A question about on-line payments

[rebelbuddhist]

Anyone have any experience yet or more knowledge to help answer this inquiry?

We always pay WDW on line using our bank debit card. We have been informed by our bank that new regulations that went into effect yesterday at 12:00 am allow VISA and other companies to charge a debit card customer up to 3% user fees when the payment is processed as a credit that until now were always paid by the company not the customer. My bank informs us that the only way not to be charged this 3% service charge is to use the accounts PIN insuring it is being used as a debit card not a charge card. When paying on-line, can WDW assure me that the payment will be a debit and not a charge?

Please don't reply with posts about other ways to pay (Disney gift cards, checks by mail, etc.). This is our chosen way to pay and we are simply looking for an answer to this specific question and not opinions on better ways to pay or other issues.

[sachilles]

Originally Posted by rebelbuddhist

Anyone have any experience yet or more knowledge to help answer this inquiry?

We always pay WDW on line using our bank debit card. We have been informed by our bank that new regulations that went into effect yesterday at 12:00 am allow VISA and other companies to charge a debit card customer up to 3% user fees when the payment is processed as a credit that until now were always paid by the company not the customer. My bank informs us that the only way not to be charged this 3% service charge is to use the accounts PIN insuring it is being used as a debit card not a charge card. When paying on-line, can WDW assure me that the payment will be a debit and not a charge?

Please don't reply with posts about other ways to pay (Disney gift cards, checks by mail, etc.). This is our chosen way to pay and we are simply looking for an answer to this specific question and not opinions on better ways to pay or other issues.

unless you enter your pin, it will be processed as credit.
The new regulation was meant to give merchants a way to offset fees charged for rewards cards. It is optional for a merchant to do this now, but most software doesn't support it. On top of that it can be a customer service nightmare, so most don't do it. It is worth calling to verify they don't do it, but I'd be surprised if the did.
I manage credit card processing for a resort. We won't do this as we feel its a bit tacky. Since our software can't automate the process anyway, we'd be left to manually look at the first six digits of the card and charge the appropriate fee. It's just not worth it financially on our end to take that kind of time
My personal opinion, is that it will be a non issue in the industry, and you'll see card issuers offering fewer rewards card products as a byproduct.
The new rule had good intentions, but poor execution.

[lockedoutlogic]

Originally Posted by rebelbuddhist

Anyone have any experience yet or more knowledge to help answer this inquiry?

We always pay WDW on line using our bank debit card. We have been informed by our bank that new regulations that went into effect yesterday at 12:00 am allow VISA and other companies to charge a debit card customer up to 3% user fees when the payment is processed as a credit that until now were always paid by the company not the customer. My bank informs us that the only way not to be charged this 3% service charge is to use the accounts PIN insuring it is being used as a debit card not a charge card. When paying on-line, can WDW assure me that the payment will be a debit and not a charge?

Please don't reply with posts about other ways to pay (Disney gift cards, checks by mail, etc.). This is our chosen way to pay and we are simply looking for an answer to this specific question and not opinions on better ways to pay or other issues.

i've never seen an interface that would allow an online transaction to be processed as "debit"...debit is solely a POS transaction for those merchants that have the appropriate hardware to allow what essentially a cash transaction to be authorized out of an individual account.

credit doesn't work that way...by wielding the credit card...you agree to the terms the card issuer sets in exchange for them allowing you your whims at any given time. That is actually the basis of ALL credit...if you think about it. don't have the cash...get the house. don't have the cash...get the car. don't have the money...get the Disney Vacation Club...

and on and on.

I don't know how individual banks will take to this...but judging by the last few years they will adopt it quickly and have no qualms. Walt Disney Company...also with their volume of transactions...would love to have a way to reduce their terminal fees with visa/master, amex, dnn, jcb..etc etc.

