[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by Sandy and Ed

Huh??? Violated free speech rights?? If I was really interested and not too lazy I would do a deep dive into this further. Sounds hokey. Just saying.

It is true… However if you do a deep dive you'll find the reason is because of the sloppy way the Florida legislature created the statute. The appeals court concluded had the legislature simply added the words that businesses giving discounts for cash was also prohibited then the statute would have stood

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

The charges are now legal. While you may not get a discount if you use a credit card, sellers pay 1.5 to 3.5% to the card company. That’s like a mandatory discount on your bill, except that you don’t get it. It’s for the convenience of getting to use a card today and pay later rather than having to tote around a lot of cash. I don’t like the charges, but in some businesses, the profit margin is pretty slim.

Meanwhile, when you get your monthly bill for the Amenities Fee and trash, water, and sewage, have you ever paid that bill online using a credit card? The company that handles that charges a LOT for that convenience. Unless you are out of town, write a check and put it in an envelope and put it in the slot for Villages payments found at every Villages Postal Station when you pick up your mail. That saves you the price of a stamp (around $7.50 a year, just in postage).

I make the amenities payment using an Echeck from my bank's online bill payment system. It bypasses the District's vendor and avoids their $0.95 fee. Also, you don't need to sign up for autopay. The invoice neglects to mention this payment method, apparently because they want you to use the vendor.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Businesses pay a lot less in fees when they accept a Debit card than a Credit card (usually 1% rather than 3%), so often their surcharge on a Debit card is lower.

Usually even less on a Debit Card. Because the Banks and Servicers are so highly regulated, they usually play by the rules on Debit Cards. Merchants pay almost nothing for a Debit Card transaction.

To those who question the real cost. Attached is a Screen Shot of one of our small businesses, in the hospitality field (which pays slightly higher rates than retail stores). We're a fairly large business, that probably does somewhere around $50,000,000 in CC transactions per year, so our rate is lower than most.

[Golfer222]

^
Whats next- pay for the water used to wash the number of dishes we use
Its called the price of doing business

[coralway]

Every restaurant, diner I have been to (up North) has a note usually on the bottom page of the menu that they charge a cc fee.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Sandy and Ed

Totally agree! Cost of doing business. Just price your product or service accordingly so you arrive at the profit you want. I can’t gripe about the fee if it is buried in the cost of the product.

Not every business can just increase prices if they are locked in by government or industry coercion. Ask me how I know.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Every bill I have is either on auto pay or bank drafts both credit cards I use are also automatic , the backup card pays the cable, cell phone ,Wi-Fi ,pest services and some newspapers and gym membership the major card pays everything else if you don’t want the credit card company to-take the full amount , you have to call them but then they’ll only take minimum, seeing I only pay the full bill it’s easy ,I’ve been doing this for a lot of years with no problems , i probably use about 3 or 4 checks a year , I pay t he yard guy in cash same with my cleaning person and anyone else that does something at my home As far as taxes , I went yesterday paid and was out of there in about 5 minutes ,with a 4% , discount what could be easier and cheaper then that some people on here seem to make things to complicated with all these different methods

[Golfer222]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

Not every business can just increase prices if they are locked in by government or industry coercion. Ask me how I know.

Not sure palmers is locked in by the govt or industry

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by melpetezrinski

One being, an electronic check from a bank account, which Sumter does accept for tax bill payments.

Good idea, but Chase charges $10.00 for that service.

[JGibson]

As long as folks are paying the CC surcharge they‘re gonna keep charging it.
No way I pay the CC surcharge.

[Golfer222]

deduct the exact amount from the server's tip-that will get some attention

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Golfer222

Not sure palmers is locked in by the govt or industry

No, but The King (or his heirs) still maintain some control.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Golfer222

deduct the exact amount from the server's tip-that will get some attention

I think that's a great idea and I'm going to start with it, tomorrow. Thank you.`

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by Golfer222

deduct the exact amount from the server's tip-that will get some attention

Punishing the server is disgraceful.
Pay cash and there is not a surcharge.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Good idea, but Chase charges $10.00 for that service.

I've never heard of a bank charging to process an "electronic check" which is just another ACH transaction for them. But if that's true, maybe it's time to change banks. Chase, Citi, BofA, Wells Fargo, etc have the highest fees in the industry.

Consider a free CMA (cash management account) from Fidelity or Schwab.