Is This Legal? | FerrariChat

Is This Legal?

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by Coolhand, Oct 5, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Coolhand

    Coolhand Karting

    Mar 30, 2007
    193
    Overland Park Kansas
    So the other day I stopped at a BP gas station in Overland Park Kansas to buy some gas. I observed something that somehow I don't think is legal. They were selling premium grade gasoline at $2.80 per gallon if you paid with cash, and $2.83 per gallon if you paid with a credit card. I've never seen anything like this before where gas is one price if you use cash to pay for it, and the same gas is more expensive if you use a credit card to pay for it. I'm not a lawyer, but somehow that just doesn't seem right. Anyone care to enlighten me?
     
  2. John Se

    John Se Karting

    Mar 15, 2005
    205
    Scottsdañe
    completely legal, a place I use will charge .45 per transaction
     
  3. 1ual777

    1ual777 F1 Rookie

    Mar 21, 2006
    2,948
    Orange County, CA
    So what is the issue? The guy is just trying to drum up some business; nothing wrong with that.
     
  4. justhrowit

    justhrowit Formula 3

    Feb 12, 2004
    1,027
    Dallas
    Full Name:
    Jay D.
    I don't think i is illegal, however, from what I understand Credit Card agencies do have agreements saying that retailers can't do this. They do have the right the pull their machines out the retailers for breach of contract. This can obviously hurt retail business because of how often credit cards are used. I may be off here, perhaps somone knows better than me.

    J
     
  5. AMA328

    AMA328 F1 Rookie

    Nov 12, 2002
    2,518
    ABQ-67me68-OKC :)
    yupper, you're right - cc co's have merchant terms prohibiting cash discounts.
    However, as you see, some places do it anyway.

    You oughta try calling visa/mc and turning 'em in. Supposedly, the cc co's jump on this sorta thing el pronto.
     
  6. branko

    branko F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Mar 17, 2003
    3,710
    Birmingham, Alabama
    Full Name:
    Branko Medenica
    I've seen it here also. The credit card company's charge 3-4%, so this is there way to make up the difference.
     
  7. Ingenere

    Ingenere F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Dec 11, 2001
    6,336
    On the Limit
    Full Name:
    Dino
    Fairly common practice, and if you have ever been an acceptor of credit cards and the 3-4+% fees......fully justified. I have no term in my agreement that I can't give cash discounts. This is still a relatively free country and we can charge or discount as we please. The marketplace decides our success, not governments
     
  8. Protouring442

    Protouring442 F1 Veteran

    Sep 5, 2007
    8,723
    Harriman, TN
    Full Name:
    One Stupid SOB
    Discount for cash.... nothing new about it, been around for quite a while. Exxon was a biggie in the discount for cash deal, even their signs read CASH PRICE. Now they've done away with it, but it was a big thing for a while.

    Shiny Side Up!
    Bill
     
  9. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    They do it out here too. The oil co's hate having to report all the CC income ;)
     
  10. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
    BANNED

    Jul 2, 2003
    7,782
    Full Name:
    Sparky
    I wish I could buy gasoline here at those prices, either way.
     
  11. etip

    etip Formula 3

    Apr 4, 2004
    2,406
    Washington State
    Full Name:
    Eric
    It's the way every gas station used to be in the 80s with Cash and Credit prices.
     
  12. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 15, 2006
    28,633
    Phoenix
    Full Name:
    AG
    What if you use a Debit card, thats like cash, but in a card form.
     
  13. menoy

    menoy F1 Rookie

    Mar 12, 2005
    2,661
    PL
    Full Name:
    MRodziewicz
    I think it doesn't matter on what kind of card. The card companies take a % of the card made transactions.
     
  14. Protouring442

    Protouring442 F1 Veteran

    Sep 5, 2007
    8,723
    Harriman, TN
    Full Name:
    One Stupid SOB
    I'm not sure... My father owned an Exxon station in Maryland, and debit cards weren't yet a real big thing when we had the discount for cash program, or if they were, I don't remember.

