the US rulings a business has the right to choose payment methods.
You may have a case to get your money back if they failed to provide adequate communication of their policy.
They can choose payment methods like declining to accept American Express cards which many businesses do, however once you agree to accept AE/Visa, whatever you need to abide to the terms they agreed upon, IE: If you say you accept the tender, then you accept it regardless of number.
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I don't know of any bar/pub/restaurant in Canada (at least in the areas I've frequented in a few cities) that have minimums for debit/credit use.
A minimum/surcharge is more common in convenience stores, the one-offs that aren't like the chains, where they have debit/credit surcharges because they're not as busy to justify paying their own fees outright. You don't find out about this until you're at the cash.
If this bar isn't very popular, it's possible why they're trying to impose minimums. Or it could just be a selfish tactic.
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The reason "minimums" exist regarding cards is becasue card companies charge businesses for each swipe but the general toll is approximately 50cents (this can vary, debit machines in Canada that I go to usually have a dollar/2 dollar value when at the ATM)
15 dollars is absolutely ridiculous and you could have simply just not paid and left the bar if you wanted to (but you'd have been blacklisted from it).
If you didn't have the 5.00 to pay the drink, you simply write up your information leave it there and then bring the money in the next day, there is no way a "15.00" minimum fee would stand in small claims court nor would the bartender even bother to attend it.
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On September 02 2012 04:37 Soda wrote:
Just pay with cash, it's safer that way because it's harder to overspend.
Words of wisdom!
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On September 02 2012 04:48 divito wrote:
I don't know of any bar/pub/restaurant in Canada (at least in the areas I've frequented in a few cities) that have minimums for debit/credit use.
A minimum/surcharge is more common in convenience stores, the one-offs that aren't like the chains, where they have debit/credit surcharges because they're not as busy to justify paying their own fees outright. You don't find out about this until you're at the cash.
If this bar isn't very popular, it's possible why they're trying to impose minimums. Or it could just be a selfish tactic.
I found it was a popular policy in convenience stores at least. Province of Quebec here.
A guy from a convenience store told me once that he wasnt accepting visa because they were charging fees to his store. I told him to go fuck himself kindly, and that he would not hand over the fees to me by forcing me to use a debit card that im being charged for using...
left, bought my shit somewhere else, never went back there.
thats how you deal with a merchant that you perceive as unfair to the customer. ( aka dark forces of greed )
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On September 02 2012 04:37 Soda wrote:
Just pay with cash, it's safer that way because it's harder to overspend.
I think your username is aptly chosen for this thread, lol. 
I can't remember a place that I've gone to, bar or otherwise (less of the bars though, haha), where there wasn't a spot on the receipt to put a tip under the total. I usually do around 10-20% wherever I go, usually closest to 15%. Granted, I dunno how much you want to think about simple arithmetic when you're drunk, lol.
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On September 02 2012 05:12 Kevin_Sorbo wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:48 divito wrote:
I don't know of any bar/pub/restaurant in Canada (at least in the areas I've frequented in a few cities) that have minimums for debit/credit use.
A minimum/surcharge is more common in convenience stores, the one-offs that aren't like the chains, where they have debit/credit surcharges because they're not as busy to justify paying their own fees outright. You don't find out about this until you're at the cash.
If this bar isn't very popular, it's possible why they're trying to impose minimums. Or it could just be a selfish tactic. I found it was a popular policy in convenience stores at least. Province of Quebec here. A guy from a convenience store told me once that he wasnt accepting visa because they were charging fees to his store. I told him to go fuck himself kindly, and that he would not hand over the fees to me by forcing me to use a debit card that im being charged for using... left, bought my shit somewhere else, never went back there. thats how you deal with a merchant that you perceive as unfair to the customer. ( aka dark forces of greed )
He probably doesn't know it (the "0.50" fee usually doesn't come up unless its asking for a tip) but yeah, in Canada especially it is VERY common to have a debit/credit fee from the Card companies.
