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I believe that the merchant accounts require merchants to charge the same price.

It seems like it's mostly a tax on those who pay in cash.



You can give discounts for particular payment methods - the thing you aren't allowed to do is add a surcharge for using credit cards.


I hear this, but then see it in places. When I went to get my license plate there was a 3% "convenience fee" to use your debit or credit card.

Is it something in the wording?


I've seen "convenience fees" for credit card usage a few times, specifically when renewing car registration or paying parking tickets online. But there, credit card payment was the only option.

As for enforcement for B&M shops, I think it all comes down to wording and appearances. Card companies will accept a gas stations offering a cash discount because that isn't being portrayed as a card tax (negative connotation).


When gas stations advertise $3.69 in giant numbers over the highway, and only when you pull off the highway and into the station do you see $3.79 for credit card or $3.89/$3.99 for plus/premium, I do view that as a card tax. Maybe the CC companies don't, but as a consumer, that's how it feels.




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