Is it legal for a business to advertise that they accept a specific credit card then refuse to upon payment?

Whocares000 replied to post #2: 3 I am not sure if you would want to create a scene with the movers. I recently had a very bad experience with a moving company. Firstly they charged fuel surcharge which was close to over $50.

Then they also charged from the time they started from their warehouse and not from the time they arrived. This raised my total invoice to more than $300 when I was expecting to pay around $200.

I used a moving company recently and on their advertisement they had that they accepted American Express and I was told on the phone that they accepted it as well. They came and moved me and then when it was time to do the final payment, we were told they could not accept American Express. Isn't this a form of false advertising as we would not have used the service if they had not accepted this specific credit card?

Asked by Buttercup02 27 months ago Similar Questions: legal business advertise accept specific credit card refuse payment Recent Questions About: legal business advertise accept specific credit card refuse payment Business > Financial Services.

Similar Questions: legal business advertise accept specific credit card refuse payment Recent Questions About: legal business advertise accept specific credit card refuse payment.

It is against American Express' policies and procedures...and, you are correct that it is false advertising. If a merchant displays a payment system logo, it is bound to accept a payment product of that company. So if the merchant advertises its acceptance of American Express cards it must accept payment with the American Express card.

If it displays a MasterCard logo, it must accept payment with a MasterCard product. If the merchant doesn't, it faces some form of penalty by the payment company, potentially including being barred from doing business with that payment company in the future. False advertising exposes the company to a different set of legal penalties.

If I had been caught in this bait and switch, I would report the company to American Express. I don't think you will get anything out of it; but, the financial services company will probably launch an investigation. In my experience, there are lots of companies that advertise acceptance of credit cards; but, when it come times to payment for large amounts, they prefer cash or check.

Credit card acceptance entails the merchant paying what is called a "merchant discount" to the credit card company (or acquirer in the case of a bankcard). On a $1,000 ticket, this could be as much as $30 or more. That adds up, so the moving company may prefer not to have to pay that amount to American Express.

It is not allowed by American Express' contractual agrements to dissuade you from using the card. I have used some moving companies over the years that accept the card for supplies like boxes and tape, but they don't accept the card for the actual moving fees. Similarly, many car dealers display credit card marks.

While they accept credit cards for servicing, for parts, and sometimes for downpayments, they rarely accept the card for the purchase price of the car. If this is irking you, I suggest you take this up professionally with the credit card company. Don't be afraid to politely escalate the matter to a more senior manager.

As I said earlier, I don't think you will get anything out of this; but, you may prevent this from happening to another customer of the moving company. Note: it is of course possible (but, unlikely) that in the time between when you contracted with the mover and when you actually moved and had to pay that the moving company had its payment relationship with American Express terminated. That would make its advertising legal and its informing you that it can't take the card true.

But, chances are that this didn't happen and you are being exploited to save them a few bucks in merchant discount. Good luck to you. Sources: Many years of credit card industry experience .

1 I would think that there would be some form of redress. I'm not sure how it would be pursued, though.

I would think that there would be some form of redress. I'm not sure how it would be pursued, though.

2 I wouldn't pay them through any other means. You legitamitely offered payment in the form they specified. That they chose not to accept it after the fact is their problem, not yours.

I wouldn't pay them through any other means. You legitamitely offered payment in the form they specified. That they chose not to accept it after the fact is their problem, not yours.

I am not sure if you would want to create a scene with the movers. I recently had a very bad experience with a moving company. Firstly they charged fuel surcharge which was close to over $50.

Then they also charged from the time they started from their warehouse and not from the time they arrived. This raised my total invoice to more than $300 when I was expecting to pay around $200.

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Looking for a specific kind of credit card!

I sent a final payment in time to credit card company and they claim they did not receive the payment in time.

Can I use HDFC forex card for payment of my HDFC credit card.

I just placed an order using an out of date credit card. How do I revise payment method?

I do not have a credit or debit card using paypal which other method of payment can I use to buy an item.

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