Can Merchants set a min. Purchase amount for Cards?

Bought a $1.15 bottle of water this morning at the gas station. Haji or whatever his name was, told me $2.00 minimum purchase amount for card transactions. I told him I work for Visa and we both know that's a violation of his merchant agreement. He sold me the water.

Am I right on this? I've heard so many conflicting reports, but is a merchant allowed to set a minimum purchase amount for cards?

An owner can set whatever policy he wants for his store as long as it doesnt break laws.

Seen plenty of 10$ minimum transaction places.

VISA use to prohibit this but the laws where changed recently.

http://blog.visa.com/2010/09/02/mini...over-minimums/

Tim

Thanks Tim, looks like they can do minimums for Credit, but not debit.

Just what I wanted to know! I will report every last merchant that does this crap - accept the cost of doing business.

Originally Posted by Rubenk

An owner can set whatever policy he wants for his store as long as it doesnt break laws.

Seen plenty of 10$ minimum transaction places.

This is the worst post I've read in weeks. He's asking if it's illegal

who cares.

buy $2 worth of stuff cheapie.

some places are $5 or $10.

The reason why is because in addition to getting charged 1%-5% of the total, they also get charged a PER TRANSACTION FEE. Some of these are as high as $1.

So imagine if you owned a store that pays $10k per month in rent and $10k in payroll, and some clown wants to buy a bottle of water for $1.15 that costs you $1.75 to buy and process.

JMO.

PS - gas prices are often more when using credit that cash.

PPS - A merchant has the right the refuse service to anyone. I would tell your smartazz to get the hell out of my store.

Wow, was his name really Haji or are you just being a racist asshat?

Originally Posted by GlockMan

who cares.

buy $2 worth of stuff cheapie.

some places are $5 or $10.

The reason why is because in addition to getting charged 1%-5% of the total, they also get charged a PER TRANSACTION FEE. Some of these are as high as $1.

So imagine if you owned a store that pays $10k per month in rent and $10k in payroll, and some clown wants to buy a bottle of water for $1.15 that costs you $1.75 to buy and process.

JMO.

Your operation costs are not my problem. I will report every last merchant that does this. If I want a $1.15 bottle of water I shouldn't have to buy $3 of crap.

Visa clearly states that they are not allowed to do this on debit, ONLY credit cards.


It's so funny bringing this up and then telling the merchant you work for Visa and they can't do it.

It's awesome.

Originally Posted by NOVAbimmer

Wow, was his name really Haji or are you just being a racist asshat?

Might of been Apu or something.

Skip to 0:24

Originally Posted by yousharenow

Your operation costs are not my problem. I will report every last merchant that does this. If I want a $1.15 bottle of water I shouldn't have to buy $3 of crap.

Visa clearly states that they are not allowed to do this on debit, ONLY credit cards.


It's so funny bringing this up and then telling the merchant you work for Visa and they can't do it.

It's awesome.

Your time must be really important to you. It is people like you that make a bottle water go from $1.15 to $2.15.

Ever think of that?

Originally Posted by DylloS

This is the worst post I've read in weeks. He's asking if it's illegal

He did not ask if it was illegal, he asked if it was a violation of their agreement with Visa.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

Your time must be really important to you. It is people like you that make a bottle water go from $1.15 to $2.15.

Ever think of that?

Fine with me. Charge $1.99 for the bottle.

I can't even get a pack of gum for a dollar so do what you want, but you will not refuse my debit card with some retarded like lame $3-$5 min(which is what I find most charge)

Originally Posted by yousharenow

Fine with me. Charge $1.99 for the bottle.

I can't even get a pack of gum for a dollar so do what you want, but you will not refuse my debit card with some retarded like lame $3-$5 min(which is what I find most charge)

You make no sense.

You have no problem paying $2 for a bottle of water, but you have a problem paying $2 for a bottle a water plus another item worth .85 ?

You have no problem paying $2 for a bottle of water, but you have a problem paying $2.30 for 2 bottles of water?

Brilliant.

You always have the right to walk out of the store without making a purchase.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

You make no sense.

You have no problem paying $2 for a bottle of water, but you have a problem paying $2 for a bottle a water plus another item worth .85 ?

You have no problem paying $2 for a bottle of water, but you have a problem paying $2.30 for 2 bottles of water?

Brilliant.

$2 was a bad example, as the average fee is $3-$5.

If I just want a water bottle thats $1.99, I don't want to HAVE to buy something else to satisfy a requirement that you are applying which violates your merchant agreement.


You guys are going to spend the next 30 replies playing devils advocate for the sake of it being the internet and its easy to troll on here.


I'm right.
You all know it.

Stop it.

Originally Posted by yousharenow

$2 was a bad example, as the average fee is $3-$5.

If I just want a water bottle thats $1.99, I don't want to HAVE to buy something else to satisfy a requirement that you are applying which violates your merchant agreement.


You guys are going to spend the next 30 replies playing devils advocate for the sake of it being the internet and its easy to troll on here.


I'm right.
You all know it.

Stop it.

No, you are not right.

Using a Visa card is a privilege not a right.

Being able to buy bottled water on any street corner is a privilege, not a right.

You are not right. The merchant controls the environment.

You can decide whether or not you chose to support than environment.

I would have told you to hit the bricks.

