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Credit/debit card surcharges
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Author:  cabbyman [ Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Credit/debit card surcharges
As usual, I'm getting grief from the know nothing, know it alls who now purport to represent the local association.

Most, if not all, credit/debit card payments will be subject to a cost imposed by the 'processor' company. Anything from 1% to 6.5% or even more. A traders ability to recoup those costs is governed by The Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharge) Regulations 2012.

In order to get the HC tariff sorted out so that we can legally claim those costs from the passenger, I have suggested a note on the tariff card "Credit/Debit card payments may attract a surcharge in accordance with the Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharge) Regulations 2012"

Our idiots are wanting to do a survey of the various surcharges made and put a specific figure on the tariff card so that passengers have a definite known cost. I think that would be unworkable because of a) the range of charges for which drivers are liable with their chosen card processor and b) a higher charge on the tariff card would be misleading because a driver is ONLY entitled to reclaim actual costs. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Additionally, on a quick scan through relevant legislation, I can only find mention of 'fares.' Can anyone point me towards the legislation that empowers a LA to fix 'other charges' please. Many thanks.
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
cabbyman wrote:
Our idiots are wanting to do a survey of the various surcharges made and put a specific figure on the tariff card so that passengers have a definite known cost. I think that would be unworkable because of a) the range of charges for which drivers are liable with their chosen card processor and b) a higher charge on the tariff card would be misleading because a driver is ONLY entitled to reclaim actual costs. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Trying to put an actual % on it is impossible, you will either guess or just put 'a fee for credit cards may apply'.

Personally I'm still not convinced such a fee is legal, but I'm in a minority, again.
Author:  grandad [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Sussex wrote:
cabbyman wrote:
Our idiots are wanting to do a survey of the various surcharges made and put a specific figure on the tariff card so that passengers have a definite known cost. I think that would be unworkable because of a) the range of charges for which drivers are liable with their chosen card processor and b) a higher charge on the tariff card would be misleading because a driver is ONLY entitled to reclaim actual costs. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Trying to put an actual % on it is impossible, you will either guess or just put 'a fee for credit cards may apply'.

Personally I'm still not convinced such a fee is legal, but I'm in a minority, again.

What about if the credit/debit card is through a 3rd party? For instance, we are looking at Zapper. The customer downloads the app and scans a QR code. The driver tells the customer the fare and this is the figure that the customer puts into their phone. The driver gets a confirmation that the fare has been paid at the metered rate and the customer gets a receipt for the fare plus the credit card processing fee.
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Sussex wrote:

Personally I'm still not convinced such a fee is legal, but I'm in a minority, again.


I agree.

I personally believe any charge made should be on the fare card.

Even a simple "payments made by credit card may be subject to a surcharge for details you should ask the driver" - would be better than nothing.
Author:  cabbyman [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Does anyone have this on their tariff card?? London? Birmingham? Manchester or the provinces?
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
North Tyneside has a notice that the customer is responsible for tolls and tyne tunnel charges
Author:  GBC [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
cabbyman wrote:
Does anyone have this on their tariff card?? London? Birmingham? Manchester or the provinces?



Pretty sure ours mentions cc charges.

I'd look, but the cabs 300 mikes away. :D
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Liverpool's states;

2. The only extra charges permitted are tolls to and from destination, tolls charged at John Lennon Airport, appropriate electronic card handling charges and a £25 fouling charge.
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
grandad wrote:
What about if the credit/debit card is through a 3rd party? For instance, we are looking at Zapper. The customer downloads the app and scans a QR code. The driver tells the customer the fare and this is the figure that the customer puts into their phone. The driver gets a confirmation that the fare has been paid at the metered rate and the customer gets a receipt for the fare plus the credit card processing fee.

Not sure that meets my stiff legal criteria either.

If a shop was advertising a telly at £500, and someone paid by credit card and the telly finally cost £515, then IMO a trading standards offence has occurred.

Didn't the idiot with the WAV just get done for overcharging on a fixed fare job? Would that job have become legal if the punter paid by card?

I very much doubt it.
Author:  grandad [ Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Sussex wrote:
grandad wrote:
What about if the credit/debit card is through a 3rd party? For instance, we are looking at Zapper. The customer downloads the app and scans a QR code. The driver tells the customer the fare and this is the figure that the customer puts into their phone. The driver gets a confirmation that the fare has been paid at the metered rate and the customer gets a receipt for the fare plus the credit card processing fee.

Not sure that meets my stiff legal criteria either.

If a shop was advertising a telly at £500, and someone paid by credit card and the telly finally cost £515, then IMO a trading standards offence has occurred.

Didn't the idiot with the WAV just get done for overcharging on a fixed fare job? Would that job have become legal if the punter paid by card?

I very much doubt it.

Ryanair and the other budget airlines still charge extra for using a credit card for payments. East midlands airport charges £1.50 to use a credit or debit card to pay the £1.00 drop off charge making it cost £2.50. :?
Author:  Foxtrot26 [ Sat Aug 02, 2014 12:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
where are you guys getting your merchant services from up to 6.5% ooft


mines is 1.9% across the board inc amex.
Author:  cabbyman [ Sat Aug 02, 2014 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Adelante charge 6.5% via their phone app.

Under The Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012, a trader is entitled to recover the additional costs of processing a card transaction.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3110/made
Author:  sasha [ Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
cabbyman wrote:
Under The Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012, a trader is entitled to recover the additional costs of processing a card transaction.
And a different piece of legislation states that a taxi can't charge more than the metered fare. So if someone pays by card which law takes precedent ? :?:
Author:  Chris the Fish [ Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
sasha wrote:
cabbyman wrote:
Under The Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012, a trader is entitled to recover the additional costs of processing a card transaction.
And a different piece of legislation states that a taxi can't charge more than the metered fare. So if someone pays by card which law takes precedent ? :?:

My reading would be that if the Customer pays by card:

1. If the Driver makes an additional charge with which to pay the bank charge later, that would be illegal as the total charged by the Driver would exceed the metered fare.

2. If the bank makes the total charge, including the Bank charge, and then pays the Driver the metered fare, that would be legal. The Customer is paying the Bank for the facility to pay by card and by using the facility the Customer is agreeing to that. This in fact is what happens.

Having said that, I think it important that the Customer is informed what the Bank charge is. If it were included on a Tariff as a percentage, every time the rate changed the Tariff would have to be amended. Unfortunately it is rarely a fixed amount. To obviate this, the tariff could have words to the effect:

"When Payment is made using methods attracting a Bank charge, the Driver must clearly state what those charges are and must provide a receipt clearly showing such charge if requested."

I honestly think all this could be so easy and we are tying ourselves up in knots when we do not need to do so.
Author:  cabbyman [ Tue Sep 02, 2014 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Credit/debit card surcharges
Except that many processing facilities for taxis are not banks but an intermediary.

I think the answer is: "Payments made by card or other electronic means may be subject to charges in accordance with The Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012."

Does this satisfy both credit card and taxi charging legislation?
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