Valid Complaint?

[doconeill]

Not sure how that would help or what you mean. In my examples, the pump purchase was always OK, it was when I went inside to make a separate food purchase. The card was accepted at the pump and something like $30 in gas was purchased, then I went inside and a $2.50 purchase is met with a policy rejection.

Because, if you elect to pay for the gas inside, it can all be done in a single transaction.

 

[mickaholic4077]

What would some of those country clubs,etc.,do if I was eating at their establishments and was the person paying for the meal and I only had cash. Say the bill came to me at the end of the meal. I put down my $100 bill and the server said to me,"I'm sorry,we don't take cash,". If I said,"Sorry,this is the only money I have-I don't use credit cards or checks-I am a cash only person." I would bet that they would find a way to take my money,as I have already eaten my food.

 

[doconeill]

What would some of those country clubs,etc.,do if I was eating at their establishments and was the person paying for the meal and I only had cash. Say the bill came to me at the end of the meal. I put down my $100 bill and the server said to me,"I'm sorry,we don't take cash,". If I said,"Sorry,this is the only money I have-I don't use credit cards or checks-I am a cash only person." I would bet that they would find a way to take my money,as I have already eaten my food.

Did you see the posting that said "credit card only" or receive any verbal notification of such, ignore it and eat the meal anyways, and then tell them you can only pay with cash? I'd bet they'd find a way for you to discuss it with the cops...

As stated earlier, there is no requirement for a vendor or merchant to take cash, so long as they are up front about it.

 

[ujpest_doza]

Does anyone realize that most countries used $1 coins? The United States is a rare country that doesn't. England and Canada retired their lowest denomination of paper money. They only use $1 coins.

We in the United States just cannot accept any change (no pun intended) in our money. Canada also uses different colors for their paper money so they can see the denominations easier. If we tried that, people would have a very difficult time with a blue $5 bill.

$1 coins are not uncommon in the world. Just uncommon here because we can't accept new things.

Not only have we had £1 coins for about 25 years or more and got rid of £1 notes, we also have had £2 coins for quite a number of years now and last i heard there was talk of phasing out £5 notes and having a £5 coin instead.

We also have different colours and sizes of notes eg £5 is small and blue, £10 is a little larger and brown, £20 is purple and again larger and then £50 is Red and larger again.

I find it hard going in the US having loads of $1 notes as it makes it seem like you are richer than you really are, especially when they are all the same colour.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Did you see the posting that said "credit card only" or receive any verbal notification of such, ignore it and eat the meal anyways, and then tell them you can only pay with cash? I'd bet they'd find a way for you to discuss it with the cops...

As stated earlier, there is no requirement for a vendor or merchant to take cash, so long as they are up front about it.

That's different. If there was a prominent sign,I would pay the way they said. If there was no sign,and I wanted to pay in cash only to be told credit only,then I would feel no remorse about saying I don't have anything but cash.

ETA:I haven't ever done this;I'm just thinking of a what-if scenario.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

What would some of those country clubs,etc.,do if I was eating at their establishments and was the person paying for the meal and I only had cash. Say the bill came to me at the end of the meal. I put down my $100 bill and the server said to me,"I'm sorry,we don't take cash,". If I said,"Sorry,this is the only money I have-I don't use credit cards or checks-I am a cash only person." I would bet that they would find a way to take my money,as I have already eaten my food.

Well, no. Look, I didn't bring up country clubs or private clubs to start a whole new argument. I used them to show that not all establishments accept cash. In fact, some never accept cash at all. Now I sound like some kind of country club snob, when that is not the case at all.

Yacht clubs and country clubs -- private clubs in general -- operate for their members only. Your point is moot because if you do not belong to that club you would never be seated in that establishment in the first place unless you were with a member.

Now, if you are with a member, you would be seated but that member is responsible for the tab at that table. When the check comes it will not come to you. It will be given to the member who must sign for the lunch or dinner or drinks or whatever. His or her name is all that is required. In most cases, the server already knows the member and there is no discussion about the matter at all.

You may pay cash to the member who got you into the club in the first place in return for covering the tab, but that's about it. At least that is how I know these clubs work.

 

[johnGorski]

this is funny, I am almost thinking they really did not think it was a form of US currency and I was told the samething.

Went to a baseball game to downtown Minneapolis and we the light rail from the Mall of America. It gives you the $1 coins for your change. After the game we went to the Mall and tried to use them at Dairy Queen! I was told too that they only accept American money not Canidian money. I explained this to them and even another employee came over and said that is Canidian money.

 

[rgf207]

Well, no. Look, I didn't bring up country clubs or private clubs to start a whole new argument. I used them to show that not all establishments accept cash. In fact, some never accept cash at all. Now I sound like some kind of country club snob, when that is not the case at all.

Yacht clubs and country clubs -- private clubs in general -- operate for their members only. Your point is moot because if you do not belong to that club you would never be seated in that establishment in the first place unless you were with a member.

Now, if you are with a member, you would be seated but that member is responsible for the tab at that table. When the check comes it will not come to you. It will be given to the member who must sign for the lunch or dinner or drinks or whatever. His or her name is all that is required. In most cases, the server already knows the member and there is no discussion about the matter at all.

You may pay cash to the member who got you into the club in the first place in return for covering the tab, but that's about it. At least that is how I know these clubs work.

