I Dont Do Credit Cards either. But with so many restaurants taking credi cards but not switch, and the extra security of (especially online) shopping with credit cards, I'm starting to be swayed. I'm an intelligent person, and know what an interest rate is, and can probably not spend money I don't have. Sadley, at the point I decided this, noone wanted to *give* me a credit card. Sigh.
Taking credit cards but not switch? That seems crazy; the average merchant with a modern multi-card terminal pays more to process a credit than a debit transaction.
Certainly I've seen at least one restaurant that takes Visa but not Switch.
The last time I wondered about this, someone (might even have been fluffymormegil) said that it was because Switch charges the merchant a fixed fee whereas Visa charges a percentage, and therefore if most of your transactions are smallish ones you do significantly worse out of Switch.
Certainly my understanding is that Visa becomes expensive if you're buying big things; my dad claims to have got a discount on an expensive camera once by offering to pay cash ("you can take the full price by Visa, or you can take a few per cent off and get cash, which would you prefer?").
Possibly ewx's lack of trouble with Visa Delta suggests that it works on the Visa model despite being a debit card, and therefore that the problem is Switch rather than debit per se?
In Singapore the camera shops were willing to knock off another couple of percent for using cash rather than a card. Some others were willing to add 2% to the price agreed if you offered to pay by card. Prices seemed far more negotiable there than they are here, though I've heard stories of people negotiating discounts in the UK for things like white goods.
Possibly ewx's lack of trouble with Visa Delta suggests [...] that the problem is Switch rather than debit per se?
Yes, that seems quite likely. Different networks have their own rules, fee structures, etc etc. Perhaps Visa Delta transactions within the UK don't have to route via the "real" VISA network, so wouldn't get hit for VISA (International)'s fees.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 01:35 am (UTC)There is a very good reason why I Don't Do Credit Cards.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 01:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 02:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 02:33 am (UTC)The last time I wondered about this, someone (might even have been
Certainly my understanding is that Visa becomes expensive if you're buying big things; my dad claims to have got a discount on an expensive camera once by offering to pay cash ("you can take the full price by Visa, or you can take a few per cent off and get cash, which would you prefer?").
Possibly
(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 02:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 02:41 am (UTC)Yes, that seems quite likely. Different networks have their own rules, fee structures, etc etc. Perhaps Visa Delta transactions within the UK don't have to route via the "real" VISA network, so wouldn't get hit for VISA (International)'s fees.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-03-18 02:14 am (UTC)