    There's a way to not make a ton of money by the way, own a gas station.

    Shiny Side Up!
    Bill
     
  15. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    60,019
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    Depends on the agreement. My tobacconist just dropped taking debit cards. It used to be that the credit card fee was higher, but they raised the fee on debit cards. (I guess that's why there's all that advertising about using cash cards to "keep it moving".)
     
  16. 62 250 GTO

    62 250 GTO F1 Veteran

    Jan 9, 2004
    7,765
    Nova Scotia Canada
    Full Name:
    Neil
    Even if you have "gas regulation" it may still be legal.
     
  17. Choptop

    Choptop F1 Rookie

    Aug 15, 2004
    4,455
    Carmichael, CA
    Full Name:
    Alan Galbraith
    illegal in Kalifornia to charge more for CC transactions.

    ATM "surcharge's" are legal.
     
  18. Protouring442

    Protouring442 F1 Veteran

    Sep 5, 2007
    8,723
    Harriman, TN
    Full Name:
    One Stupid SOB

    That's the whole rub of the issue; it's also illegal to charge more for a credit card transaction here in The People's Republik of Maryland. Unfortunately, it is OK to give a "discount for cash" despite the fact that both you and I know that these are really the same thing.

    Shiny Side Up!
    Bill
     
  19. Snapper323

    Snapper323 Formula Junior

    Mar 12, 2005
    268
    South Carolina
    Full Name:
    L. Lee
    Apparently, this is a franchise owned BP and not a corporate owned one. What the owner is doing is making his customers pay the cost of using a credit card (billing,advertisement stickers, etc.). If he owned a Walmart, he would charge .50 for every buggy that passed thru the checkouts because of wear and tear and the cost of buying new buggies.
     
  20. Protouring442

    Protouring442 F1 Veteran

    Sep 5, 2007
    8,723
    Harriman, TN
    Full Name:
    One Stupid SOB
    Maybe... but believe me, the companies own the owner! For example, we were required to be open 24/7. If we were caught being closed, the rent "rebates" could be taken away, thus doubling your rent. By the way, I understand that the rents in the Maryland area are somewhere around 20K a month, less "adjustments."

    Shiny Side Up!
    Bill
     
  21. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 2, 2004
    68,817
    Cloud-9
    Full Name:
    Jason
    It's sort of like if you go to Spec's Liquor Store. You get a cheaper price with cash, as opposed to credit.
     
  22. TurboTodd

    TurboTodd Formula 3

    Jan 8, 2004
    1,084
    Brentwood, TN
    IIRC, the Love's Country Stores in Texas charge different prices on their diesel depending on payment.
     
  23. karmavore

    karmavore Formula 3

    Dec 29, 2002
    1,641
    Hell
    Full Name:
    Karmavore
    What SHOULD be illegal is Cab drivers, like the one I got at Heathrow Friday, charging 10% to take Credit Cards!!! They should only be allowed to change what they incurr. Annoying...

    Lucas.
     
  24. Buzz48317

    Buzz48317 F1 Rookie

    Dec 5, 2005
    2,862
    Shelby Twp., MI
    Full Name:
    Michael
    It is probably not illegal as others have pointed out. However it is in violation of their subscriber agreement with the credit card companies. It is also in violation of this agreement to have a minimum or maximum on the transaction. So for example if you go into your favorite Chinese food place (I say this cause mine has this sign) and they have a sign that says $15 minimum for CC purchase, this will violate their agreement with the major cards. You should be able to purchase one egg roll and be able to charge it. However it is generally the squeeky wheel that gets greased, and most customers don't know that this is in violation (or don't care enough to call the credit card company) so nothing is ever done about it.

    I was going to pay my property taxes with a credit card this year and get the miles for it, but the Township where I live is not a subscriber for CC purchases, they have an affiliate that will facilitate the transaction for an additional 10% of the total....needless to say I paid with a check.
     

Share This Page