I attempted to do this several years back actually and I can tell you it is not that easy. You need to provide proof of the additional fee to begin with and retailers are also smart to mask this. They will usually combine the base price and the additional fee to provide the appearance of a single fee. They won't be so stupid to list in the receipt

1. Price Item RM xxx
2. Mastercard/VISA fees RM xxx

One idea that I could think of it

a. If they retailer put up a notice of the additional fee, capture that image as proof and send it to Mastercard / VISA International and cc it to their merchant bank.
b. If the merchant think they are smart then record their attempt to ask you for that fee.
,
Believe me ... the fines are substancial enough to deter the merchant to repeat the offense. I can't remember the number but if I remember it correctly it is something like first offense RMx,xxx and second offense RMxx,xxx + extra condition. In the US when the consumer is able to successfully challenge a chargeback then the retailer will refund the cash coz if the retailer wishes to fight on and loses - it is a hefty fine to pay!

If you ask me the best weapon is the consumer itself. So long consumer are willing to pay this fee then the retailer will continue to pass the charges to the consumer. I think cc sales makes up a substancial chunk of their total sale so that's why they have the terminal there. If the consumer boycott them (or walk away from these shops), sales drop and they have no choice but to bow to the consumer demands for no additional fee cc transactions.

My suspicion is that ... let's say the retailer charges you 2% and the one next door charges you 3%. Probably the one charging you 3% want to pass on the costs of the cc terminal rental to you! (The one which is used to swipe your card)

Let say we reported merchant A and he pays the fine. The next you know Merchant A will accept CASH only.

Then it is fine. Good.

When customer is given an option of Cash / Credit, there should not be condition to impose additional charges when using CC.

When customer is NOT given an option, i.e. only Cash, there will be no argument to raise in the first place. It is the merchant and/or customer loss when merchant only accepts cash.

I agree with ya.
Retailers may argue what if the product is a low margin item and it's not fair for them to bear the cost. However, to a certain extent they need the consumers to boost up their sales and they do this via credit card acceptance. It should have been a win-win situation but it looks like it's the retailer that wins.

1. They rack up sales and their cost is ZERO coz the bank charges are being passed on to the consumers.
2. For those charging high cc "extras", maybe their terminal costs are also being charged to consumers!

However, the real sucker (please excuse me if I had to use this word) is actually the consumer - they allow themselves to be cheated so that they can live on credit facility. Not a healthy lifestyle!

Look @ Tesco / Carrefour where they offer low price, margins are small per item but yet they accept credit cards. You don't see them closing down just because they don't charge 2%-3% extra for cc transaction right ?

Oh yes ... just to add. If you think the local banks are unaware that the practice exist, you are wrong. They are aware of it and if you report with substancial proof they will act on it. It's just that the major hurdle is

1. Nobody bothers to do so.
2. Getting proof is a major challenge coz it's being masked.
3. Finally - Malaysians accept it to be normal. (Let me state this again ... this is an irregular practice and illegal as stated by MC / VISA International)

This post has been edited by hye: Oct 2 2009, 11:48 AM

i think most computer shops in lowyat charge around 2% for CC

Does anyone knows which credit card can allow us to redeem Smart Tag with our reward points apart from Maybank?

I work for 2 and a half months here d.. EPF and socso was deducted from my pay but i didnt receive any letter or EA form. lets not discuss this atm, i will clearify with my manager on this issue. thanks

I desperately need to get a c.c for my personal use. So i was wondering is there any fast track to this? so all i can provide atm

1. photostat i/c
2. Degree Cert
3. A letter of appointment provided by company
4. Previous bank in of my salary cheque into my CIMB a/c

Like bro bingozero mentioned, maybe your luck is better with the bank that you deposit your cheque into. Try that out first but don't be too overly optimistic about approval. BTW ... the part about you just being employed for 2 and a half month could complicate the application.

Nevermind ... just try and see what happens. Even myself have gotten credit card application rejection before.

Again on my history. My "proper" salary is banked into HSBC for >1 year. Then I applied HSBC CC, but is rejected.

Credit all good. All requirement pass. Perhaps home phone verification or something.

Then >6 months later, HSBC CC called to offer me the same CC with 5 years waiver. No need submit doc, just fax back the signed form only. Approved ! Still same credit, same qualification.

hmmm.. after all this advise and suggestions it looks like approval is subject to manager's discretion of mood..

"ai. today i felt sainty" said the manger, approve all la..

yes, if you are very friend with manager then you will be very easy to get approved, for gold and classic card. For the platinum, they are more straight gua, if not later if manager approve a person with income that is far far lower than requirement, then the manager will be questioned.

@mugenz
Then if a manager get slapped by his/her spouse at the early morning, then the applicant will be reject and it is "Confidental and decision of the bank that can't be questioned"

sorry your credit card application have been denied.

i thought its win win situation.

The "Other Income" just under the annual income mean bonus,commission and etc?

This post has been edited by changjie83: Oct 2 2009, 05:19 PM

And his/her reputation/job will be at stake too

i wanted to try to apply Citibank Giant since they still promote in Giant, approval rate might be higher. One question, where we can pay them?

A forummer has not long ago revealed that with a monthly salary of RM3k, he could get a Plat cc with RM43k CL, without pledging deposits in the bank. I would take it with a pinch of salt.

If there is no Citibank branch in your area then you can pay it via IBG online or over any local or foreign banks counters also via IBG. IBG fee is usually around RM2 but some banks have lower IBG fee such as Standard Chartered Bank. Standard Chartered Bank IBG fee is only RM0.50 per transaction and it is capped at RM9999.00 per transaction if you do it over the counter but i think you need to be a Standard Chartered savings account holder in order to enjoy the lower IBG fee at RM0.50.

Alternatively, you can apply for a basic savings account at the bank nearest to your house or office. The first two IBG transfer charge is only RM0.50 per transaction and you can do it online.

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Oct 2 2009, 05:49 PM

could u give the link or email we can send the proof to ?

On the subject of IBG, the following banks charges RM0.50 for IBG

1. SCB
2. Citibank
3. CIMB (till end of 2009)

Alliance Bank is RM 1.00 per transfer (subject to max RM5K per transaction)

This post has been edited by hye: Oct 2 2009, 07:34 PM

Oh, and Hong Leong Bank is RM1.00 while RHB Bank is RM1.50.

can u reduce your credit limit in your credit card by calling customer service by phone?