Which? has today submitted a super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) asking it to investigate excessive credit and debit card surcharges.
The consumer champion warns that these charges are unjustifiable and becoming increasingly widespread. While the cost to companies for taking payment by card is around 20 pence to process a debit card payment, and no more than 2 per cent of the transaction value for a credit card, researchers found dozens of examples of companies charging far higher fees.
Some of the worst offenders included:
– A £25 debit card charge to pay a £5,000 deposit to rent a flat through Foxtons, one of London’s biggest letting agents.
– Train booking site The Trainline adds a £3.50 charge for paying by credit card, while Eurostar charges £4.
– London cab firms Dial-a-Cab and Radio Taxis add 12.5 per cent to the cost of their fares for paying with a debit or credit card, and Addison Lee charges £4.40.
– Bath and North East Somerset council charges a 3 per cent credit card charge, while the DVLA adds £2.50 for paying by credit card.
– Admiral Insurance levies a £5.95 fee for credit card use; Swinton Insurance charges 2.5 per cent.
– AOL charges £1.99 on both credit and debit cards
– A family of four booking a return flight with Ryanair would be charged £40 to pay by debit or credit card.
Source : Which Press Release
