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> In Canada, we finally passed a law to allow merchants to add a credit card surcharge. People accustomed to getting free rewards will be paying up to 2.4% for

> In Canada, we finally passed a law to allow merchants to add a credit card surcharge. People accustomed to getting free rewards will be paying up to 2.4% for the privilege. And yes, they're crying about it. Didn't the CTRC ultimately reject this? Or are you talking about broader legislation? https://www.canada.ca/en/radio-television-telecommunications/news/2022/12/crtc-rejects-telus-request-to-charge-credit-card-processing-fee-for-regulated-home-telephone-services.html https://www.canada.ca/en/radio-television-telecommunications... Either way, it's a bit tone-deaf to say that people are crying about not getting free rewards. Many people are upset because companies like our notoriously anti-competitive telecom industry already factor merchant fees into the costs; adding on a separate charge is essentially double-dipping in a time of record inflation and profiteering.

bryanlarsen 4y ago
The CRTC disallowed Telus from doing this, but every merchant not covered by the CRTC is now allowed to disregard any "best price" clause in their credit card agreements. I expect the first merchants to take advantage of the new rules will be some of those Mom & Pop stores that currently have the "minimum $10 for credit card" signs.
- klyrs 4y ago
  The first merchant I observed taking advantage of the law was the RCMP, for what it's worth.
  - voisin 4y ago
    Utilities and government groups have always seemed to have extra fees for credit cards.
- voisin 4y ago
  Did the CRTC disallow or say they couldn’t until a review or hearing was complete? I thought they just delayed (for now)
klyrs 4y ago
Sure, that's an interesting case. The CRTC's ruling, if I'm reading that right, is narrow and only impacts telecoms. I do see that as a good thing. What I'd really want is for merchants to be able to pass exact interchange fees on to the customer with no overhead -- which, alas, isn't what the law encourages, along with a cap on interchange fees like was done in Europe (TIL).

bryanlarsen 4y ago

The CRTC disallowed Telus from doing this, but every merchant not covered by the CRTC is now allowed to disregard any "best price" clause in their credit card agreements. I expect the first merchants to take advantage of the new rules will be some of those Mom & Pop stores that currently have the "minimum $10 for credit card" signs.

klyrs 4y ago
The first merchant I observed taking advantage of the law was the RCMP, for what it's worth.
- voisin 4y ago
  Utilities and government groups have always seemed to have extra fees for credit cards.
voisin 4y ago
Did the CRTC disallow or say they couldn’t until a review or hearing was complete? I thought they just delayed (for now)

klyrs 4y ago

Sure, that's an interesting case. The CRTC's ruling, if I'm reading that right, is narrow and only impacts telecoms. I do see that as a good thing. What I'd really want is for merchants to be able to pass exact interchange fees on to the customer with no overhead -- which, alas, isn't what the law encourages, along with a cap on interchange fees like was done in Europe (TIL).