Having To Pay Extra To Use A Bank Card
@arthurchappell (44998)
Preston, England
January 7, 2017 2:48pm CST
After yesterday’s cinema visit I got an e-mail invite this evening to fill in an online form giving my opinions of the cinema’s service, etc., which was fine on this visit, though it has been shoddy on other visits.
I had to check details of my attendance on my ticket and receipt and give a code to both confirm that I attended and be entered into a monthly prize draw I never seem to win.
It was in checking the pricing that I noticed it cost me 50p more to pay by bank card than if I had paid in cash. That really annoys me as the whole point of using bank cards is supposed to make the transaction smoother for me and the staff. It also proves safer as cash attracts the risk of theft, robbery or muggings. There is no danger in electronic transfer of getting the wrong change and it gives me a record of my spending on my bank records instantly, as it does for the cinema too, so why the surcharge other than sheer profiteering?
In future I will be paying in cash for my cinema visits.
Arthur Chappell
22 people like this
22 responses
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
7 Jan 17
We have to pay a fee when using our bank card here to pay bills, etc. Doesn't seem fair to us.
5 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
7 Jan 17
@PatZAnthony it seems quite extortionate
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
7 Jan 17
@TheInvisibleMan very true - they are a very mercenary institution
3 people like this
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
•
7 Jan 17
@arthurchappell I couldn't agree more with your comment. 
3 people like this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
7 Jan 17
It doesn't seem right. I'd be paying cash from now on too.
4 people like this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
7 Jan 17
This annoys me in shops too. I think the argument is the banks charge the shop or cinema and they pass the cost on to the customer. Now we have this stupid contactless stuff that means anyone can steal your card and pay for things because you do not need a number. Madness.
3 people like this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
8 Jan 17
@Poppylicious Here a lot of shops charge 50p. Usually small corner shops. Big supermarkets do not charge.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
8 Jan 17
I've never noticed having to pay more in a shop when using a debit card. I know some shops will only accept cards when you've spent a minimum amount, but I've only ever known extra money being charged by ATMs.
1 person likes this
@egdcltd (12059)
•
7 Jan 17
There are quite a few things that cost more to pay by card. HM Government is a sod when it comes to credit cards. My cinema I pay monthly by standing order for unlimited visits (don't make quite as much use of that as I could, but it ends up cheaper, especially for 3D).
3 people like this
@celticeagle (167017)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Jan 17
Could it have something to do with cyber theft?
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
10 Jan 17
@celticeagle if the card was stolen a thief wouldn't care about the extra charges anyway
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167017)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Jan 17
@arthurchappell ......Just an idea.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
10 Jan 17
@celticeagle always worth sharing - I expect shops will claim the charges help security in some way but i'd be less convinced it isn't just profiteering
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Jan 17
and they should have told you that!
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Jan 17
We are also charged for certain services more when paying by card. One good thing is that as of this year they no long take money off of the bank card when renewing if you have the bank card send to your home. It didn't really make much sense to me because the bank has to pay the postal expenses but at least we aren't charged a renewal feel like the past years. If you see the sense in this do let me know. 
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
7 Jan 17
@RasmaSandra makes sense to the bank in some way but not to me or most consumers
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
8 Jan 17
Really? That's appalling. Is it a cinema chain or an independent ... a chain shouldn't charge extra for using a debit card. I would request a refund, unless there were signs saying it would happen, or you were told by the cashier. Ridiculous.
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
8 Jan 17
@Poppylicious it is a cinema chain, one of the biggest in the UK
@x0MandyLynn0x (1056)
• Canada
8 Jan 17
Wow, sorry to hear this pure sillyness. You shouldn't have to do that at all. Guess it's no surprise though, 'they' apparently need more money right? Pfft!
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
8 Jan 17
Oh yes, there are so many fees we are not aware of ..
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Jan 17
I prefer cash and have never used a bank card, I have never been mugged either. My sons both use bank cards and it always surprises me when they have cash.
2 people like this
@redurnet (1798)
• United Kingdom
8 Jan 17
I find this really annoying. I know that my bank, Barclays, does a 'Fee Free Friday' where you can book tickets and things on a Friday without having to pay the fee for using a card. I have noticed that some venues and shops will charge a small fee if I opt to use my card and I think it is simply an excuse to make a profit.
2 people like this
@varunsundars (112)
•
8 Jan 17
And to add up I also want to highlight the robbery the banks do in form of Annual Maintenance charge for our debit/credit cards, even though they were forcefully handed over to us!
2 people like this
