XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.books   
   From: lcraver@home.ca   
      
   On Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:35:39 -0700, Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy   
    wrote:   
      
   >> And to top it off, iirc, there was a movement for the merchant   
   >> to pass the credit card fees on to only those who actually used   
   >> credit cards. But the card companies weilded their congressional   
   >> minnions, and made that illegal toot sweet.   
   >>   
   >To the best of my knowledge, it's not actually illegal, but a   
   >surcharge for using a credit card is prohibited by the merchant   
   >agreement. In recent years, however, that has been interpreted as   
   >saying that a discout for using cash is *not* prohibited (and is   
   >becoming quite common at gas stations, and I've seen it other places,   
   >too).   
      
   Well yes and no - it's not 'illegal' in the sense of being against the   
   law, it's a breach of the merchant services contract you have to sign   
   with the card processor.   
      
   The discussion is  whether the card processing companies generally   
   constitute a monopoly under existing legislation and thus whether such   
   clauses are in violation of anti-monopoly legislation.   
      
   My view is they aren't illegal but should be - and with such a legal   
   ruling the courts would refuse to enforce those contract clauses.   
      
   I've seen signs in stores saying 'cash only on sales under $10' and   
   under existing card contracts those merchants are in breach of   
   contract though I've never heard of lawsuits over it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)