This was a recent "Buyer Beware" story on our local news. Thought George would appreciate it:

http://www.wyff4.com/buyerbeware/8193281/detail.html

GREENVILLE S.C. -- Ever stopped for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread and realized you didn't have any cash?

Many stores post signs, saying you have to spend a certain amount of money in order to use your credit or debit card. But technically, they are supposed to let you charge any purchase no matter how small.

At Karrie's Kafe, most of the customers are regulars and most pay with plastic.

"More than half of my business is debit cards every day," said owner Karrie Troyano. "I myself have more debit cards than I do cash."
GREENVILLE S.C. -- Ever stopped for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread and realized you didn't have any cash?

Many stores post signs, saying you have to spend a certain amount of money in order to use your credit or debit card. But technically, they are supposed to let you charge any purchase no matter how small.

At Karrie's Kafe, most of the customers are regulars and most pay with plastic.

"More than half of my business is debit cards every day," said owner Karrie Troyano. "I myself have more debit cards than I do cash."

Report a MC merchant violation to: http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/c...violations.html

Just be certain that your debit transaction is being processed as a VISA or MasterCard debit transaction (as opposed to a credit transaction, which is a whole other animal). Not all are, and other companies don't necessarily have the same policies.

Correct...if you use a PIN, then the transaction goes over a different network (Plus, Star, Interlink, etc.) and the normal Visa/MC merchant rules don't apply.

If you do a Visa/MasterCard transaction then they are not allowed to impose a:

- Minimum
- Maximum
- Fee
- Surcharge
- ID Requirement

Also those apply to AmEx... but not Discover anymore.