[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Skip

We've been watching this for over a year now. First it was 2.4% added to the net total in a few restaurants. It appeared at the bottom of the bill, no signs and no notices on the menu. A complete surprise! I complained to the manager and got: "Everyone is doing this now!" My reply was: "OK, I won't come back then."

Then I noticed the fee was 3%. In a few months it was 3.5%. One place added it for "any plastic payment" (CC or DC). Then suddenly it was 4% added for CC surcharge last month. We just went to a restaurant for the first time last night and the charge was 4.3% of the net. This is getting out of hand. No prior notice either.

So I now write on the merchant's copy of the charge slip: "Owner: This 4% CC surprise fee is an underhanded tactic and not customer friendly. You just lost my frequent business!"

If everyone did this, the practice would soon stop. Even the servers that we talk to, hate the practice, it eventually affects their tips.

If we have a "law" in Florida, it should be enforced.

Suggest we all let the merchants know that their low 1-2% fee to the CC companies should not be passed on as a 4.3% rip off to the unsuspecting consumer.

Skip

So now this is a way to increase profits at our expense. Great idea to pass the comment onto the owner