You are absolutely ridiculous.

This pizza place around me use to sell the only vanilla coke in town for $1.50. Usually I would just go to get the coke and the teenaged girl who would always be working never gave me any problems for using my credit card.

One time I went and the greasy guido owner was present, she rang me up and swiped my card and he started yelling at her and calling her all sorts of things because she is "ruining" his business, I opted to not buy the coke and I left, I didn't like the way he was talking to her and rather have a $1.50 charge on my card rather than the girl get in trouble because of such a small stupid thing. He told me it costs him $3 if someone pays with credit card for an item that is under $2.

I went again maybe a month later this time and I bought two slices of pizza and the coke and paid using credit card as it was $6 ($5 and up credit card is ok), he saw her swipe my card and came out and started cursing at her for being a "dumb slut" who does not know the "store policy" and she should be thankful she has a job and the only reason he hired her was because she has "good looks". Mind you...he was saying this in front of his own little kids, anyway the girl was very upset, my uncle has a pharmacy near by who needed some pharmacy clerks so I offered her a job and she quit the pizza place that day.

I never went again and told all my family friends to never spend $.01 at the place. After the girl quit a few other girls that worked as waitresses quit, slowly it began to crumble, before summer hit it went out of business. I see the guy time to time at the pharmacy and always ask him how his pizza place is going LOL!

---Back on topic---

Any "small" store or gas station that pulls this kind of crap does not get my business. Around here some gas stations charge 15-20 cents extra for gas if you pay using credit, I simply leave and never come back, same with drinks, if I am buying a $1.50 drink and you want me to pay in cash or buy $3 of stuff I will never come back.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

No, you are not right.

Using a Visa card is a privilege not a right.

Being able to buy bottled water on any street corner is a privilege, not a right.

You are not right. The merchant controls the environment.

You can decide whether or not you chose to support than environment.

I would have told you to hit the bricks.

You are absolutely ridiculous.

IMO... if you are using a bank's services for your business, you do not have the right to tell a customer how much to spend.

If you have to eat a transaction fee, that is a business expense you should be willing/expecting to pay. Deceiving the customer and telling them they have to spend a limit of $10.00 is not right.

I understand the ones who lose out are small business owners, but shiit like this is what makes me have no problem going to Costco once a month and getting my shiit in bulk so I don't have to run to the bodega/convenience store to pay unit price + up-charge.

That being said, I always carry around at least $50 for small purchases. I feel like a dork when I use a card to pay for anything less than $10.00.

Originally Posted by yousharenow

$2 was a bad example, as the average fee is $3-$5.

If I just want a water bottle thats $1.99, I don't want to HAVE to buy something else to satisfy a requirement that you are applying which violates your merchant agreement.

BS - then this thread would be about getting raped by the store when they charged you $1.99 for water.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

You are absolutely ridiculous.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

No, you are not right.

Using a Visa card is a privilege not a right.

So Play by the rules. Charging a min-purchase amount for debit cards violates that.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

Being able to buy bottled water on any street corner is a privilege, not a right.

Then don't accept cards. If you want to accept cards - you will play ball. Simple as that.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

You are not right. The merchant controls the environment.

And the CC company dictates the rules for payment. If you are to have CC/debit card accepting equipment. Per your merchant agreement, you aren't to refuse a debit card for ANY purchase.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

You can decide whether or not you chose to support than environment.

They will play by the rules.

Originally Posted by GlockMan

I would have told you to hit the bricks.

You are absolutely ridiculous.

You will accept payment in the form of debit per your merchant agreement, or I will come by, every day, and report you until you play ball.


I'm not asking for much, just merchants to play by the rules.

Originally Posted by aretardedorange

.....

I am buying a $1.50 drink and you want me to pay in cash or buy $3 of stuff I will never come back.

F that I will to make a point. If you want to participate in the CC/Debit taking business, you will play by the rules.

This is not up for debate. It's in Visa's merchant agreement in black & white lol.

Originally Posted by DME46

IMO... if you are using a bank's services for your business, you do not have the right to tell a customer how much to spend.

If you have to eat a transaction fee, that is a business expense you should be willing/expecting to pay. Deceiving the customer and telling them they have to spend a limit of $10.00 is not right.

I understand the ones who lose out are small business owners, but shiit like this is what makes me have no problem going to Costco once a month and getting my shiit in bulk so I don't have to run to the bodega/convenience store to pay unit price + up-charge.

That being said, I always carry around at least $50 for small purchases. I feel like a dork when I use a card to pay for anything less than $10.00.

I agree, I never have cash on me. I hate change!

Originally Posted by Show me

BS - then this thread would be about getting raped by the store when they charged you $1.99 for water.

Nope. This isn't about the price of the water bottle. It's about them not following the rules.

Again, its the internet so I expect you guys to all play devils advocate but the bottom line, no matter how you justify it to yourself, Is clear.

If you are a merchant whom takes Visa. You are to accept debit card purchases without any minimum amount.


Coffee shop in the bottom of my office bldg has some $3 limit, and while its against the rules it doesn't bother me as my morning muffin & Tea = $3.19. If it was $2.19 I'd tell them I worked for Visa and to straighten up as well.










This place just loves to argue. If this was a "got a speeding ticket, halp guys" you would all be on the side of the written law. Not so with merchants lol