3% credit card charge is now almost everywhere – is this the new normal?

Before one could say don’t patronize the business, but now it’s almost everywhere, so it’s hard to avoid. So many food establishments and really any service as well – florists, cobbler, etc. Larger grocery stores are still not doing it.

I’ve filed complaints with 311 on a couple of businesses. Both ended up with notices that the businesses were approached. But the businesses still keep on doing it, nothing has changed.

For the curious, adding an extra credit card charge is not allowed in NY. Also, giving a cash discount is allowed, but it has to work in this way: “Your bill is $10, but if you pay cash you can pay $9.50.” A business can’t say: “your bill is $10, and this includes a cash discount, so now you’ll pay extra for using a credit card.”

Most business are doing this the illegal way, and there’s no control or check on this. 311 has been useless. In general I carry very little cash, so paying by cash isn’t really an option (plus ATM fees can really hit badly).

So, is this now the new normal? Just accept that all our credit card purchases are going to cost an extra 3%, and that businesses can break the rules with no check/control?

I get where businesses are coming from, but this is part of the cost of doing business. You open up to so many more customers by taking credit cards, but then breaking the rules isn’t great.