Do you know what is extremely hilarious about the DIS? I just read the first page of this thread and people were talking about the $1 dollar coins. I immediatly jumped to page 13 to find that this thread has now somehow migrated to something about Country Clubs.

 

[kmk1180]

Do you know what is extremely hilarious about the DIS? I just read the first page of this thread and people were talking about the $1 dollar coins. I immediatly jumped to page 13 to find that this thread has now somehow migrated to something about Country Clubs.

Or that someone with such a minor complaint as having to break a $100 bill can spawn 13 pages of complaints and debate.

 

[Rip]

On the subject of minimum credit card purchases, I know that the Mastercard and Visa at least forbid (or used to) minimum amounts, but I believe that some credit card processors tack a minimum or fixed fee on each transaction - thus the merchant loses a bigger percentage of the sale on a smaller purchase. But like the CM, the clerk at the gas station is often not aware of the real rules, and is only following the rules as they've been told by the owner/manager.

American Express has different rules - I'm not sure the minimum purchase restrictions are the same. When I worked retail, we didn't take Amex because of the minimum fees, except for certain rather large ticket items. I don't think its true any more though...especially since Amex has been pushing the RFID payments which are generally of smaller amounts.

I know at least some of the gas stations I frequent offer a "Pay Inside With Credit" option, which is an obvious simple solution instead of getting the poor clerk flustered. And a complain to Visa/Mastercard apprising them of the situation at that location would help rectify the situation.

Exactly, in most cases the vendors are counting on either ignorance or apathy on the part of the consumer, because they know that they aren't supposed to put policies like that into place to begin with.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

Do you know what is extremely hilarious about the DIS? I just read the first page of this thread and people were talking about the $1 dollar coins. I immediatly jumped to page 13 to find that this thread has now somehow migrated to something about Country Clubs.

Hilarious, perhaps; however, the country club was used to illustrate a point relating to currency. Had you read the pages in between 1 and 13, you likely would have been able to make the leap more easily, certainly with more understanding.

 

[rgf207]

Or that someone with such a minor complaint as having to break a $100 bill can spawn 13 pages of complaints and debate.

This is also true

 

[Pecobill]

Exactly, in most cases the vendors are counting on either ignorance or apathy on the part of the consumer, because they know that they aren't supposed to put policies like that into place to begin with.

What do you mean by they aren't supposed to? It's a private business they can do whatever they want.

 

[rgf207]

Hilarious, perhaps; however, the country club was used to illustrate a point relating to currency. Had you read the pages in between 1 and 13, you likely would have been able to make the leap more easily, certainly with more understanding.

I know what you are saying, the funny part lies in how the thread has mutated into something totally off topic (not from anything you did)

 

[doconeill]

What do you mean by they aren't supposed to? It's a private business they can do whatever they want.

True, there is no LEGAL restriction on them. However, Visa and Mastercard have long had in their vendor agreements that vendors CANNOT place minimum purchase requirements on credit card purchases. So yes, they can do what they want. And the credit card companies can revoke their ability to use them.

(this was discussed earlier, but no one is reading the pages in between any more... )

 

[Rip]

What do you mean by they aren't supposed to? It's a private business they can do whatever they want.

Not if their agreement with the credit card companies forbids it.

Just because something is private doesn't mean they can willfully break contractual agreements with no repercussions.

 

[jayandstacey]

Not if their agreement with the credit card companies forbids it.

Just because something is private doesn't mean they can willfully break contractual agreements with no repercussions.

Which is PRECISELY why I refuse to buy more (or put back my) stuff when a clerk tells me there's a $5 minimum and I only want $2.50 worth of stuff.

A merchant has many obligations. Lease agreements, supplier terms, etc. Most don't really affect me directly - but I KNOW they are supposed to treat credit cards the same as their 'normal' purchases. And when they don't, they break the promise the cards made to me, and they certainly inconvenience me. I walk into a store that sports a credit card sign, with a valid card in my pocket, and expect equal treatment.

Now - you might say "what about gas stations that offer 5 cents per gallon off if you pay cash" - that's a little different - there, cash is segregated from other forms of payment, whatever is normally accepted, and treated differently. This isn't just semantics - it means that my credit card is still equal to a check, a fleet agreement or whatever other payment terms the gas station accepts. And that is contractually OK by the credit card terms.

When they tell me I can't buy my chips and soda when I'm attempting to buy them with a card they accept - that's a problem. Which makes it a customer service issue, which is why I've not returned to those places. I'm not hung up on it, but I'd suggest to other merchants to not do try this ploy.

 

[jayandstacey]

Because, if you elect to pay for the gas inside, it can all be done in a single transaction.

Funny, never thought of that. I shouldn't HAVE to do that, and don't normally - but will next time.

It would save everyone a whole heap of trouble, huh?

 

[Rip]

Funny, never thought of that. I shouldn't HAVE to do that, and don't normally - but will next time.

It would save everyone a whole heap of trouble, huh?

Except for causing you to make two seperate trips into the store.

 

[doconeill]

Except for causing you to make two seperate trips into the store.

Depend on if the location has a "pay first" policy and how they handle it.

Ideally, you'd still run your card through at the pump, but they wouldn't charge until a transaction is completed inside, or you failed to pay inside.

Never really needed to do it, so I'm not sure how they do it these days.