Cabs add charge for card

At least one Hawke's Bay taxi company is imposing a surcharge when customers use credit cards.
It was reported this week that some companies had started adding a surcharge after an agreement was reached last year between the Commerce Commission and credit card companies Visa and Mastercard.
Napier Taxis manager Wayne England said his company had a surcharge on credit and eftpos cards but customers were told beforehand or had access to material stating that they would be charged.
He had offered credit card facilities for the past two
years and eftpos since October.
The charge covered the price of the technology. The extra money did not go to the driver, he said.
Hastings District Council does not take credit cards at its customer service desks because of being unable to pass on the surcharge but is reviewing its policy since the rule change.
Residents are charged a ``convenience fee'' of 2.49 per cent a transaction by BNZ if they choose to pay their rates online.
Police are also passing on the cost of surcharges when infringement fees are paid by credit card.
The police website says a ``convenience fee of 3 per cent per transaction is applied by our bank, Westpac New Zealand Limited. New Zealand Police does not receive any part of this fee.''
East Coast BP stores general manager Rod Earnshaw said Hawke's Bay BP petrol stations did not have a surcharge and the proposal was a ``new one''.
``We've been absorbing credit card costs for 20 years plus,'' Mr Earnshaw said.
Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce chief executive Murray Douglas said just because it was legal to pass on credit card surcharges, it did not mean it was a good idea.
``It should be in the price, not on top,'' he said.
``If it is, I believe retailers have to say it is in advance.''
If customers paid a surcharge but had not been told they should ``walk out''.
``Retailers should be up-front about it.
``I don't think people should muck around on that one.''
* Have you had to pay a credit card surcharge? If so, please phone our chief reporter on 873 0810.
WHO'S CHARGING?
* Napier City Council and Hastings District Council, when customers pay rates using a credit card.
* Napier Taxis.
* Star Taxis.
* Nationally, taxi companies have charged a $2 flat fee for some time on credit card transactions.
* Nationally, some independently owned BP stations are charging 60c extra for every transaction by credit card under $30 and 90c for every transaction over $30.
* New Zealand Police.
* Supermarkets (New World, Pak'nSave, Countdown) contacted by Hawke's Bay Today said they did not have a surcharge, but the decision was up to the owner/operator, so it could vary between stores.
* Reading Cinemas has not been advised by its national office to add a surcharge .