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There are minimums when paying by card because the payement processor takes a commission. But in general they are (and have to be) displayed clearly.
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On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there.
Nope, this is not how contract law works (Which his how the western capitalist system functions).
Stipulations on contracts (such as a minimum order on a purchase) have to be confirmed before you follow through on the contract. Giving a price for a beverage, then serving the beverage at that price, is a complete contract. If you haven't stipulated any other specificities (a sign would suffice) then they must accept the unwritten terms of the agreement (which were, this drink costs this much).
That being said, they don't have to accept debit or credit card unless a sign specifically says they do.
"If you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault" ... I'll remember that if you ever come to my house. There's an unwritten rule that I then own your soul and all your assets, and you are then indentured to me ... wait, no, that's not how it works.
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On September 02 2012 05:19 MrCon wrote:
There are minimums when paying by card because the payement processor takes a commission. But in general they are (and have to be) displayed clearly.
and are extremely cheap
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You should try going for a drink in the wrong bars in Instanbul...makes this sound like Disneyland. I agree with you on the principle, just don't pay next time. Make a scene, whatever you can. Let the cops come. Only pay for what you ordered, ultimately you could agree on a dollar surcharge fro using your creditcard or something.
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I have never been to a bar where the minimum wasn't hanging on the wall behind the register. It was probably up there somewhere.
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51456 Posts
Minimun of $15 for a tab :S
Must be American thing? In England the only time you get a bar tab though is when your in a resturant more than a pub though. As we seem to just pay for drinks on the spot in "rounds" as im sure you do if your with mates.
Strange though, and im sure you should go back when it's quieter and have words with managment because that is quite disturbing how they made you pay another $10 when you only had one drink!
On September 02 2012 05:22 NeMeSiS3 wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 05:19 MrCon wrote:
There are minimums when paying by card because the payement processor takes a commission. But in general they are (and have to be) displayed clearly. and are extremely cheap
In England it is done on a % of the transactions per month i think. We have recently renewed our "card terminals" with our bank and they have cut costs of it, they take a % but i can't remember how much it is. Im sure it close to 5% though.
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man up and stop being cheap, you dont go to a bar to spend only 5 bucks
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On September 02 2012 05:23 All.In wrote:
I have never been to a bar where the minimum wasn't hanging on the wall behind the register. It was probably up there somewhere.
I asked both bartenders working at the moment, about it being posted anywhere(whether that be on a sign or noted on the menu) both agreed it was not posted anywhere. But meh, they could be wrong. Assuming would be just as bad as I assuming it is some form of law/common courtesy to inform patrons of a minimum before a purchase/transaction.
I understand the reason for minimums, and am completely fine with them. I am simply upset about not being informed in the first place.
As others have suggested, I will not be going back.
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On September 02 2012 05:28 Mazzi wrote:
man up and stop being cheap, you dont go to a bar to spend only 5 bucks
Would you say the same if that minimum would have been $50 or $100 dollars without prior notice?
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Where was this bar? Atlanta? And what kind of bar was it? This sounds like a shady, strip-club-esque tactic to me.
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On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there.
Anyone from the US confirm whether this is totally accurate? In the UK I've literally never come across a minimum service charge that wasn't clearly mentioned by the counter.
Seems really stupid to put the responsibilty on the customer when one sign would do the job, especially in a bar.
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why run a tab if you're gonna have 1 drink and leave
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If you weren't informed before the purchase, you could have walked right out.
Good luck.
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On September 02 2012 04:49 NeMeSiS3 wrote:
The reason "minimums" exist regarding cards is becasue card companies charge businesses for each swipe but the general toll is approximately 50cents (this can vary, debit machines in Canada that I go to usually have a dollar/2 dollar value when at the ATM)
15 dollars is absolutely ridiculous and you could have simply just not paid and left the bar if you wanted to (but you'd have been blacklisted from it).