I get charged a buck to use my debit as a pos at the gas stations now...i know it, i hate it...its nickel and dime...but i've been too lazy to stop the practice.

fees have been piled on the consumer the last few years...i don't expect that concept to change much.

I know you said you don't want it other ways....but you really could withdraw the cash...go to any local supermarket and load up a disney card...and pay dollar for dollar on disney's website without fee.

That is a better option than a 3% surcharge

[smitch425]

Not exactly sure where the official address is for payments, but I believe both Florida and California have made it illegal for the surcharge to be charged to consumers for a Visa credit card, not sure if that includes Visa debit cards or not.

[DonaldnDaisy5]

When we mailed check payments in 2009 the address was a GA po box. Not sure if that's where credit card transactions are ran from though...I would assume Disney would not charge the fee in an effort to not further anger guests. People spend more with plastic. And since they partner with chase for debit and credit cards they obviously see perks of guests charging items over using cash.

[lockedoutlogic]

Originally Posted by smitch425

Not exactly sure where the official address is for payments, but I believe both Florida and California have made it illegal for the surcharge to be charged to consumers for a Visa credit card, not sure if that includes Visa debit cards or not.

would have to check about debit.

business has always been more lenient/ "friendly" to unsecured credit cards...it encourages transactions on funds that may not be there...that feeds impulse and impulse is good for business too.
and also of course the lenders...who know full well when someone standing at a register or on their computer says "oh what the heck? why not!?" and then completes the sale - the clock is ticking and they are probably now making money.

[AJRitz]

The following 10 states have outlawed "checkout" fees (as they are called):
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Kansas
Maine
Massachusetts
New York
Oklahoma
Texas

Even if a merchant does want to charge a checkout fee, the fee must be clearly disclosed: at the store entrance,
at the point of sale (offline and online)
on customer receipts.

So it looks to me like you're safe continuing to pay for you Walt Disney World balances using a debit card.

[rebelbuddhist]

Thanks to everyone for the information.
It appears that WDW does process payments through Georgia-- a State not on the list of those banning this.
Also, some issue about the fact that the bank issuing the debit card is not in one of these 10 States.
I have e-mailed WDW and will share their response although I am expecting some generic reply that doesn't really give a direct, definitive answer.

[rebelbuddhist]

Originally Posted by AJRitz

The following 10 states have outlawed "checkout" fees (as they are called):

Even if a merchant does want to charge a checkout fee, the fee must be clearly disclosed: at the store entrance,
at the point of sale (offline and online)
on customer receipts.

I hope that you are correct and will know soon. Have used the debit card at two businesses here and asked at each if they were engaging in this "new" practice at the register. At both, no-one knew anything. Waiting for the charges to be posted on line to see if a fee has been charged.

I wonder if the bank's informing me suffices that all businesses that accept the debit card have told me? Gives me something to ask at the bank.....
But again, thanks for your reply.

[rebelbuddhist]

As expected, here is WDW's reply. Hats off (or should I say ears off?) to WDW for replying so quickly-- in only a few hours. Unfortunately the reply leads me to think my original e-mail wasn't read correctly?

"Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Please feel free to call a reservation agent and specify that your card
is a credit card.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us."

[Virtucomp]

As others have posted the new charge is to allow small buisnesses to offset credit card charges.

The establishment in states that allow it MUST post a sign informing the customer that they will be charging the fee and exactly how much the fee will be (3%, 2%, 4% of the charge).

They cannot tack on a fee to the credit card charge without your prior knowledge.

Most larger companies will not be charging the fee since they don't want to loose the customers charging purchases.

[lockedoutlogic]

Ironically...this was in the paper today (Philadelphia Inquirer...but in many other large news outlets as well):

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines..._checkout.html



Debit Cards can not be charged "checkout fees"...probably because its linked to your money...but open season on credit cards will soon begin.

[rebelbuddhist]

Here is a reply that I received after three e-mails to WDW:

"We do not include any other fees when processing a reservation. The
price you see online will be the final price from us."