Why do traders get away with charging handling fees on credit card bookings.?

Question

I was going to buy 3 tickets online for my local cinema, and they wanted €1.80 for handling charges!

I know it's not a huge amount , but who the h**l is handling it, isn't it all done on computers.

I didn't buy the tickets, I'll buy them on the night,

Answer 1

the law allows them to, thats how.

in fact the law was actually changed to allow traders to charge extra for credit card transactions because the credit card companies charge them a fee, something they wouldnt have to pay if you used cash.

so they get charged more, they are allowed by law to charge you more to cover it, so guess what - they do.

Answer 2

It costs money to have web space to display your website on, and to have employees who update the website with your new tickets.

They also have accounting and legal and human resources and IT departments to keep it all up. Even if all of it is automatic, someone somehwhere is maintaining it, reporting on it, and paying taxes on everything you're giving them!

Answer 3

Its the Credit Card companies that actually do the charging - they charge the traders for using cc transactions (per item!) and this is then passed on to you.

Although - sometimes traders charge a bit more than the cc companies charge then just to make a bit of profit.

Answer 4

They aren't the only one's doing this - try paying the DVLA for car tax by credit card and they charge an extra £2.50!

Traders don't like credit cards because if they do something wrong then they have to argue with the credit card company instead of you