If you didn't have the 5.00 to pay the drink, you simply write up your information leave it there and then bring the money in the next day, there is no way a "15.00" minimum fee would stand in small claims court nor would the bartender even bother to attend it.
this, most places usually have it at 5.00 minimum, 15 is really high.
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On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
No, it's not like that at all.
Unfortunately, there is probably some small print in some obscure corner of the bar that reads that you 'agree' to their terms by making any purchases.
You might be able to legally challenge that you can't consent to something you're unaware about (and that you're unaware because of their negligence in prominently displaying/informing a customer ahead of time), but it the cost to do so is prohibitive. That's where class actions come into play, but you still aren't gonna be able to do that on a local bar.
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On September 02 2012 05:50 Kasu wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there. Anyone from the US confirm whether this is totally accurate? In the UK I've literally never come across a minimum service charge that wasn't clearly mentioned by the counter. Seems really stupid to put the responsibilty on the customer when one sign would do the job, especially in a bar.
Well, the US is a big place, and there might be, for all I know, regional differences in play. I can say that, as far as the states that I've lived in (Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia) and the bars that I've been to, I have never run into a tab minimum, much less one that was mentioned only after the fact.
In my experience, you see credit card minimum charges as convenience stores and whatnot, but they are always spelled out in writing and relatively small (like under $5).
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$15 is unreasonably high, a standerd fee to them is ~3% +$1 per transaction. how can they take your card to start a tab and not tell you that there is a minimum? seems to me they are either really stupid or trying to gouge you.
On September 02 2012 05:25 Pandemona wrote:
Minimun of $15 for a tab :S
Must be American thing? In England the only time you get a bar tab though is when your in a resturant more than a pub though. As we seem to just pay for drinks on the spot in "rounds" as im sure you do if your with mates.
Strange though, and im sure you should go back when it's quieter and have words with managment because that is quite disturbing how they made you pay another $10 when you only had one drink!
In England it is done on a % of the transactions per month i think. We have recently renewed our "card terminals" with our bank and they have cut costs of it, they take a % but i can't remember how much it is. Im sure it close to 5% though.
its common practice for most bars to start a tab if you try to pay for a round with a cc. as soon as you hand over your card they assume your starting a tab. most likely to cut down on the cost to them, as in america, merchants pay fees per transaction plus % of the total. so if they can swipe your card once instead of 5 or 6 times its saving them $5 or $6.
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On September 02 2012 05:50 Kasu wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there. Anyone from the US confirm whether this is totally accurate? In the UK I've literally never come across a minimum service charge that wasn't clearly mentioned by the counter. Seems really stupid to put the responsibilty on the customer when one sign would do the job, especially in a bar.
It's kind of true. If you were to be taken to court for charges to be pressed (like speeding tickets, rape etc) and tried to claim that you didn't know what the speed limit was, or that you were retarded and didn't know rape was bad they would tell you that ignorance of the law does not acquit you, and you would be charged as though you had confessed to the crime. In a scenario like this though, where it is a dispute between a non-governmental agency and a citizen I don't believe that would hold true. There are numerous precedents (with more and more being ruled on weekly it seems) that states customers must be aware of charges and terms before being held to them. Like others have said, $5-10 isn't a big deal, but I believe that if the OP had simply sat down and called the cops, when they showed up they likely would have told the bartenders they could either run the card or they would take it back and give it to OP.
On September 02 2012 05:53 MrRicewife wrote:
If you weren't informed before the purchase, you could have walked right out.
Good luck.
He said they had his card and wouldn't return it unless he met the minimum. Most places that you open a tab on will keep your card so you don't just walk out.
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On September 02 2012 05:50 Kasu wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there. Anyone from the US confirm whether this is totally accurate? In the UK I've literally never come across a minimum service charge that wasn't clearly mentioned by the counter. Seems really stupid to put the responsibilty on the customer when one sign would do the job, especially in a bar.
