A word of warning - Travel Republic charges for using debit cards!

[Disbabe]

Have just been and purchased the universal 2 park ticket (7A & 1C) and the world's of discovery 3 park ticket (7A & 1C) from Travel Republic as they were the cheapest only to find that when I checked out the basket to pay that they charge for any form of payment! £14.16 for a debit card - a credit card would have incurred a £25.76 charge!!
I've never known anywhere charge for debit card payments before.
It still worked out cheaper than the next best priced company for tickets but as the universal tickets were an extra £3 each. The difference in cost of £24 went down to £9.84 and when american attractions offers a further £5 discount for tickets purchased to a cost over £400 the total difference ended up being just £4.84 - not such a good deal after all
Just thought I should share this information.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Hidden costs
I know Easyjet charge unless you pay by Electron - never even had one of those types of cards

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for letting us know. Looks like a way they can offer lowest prices.
I keep considering them for hotels so something to consider.

Just checked what I pay to accept debit cards:
Visa/Mastercard debit 18.5p
Maestro 15p
Solo 15p

I only do very few card transactions so each one probably costs me 50p for terminal rental.
Total per transaction 70p max, a business with higher turnover will at least half these costs. Not a bad return for them is it?

 

[natalielongstaff]

Wow ! thats a bit sneaky

 

[london75]

Out of interest Wayne, what is the cost of Amex, so many retailers seem to be dropping out of Amex, the working assumption is it's much more but would be interesting to know.

 

[wayneg]

Out of interest Wayne, what is the cost of Amex, so many retailers seem to be dropping out of Amex, the working assumption is it's much more but would be interesting to know.

Amex is the most expensive for me at 2.6%
Visa business cards 2.12%
Mastercard 1.62%
Visa 1.59%

I still think we should go back to how it was when no business could charge for cards, too complicated and easy to hide fees as it is. I have never charged and hope I never have to.

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks for sharing these costs and well done Wayne for not passing them on to your customers.
I think it is good that we let companies know how we feel about overcharging

 

[janiebubble]

according to Money Saving Expert web site Travel Republic don't charge for debit cards if you make your purchase over the phone rather than online. They do still however charge if you use a credit card. That is one way of avoiding the charge if you wish to purchase from them.