Surcharges on credit 

card buys, illegal-DTI

TAGBILARAN CITY, April 20 (PIA)--While surrendering your credit cards to a cashier and allowing the debit of funds without you seeing the process is bad enough, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) hints: the practices can also lead to crediting surcharges without one knowing. 

DTI Regional Director Asteria Caberte, in a press statement has alerted consumers of the practice of unscrupulous business establishments taking advantage of credit card holders by imposing surcharges.

Earlier, government authorities have advised credit card holders not to let their cards off their eyes, especially to cashiers who might have a skimming device used to extract important information from the security tabks on the card and cardholder including tampering on the deposits. 

Through a method called skimming, a scammer uses a skimming device, also called an ATM or credit card reader than has the capacity to copy important depositor data and store it for future use. 

After the data is skimmed, it would be easy to clone the card by making a copy and then ordering online goods using the depositor's money without him knowing anything about the transaction. 

A card owner often discovers the fraud only after he sees that charges have been made in his account without his approval. 

Still another danger of surrendering your card without you looking is this allows business establishments can to put in their illicit tactics imposing additional charges on items purchased through credit cards.

"These are illegal," Caberte declared. 

“All retailers who accept credit cards for payment should not require the cardholders to pay additional charge over and above the price tag on the consumer goods and services,” Caberte said, citing Article 81, or the “Price Tag Requirement.” 

The price tag requirement of Republic Act 7394, or “Consumer Act of the Philippines,” says goods and services must have only an appropriate price tag or label. 

It [goods and services] must not be sold at a higher price with what is stated [in the price tag] and without discrimination to all buyers.

Caberte also advised consumers who were tricked into paying the surcharges to ask for a refund and report the incident to the DTI.

“Retailers should not pass surcharges to consumers for they are already paying annual membership fee for using credit cards,” Caberte added. 

“In ensuring consumers’ rights, she revealed that the DTI is regularly monitoring business establishments.” 

Caberte also warned violators that DTI is regularly monitoring business establishments to ensure that consumer rights are upheld.

She underscored that unscrupulous retailers will be fined depending on the gravity, and their business permit and license may be revoked.

For consumer complaints and questions, consumers are advised to call or visit the Consumer Protection Division at the PTI Bohol provincial office, 2F FCB Bldg., CPG Ave., Tagbilaran City. Tel. # (63) 038-501-8260, she said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol/DTI Bohol) 

Credit card use to pay for goods and services must not have surcharges, and making sure the consumer knows how much was charged is a responsibility that can not be delegated, hints the DTI amidst complaints of credit card use surcharges and skimming victims. (PIABohol/foto from atimes.com)