Alan Kay, Marsascala
A debit card payment is like a cash transaction
I make no apology for replying to the letter by Mario Tabone, Financial Controller of Chef's Choice in Żabbar (Decision On Payment By Debit Card, March 12), but feel constrained to do so in response to the comment "Mr Kay is notorious in our establishment for his attention to detail, scrutiny and frequent comments..."
This is the first and only occasion I have been motivated to comment either directly or indirectly to staff or management, so the comment above is false.
I commend the shop floor staff and in particular the cashier who thought it reasonable to make the transaction regardless of the amount, when she realised my wife would have left the items on the counter. There is a particular absence of comment in Mr Tabone's reply addressing the policy of a €20 minimum payment by debit card and the cashier's refusal to accept it.
It is most unlikely this could be sustained in law.
As has been said elsewhere, a transaction by debit card is a cash transaction, and to do otherwise is likely to be a breach of the contract the merchant has with the bank in question, which has offered the facility in order to increase its business.
I apologise to the correspondent for not approaching the management "cap in hand" for permission to make payment by the method we choose, and would never be dictated to as to what that amount should be.
12 Comments
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J Brincat
Mar 18th 2010, 17:15
Igalea - you are completely wrong and have not read the statement properly. Mr Kay said that a DEBIT card is the same as a cash transaction and what I interpret that as meaning is that for a debit card payment the money is taken automatically out of your account there and then. At least if you try and be clever make sure you read the comments properly!!!
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 22:38
"A debit card payment is like a cash transaction" Does this answer you Mr/s Brincat?
J Brincat
Mar 19th 2010, 15:48
Not really as I never asked a question!!
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 16:09
Alan Kay, its your argument that has absolutely NO basis at law and cannot be sustained.
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 16:03
Alan Kay Just cut all the crap kay. NO, a credit card transaction is not a cash transaction whatever you say. Anyone can refuse to accept a credit/debit card/cheque transaction and insist on hard cash. Cash is the only legal tender. All the others are NOT. And all your correspondence for just a few euro cents? Taz-zejt ukoll!!!!!!!!
Joseph Ellul - Sydney
Mar 18th 2010, 13:22
Just cut up all the credit cards and use cash. These plastic cards are leaving a trail behind the users and will make you more a slave to the banks that issue them. If you start hassling about a few Euros on credit then You are already broke. Use cash. Cash is KING
E.Muscat
Mar 18th 2010, 12:41
@A.Kay: the saga has now reached epic proportions! Mr.Kay,why don't you stop shopping at Chef's Choice?
As a business, it has the business right to say that only purchases of 20 Euro and over will be accepted to be paid by debit card:or are you against this right?
Kenneth Cassar
Mar 18th 2010, 14:02
"As a business, it has the business right to say that only purchases of 20 Euro and over will be accepted to be paid by debit card:or are you against this right?".
It is precisely this "right" that is in question. So first one would need to establish whether this is actually a right, before calling it so. Chef's Choice has to my knowledge remained silent on this issue.
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 16:08
Mr Cassar, no one can force anyone to accept anything other than CASH. CASH is the only legal tender. All other methods are NOT. If people are not happy to pay in CASH then they should shop elsewhere and stop making a fuss.
J. Debono
Mar 18th 2010, 12:25
Actually, paying by debit card is not exactly the same as paying cash.
The reason beeing that the bank charges the shop owner 3% on all transactions, which means a higher percentage loss of profit (ex. if a shop makes 15% profit, by removing 3% from the total, he is actually losing 20% of his profit)
Therefore that is why many shopkeepers make a minimum amount that has to be spent, in order for the consumer to be able to pay with a debit card.
Peter Murray
Mar 18th 2010, 10:51
Out of all the absences in this saga the one which makes the loudest silence is that from the bank concerned.Does this bank condone and endorse such restictive utilisation of its card(also Visa and Mastercard hierarchy should be informed I would argue),as in a contracted retailer imposing a unilateral minimum usage for purchases before acceptance of such?Has Mr.Kay raised this issue with the bank and what was their response?As evidently Chef's Choice action is not an isolated case and what concrete measures has he taken to ensure further unrestricted usage of his card rather than merely highlight this iniquity via the Times?Yes Chef's Choice should withdraw this criterion with immediate effect but I put it to him that his bank have a responsibility,indeed duty,to ensure that their cards issued to their clients are treated accountably and appropriately by entities utilising thieir cards,which I would further argue does not include a minimum amount usage before acceptance thereof.So come on Mr.Kay ask the bank why this should be so and what steps are the bank taking to ensure complaince with the criteria of card usage and share with us such enlightened bank input.
lgalea
Mar 18th 2010, 16:04
Peter Murray read my comments to Alan Kay.