The thing is unlike in the UK where you have to go to the counter to get service in pubs, you get service at your table so you dont necessarily have to go over there, hence why you might not see the sign even if its there.
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Legends bar in NYC has the bullshit policy of a $20 / minimum. They also have 3 separate bars (downstairs, ground level, upstairs) and you can't buy a beer at one and move around at all. Terrible bar with $8 drafts, shitty selection, and overpriced food.
I've found there to be a mixed policy there. Some nights they'll tell you there's a minimum, other nights they won't. I've been there a few times because they're one of the few places Barcrafting here. Dammit I should really open my own place and do things right.
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On September 02 2012 05:50 Kasu wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there. Anyone from the US confirm whether this is totally accurate? In the UK I've literally never come across a minimum service charge that wasn't clearly mentioned by the counter. Seems really stupid to put the responsibilty on the customer when one sign would do the job, especially in a bar.
As Shai pointed out, the guy's post was ignorant in itself. He's very off the mark and in many situations that would never apply even if there was a hint of truth in there.
To MrCon saying the credit/debt card fees should be labelled clearly. I wish and there's a huge debate about this with retailers and the credit card companies because a lot of the retailers are processing the fees in the actual price so the consumers don't actually know.
Anyway, the system needs a lot of work at the moment. X-X
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sounds like an american problem.
If you try to pay with a card in german bars you would get a laugh at best...
Cash for beer, beer for cash
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On September 02 2012 04:45 RebirthOfLeGenD wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there. What Torte de lini said was correct though. It's a made up rule that establishments use to avoid paying the 2.75% service charge or whatever number they negotiated. To the other guy, going to their boss probably won't help. Chances are the owner is the one wanting to have a minimum so that he can not report some/most cash income to the IRS and avoid the 2.75% expense incurred from accepting credit cards. You can tell the bartender or whoever is charging you that they have no right to do that, alternatively you could also call up visa or whatever card you used and report them, chances are they get hit with a fine and you get your money back since they are, as torte de lini said, violating their agreement. A company like Visa won't be happy that one of their customers was shafted and they lost money because a bar decided to create their own minimum to avoid giving them money that was agreed they would get.
Just a small correction, I would assume the credit card service has a fixed charge each time someone pays with a credit/debit card. Making it a percentage would not make any sense since it would add up to the same if you payed 5x $1 or just 1x $5 
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On September 02 2012 06:44 ZpuX wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2012 04:45 RebirthOfLeGenD wrote:On September 02 2012 04:35 ElvisWayCool wrote:
It's kind of like the law: if you're ignorant of the rules, it's your fault.
Ask the host/bartender next time you go somewhere if there's a drink/dollar minimum. It's better to be safe than sorry.
EDIT: I bet 98% of the people in the bar knew about the minimum prior to going there. What Torte de lini said was correct though. It's a made up rule that establishments use to avoid paying the 2.75% service charge or whatever number they negotiated. To the other guy, going to their boss probably won't help. Chances are the owner is the one wanting to have a minimum so that he can not report some/most cash income to the IRS and avoid the 2.75% expense incurred from accepting credit cards. You can tell the bartender or whoever is charging you that they have no right to do that, alternatively you could also call up visa or whatever card you used and report them, chances are they get hit with a fine and you get your money back since they are, as torte de lini said, violating their agreement. A company like Visa won't be happy that one of their customers was shafted and they lost money because a bar decided to create their own minimum to avoid giving them money that was agreed they would get. Just a small correction, I would assume the credit card service has a fixed charge each time someone pays with a credit/debit card. Making it a percentage would not make any sense since it would add up to the same if you payed 5x $1 or just 1x $5
That's true, I was mainly thinking from where I work. I work at a major electronics chain and I believe they get charged 2.75% regardless. I imagine they have better bargaining positions as opposed to small business owners though.
