Charge cards
Jan 27th, 2009, 02:36 PM
#61
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Yes I told the clerk (who hardly understood English) the card was a non chip card on Monday, on Tuesday, on Wednesday but he insisted on inserting it in the chip reader anyway. Sorry, 99% of the rest of the time, the clerk takes one look at the card and knows it has to be swiped.
You don't know me so you have no idea of the way I travel. You don't like the way I travel, too bad. And I will repeat, I would have had no way of knowing that this particular shop has a minimum requirement. Now if I went back the next day and did the same thing, then you're point that there should be no requirement that a sign be posted informing a minimu for use of a credit just doesn't make sense.
And if I was in France and such a sign existed in French, I would understand it as well as in Germany.
But oh well...to the OP, your American credit card is as good as gold in London but with the caveats that several have pointed out here. You will not have the protections that the merchant agreements with US retailers provide.
How's that...we can all agree on that.
You don't know me so you have no idea of the way I travel. You don't like the way I travel, too bad. And I will repeat, I would have had no way of knowing that this particular shop has a minimum requirement. Now if I went back the next day and did the same thing, then you're point that there should be no requirement that a sign be posted informing a minimu for use of a credit just doesn't make sense.
And if I was in France and such a sign existed in French, I would understand it as well as in Germany.
But oh well...to the OP, your American credit card is as good as gold in London but with the caveats that several have pointed out here. You will not have the protections that the merchant agreements with US retailers provide.
How's that...we can all agree on that.
Jan 27th, 2009, 02:41 PM
#62
"<i>Hey janisi...
Just out of curiosity, next time you're asked for id to make a credit card transaction say you don't have any.</i>"
I can't imagine why I'd want to do that. I appreciate it when a merchant asks for a photo ID.
Just out of curiosity, next time you're asked for id to make a credit card transaction say you don't have any.</i>"
I can't imagine why I'd want to do that. I appreciate it when a merchant asks for a photo ID.
Jan 27th, 2009, 02:43 PM
#63
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<i>Especially since I know UK merchants have to pay fees. </i>
As do merchants everywhere (?)
FWIW, the merchants didn't "negotiate" an agreement with the credit card issuers to be able to accept low-amount charges without signatures....it is the merchant who decides what that limit is (some are $5.00, some $25) and it is the merchant who takes the risk of non-payment in this situation.
I have to agree with Cowboy that "I can understand xyz's irritation that one store which said it would take credit cards suddenly came up with an invisible limit.
I just don't understand how that can be turned into a matter of life and death, of principle, of consumer protection, as if the world as we know it came to a stop."
I also think it makes sense to take normal precautions, but I refuse to live my life as paranoidly (LOL) as xyz seems to live his.
As do merchants everywhere (?)
FWIW, the merchants didn't "negotiate" an agreement with the credit card issuers to be able to accept low-amount charges without signatures....it is the merchant who decides what that limit is (some are $5.00, some $25) and it is the merchant who takes the risk of non-payment in this situation.
I have to agree with Cowboy that "I can understand xyz's irritation that one store which said it would take credit cards suddenly came up with an invisible limit.
I just don't understand how that can be turned into a matter of life and death, of principle, of consumer protection, as if the world as we know it came to a stop."
I also think it makes sense to take normal precautions, but I refuse to live my life as paranoidly (LOL) as xyz seems to live his.
Jan 27th, 2009, 11:11 PM
#64
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"I could not get any information from google as to whether these consumer protections applicable in the United States also serve to protect consumers in the UK."
So why post a US site on a European forum and insist that it is right? In fact why on earth would you expect them to be the same world wide?
I remember in my childhood we used to have signs saying the minimum purchase with a CC was £5 but now we don't because it is one of those things everyone knows. Just like we don't have signs saying "you must pay using legal tender" or "to buy something take it to the till"
So why post a US site on a European forum and insist that it is right? In fact why on earth would you expect them to be the same world wide?
I remember in my childhood we used to have signs saying the minimum purchase with a CC was £5 but now we don't because it is one of those things everyone knows. Just like we don't have signs saying "you must pay using legal tender" or "to buy something take it to the till"
Jan 28th, 2009, 02:26 AM
#65
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sashh...
Just leaveit at this without trying to rekindle or set people off...
You state everybody knows the minimum purchase price on a credit card is £5...
I can show many places in London I have gone into and used a credit card for as little as £1.09 without eyebrows being raised or having the slightest question in the minds of the clerk. I will reiterate what I said and I just don't understand why there is so much displeasure over this. If I see a credit card decal, I assume I can use my credit card unless there is a sign saying £5 (or £50) minimum. If such a sign is there and I start arguing well in the USA you can't do this, then indeed every nasty thing some of the people have written about my viewpoint (I hope it's not personal) would be true. The merchants evidently in the UK can set minimums. That's fine and I have no right to argue against that.
But I don't understand, in all due respect, why anybody could argue that if such minimums exist, people should be told beforehand. It should not be my obligation every time I use my credit card to have to ask if there is a minimum.
I just don't understand the bitter feelings this view point seems to have caused here.
Just leaveit at this without trying to rekindle or set people off...
You state everybody knows the minimum purchase price on a credit card is £5...
I can show many places in London I have gone into and used a credit card for as little as £1.09 without eyebrows being raised or having the slightest question in the minds of the clerk. I will reiterate what I said and I just don't understand why there is so much displeasure over this. If I see a credit card decal, I assume I can use my credit card unless there is a sign saying £5 (or £50) minimum. If such a sign is there and I start arguing well in the USA you can't do this, then indeed every nasty thing some of the people have written about my viewpoint (I hope it's not personal) would be true. The merchants evidently in the UK can set minimums. That's fine and I have no right to argue against that.
But I don't understand, in all due respect, why anybody could argue that if such minimums exist, people should be told beforehand. It should not be my obligation every time I use my credit card to have to ask if there is a minimum.
I just don't understand the bitter feelings this view point seems to have caused here.
Jan 29th, 2009, 06:13 PM
#66
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Most of the Canadian banks are now issuing chip&pin CC. All new cards use the same technology as in Europe.
Any merchant who says they cannot accept an American CC are either not aware of how to manually use the card, or too lazy to do it.
When the c&p CC started being used here, many people had no idea they had to use a PIN (and sometimes forgot it since it took a while for merchants to get the technology to use the chip). It's always possibly to do it manually, but it will require a signature.
Any merchant who says they cannot accept an American CC are either not aware of how to manually use the card, or too lazy to do it.
When the c&p CC started being used here, many people had no idea they had to use a PIN (and sometimes forgot it since it took a while for merchants to get the technology to use the chip). It's always possibly to do it manually, but it will require a signature.
