Credit card charges by merchants

[Briggsy]

I am going to buy a motorbike. I didn't really want to use the money I have in Thailand. So, I thought I might use a UK credit card I hold which has no charges for non-sterling purchases. It provides excellent value. I have used it in many countries.

 

However Mit Yon Pattaya and many other Thai merchants have a 3% surcharge on credit card transactions (Thai or foreign). On larger purchases, that makes it not worthwhile. I will stick to cash.

 

Does anybody know why they apply this surcharge. I assume they are just passing along the fees they have to pay with a little added padding for safety.

[NowNow]

17 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I am going to buy a motorbike. I didn't really want to use the money I have in Thailand. So, I thought I might use a UK credit card I hold which has no charges for non-sterling purchases. It provides excellent value. I have used it in many countries.

 

However Mit Yon Pattaya and many other Thai merchants have a 3% surcharge on credit card transactions (Thai or foreign). On larger purchases, that makes it not worthwhile. I will stick to cash.

 

Does anybody know why they apply this surcharge. I assume they are just passing along the fees they have to pay with a little added padding for safety.

 

If it's a Halifax Clarity or similar, do over the counter withdrawals at your bank.

[Pattaya57]

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

Does anybody know why they apply this surcharge. I assume they are just passing along the fees they have to pay with a little added padding for safety.

This surcharge has been around for as long as I can remember. In Australia your gas, electricity and council rates are all 1.5% higher if paid by credit card (same as airport duty free you would have seen on your way to Thailand)

 

Edited 59 minutes ago by Pattaya57

[Briggsy]

2 hours ago, NowNow said:

 

If it's a Halifax Clarity or similar, do over the counter withdrawals at your bank.

Unless you know something I don't this is very dangerous advice.

 

From the Halifax website

"Interest charges will apply from the day you make a cash withdrawal."

 

I will use cash from my SCB a/c for now.