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each time the card is swiped the bank company charges the business that is conducting the transaction by an amount. The bank usually enact a very small fee of 25cents or a percentage based however over time this can add up. So in theory in order to compensate the company can request a fee for utilizing the card. They don't have to do it and it isn't a law however they are obligated to inform the consumer of their policy of charging credit/debit and the minimum. It is because of this though business take advantage of and make large amount of profit by essentially forcing you to spend money which is ridiculous. My parents own a small business and we have a card swiper but we aren't douches and pull this crap on customers.
It's a matter of "if you don't like our policy then go somewhere else." Nothing much you can really do about it. I know in Gainesville there is a couple with a 10$ minimum. Very annoying.
tl;dr
Always carry small amount of cash on you. Carrying plastic can be annoying and always ask what the minimum is everywhere because if the cashier fails or forget then it can be a bitch. Tried to fight it once and it was a hassle.
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@OP - you seem pretty reasonable by saying that if they mentioned the minimum, you would have paid it. In this scenario, since they didn't tell you beforehand, I would have told them - close it, or I'll report this to my card provider.
What RebirthofLegend says is true, and also applies at gas stations that charge more for credit purchases than cash purchases.
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On September 02 2012 06:36 Truenappa wrote:
Dammit I should really open my own place and do things right.
Finally, somebody on there willing to put their money where their mouth is !!! Let us know how doing things "right" competes against those evil, greedy business owners that have such stupid policies that screw their customers every chance they get.
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i would have just left the bar at that point, because that's ridiculous. you don't want to go back as it is.
it's not the 10$, it's the principle of the thing. there should have been a sign posted at least.
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of course, i always pay in cash, so i wouldn't have had that problem
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I work at a small business in my local town and have a lot of experience with this minimum payment for using a Credit/Debit card.
The issue isn't about them wanting more money from you, which is what it sounds like you think it is, but every time someone uses their card and asks for credit instead of debit or paying cash that business owner has to pay a fee for the credit transaction where with the debit or cash transaction there is no fee for the owner.
So to make it economical for the business owner they have to set up a minimum dollar amount to use credit so they aren't losing money with every swipe. It is convenient for the card owner and it kinda sucks for the business owner whenever someone uses credit because we then have to pay for that transaction.
For all the people saying that there shouldn't be a minimum and the business owners are being fucktards, or it's unfair that they are allowed to do that, just remember that it's a financial thing and no one wants to lose money.
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the only place that charges minimum that ive run to are bubble tea places here in toronto. and its not because of credit card use, its a minimum charge per person that sits down. but they usually say it right there on the menu.
if the bar didnt put up a sign that said credit card had to be more than 15$, i would tell them to fuck right off, and tell them if they want to lose all of the 15$ go ahead and that ill be calling visa to refund that shit.
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On September 02 2012 08:20 peekn wrote:
I work at a small business in my local town and have a lot of experience with this minimum payment for using a Credit/Debit card.
The issue isn't about them wanting more money from you, which is what it sounds like you think it is, but every time someone uses their card and asks for credit instead of debit or paying cash that business owner has to pay a fee for the credit transaction where with the debit or cash transaction there is no fee for the owner.
So to make it economical for the business owner they have to set up a minimum dollar amount to use credit so they aren't losing money with every swipe. It is convenient for the card owner and it kinda sucks for the business owner whenever someone uses credit because we then have to pay for that transaction.
For all the people saying that there shouldn't be a minimum and the business owners are being fucktards, or it's unfair that they are allowed to do that, just remember that it's a financial thing and no one wants to lose money.
while that makes sense, i dont think it really takes a minimum 15$ charge in order for them to not lose money in OP's case.
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United States22154 Posts
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Happened to me at a restaurant. I wanted to use my credit card to pay for my $17-ish dollar meal, but they didn't accept credit cards for anything under $25. Ended up just pooling money with a friend, (got a little complicated). There's usually something on the menu that tells you about these conditions, but yeah, it sucks. Perfectly legal, though, so long as it's posted somewhere.
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EPT
