Wonder if this will help cash payers?

**frugalfranny** · 12-22-2010, 12:17 AM

Got this article today and am hoping that it will be help for the people that pay with cash. Will be interesting to see what happens.....

Now they can offer a discount.

I will often ask a Dr. or dentist if they give a discount for cash and if not, I will charge it. Many eye dr's here will give a discount for cash.

States, Feds Amend Credit Card Company Suit

**pollypurebred39** · 12-22-2010, 02:27 AM

ROFL My dentist wouldn't give a discount if he had a gun held to his head.

I think my husband wasted his time being educated in his field. He should have been a dentist.

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-22-2010, 07:09 AM

Never found this to be true. First they take my deductible, Then they send me an estimated bill before the ins. pays, then they send me a bill for the diff. the ins. didn't pay from their estimate.
And on the rare occasion they overcharged they try to "credit" my acct. like I don't need the diff. back.
I have learned to ignore the "estimate" bill and pay when the ins. co. is done screwing around.

**2ndGenGranola** · 12-22-2010, 08:24 AM

I've gone to cash for 3 of my drs.

**Sassyclass** · 12-22-2010, 11:17 AM

My dentist has given me a discount because I didn't have insurance at the time. He pulled an old transplant tooth at n/c. My ENT also gave me a quote on my surgery that was discounted in case my DH's insurance didn't pick me up before I needed surgery. I also asked for a discount when I bought my fridge a few years ago. They wanted to charge me $75 to deliver it and I said nope, I drove 35 miles to buy this from you and you are getting your money up front. If you want to charge me to deliver then I will go somewhere else. I told DH to not say a word and let me do the talking. For once he listened. He would have paid the extra charge without batting an eye. They also knocked off some other charge but I can't remember what it was. Always ask, if they say no then go somewhere else or at least know you tried.

Cat

**Domestic Gal** · 12-22-2010, 04:27 PM

When DD got her braces we saved 10% by paying up front and in cash. We also saved another 5% by making her appts. between 9-2 there least busy time.
I saved 5% by paying on the day I got my crown.
We saved about 8% last month by asking if they give a discount for paying cash (check not debit card) when we got our water heater replaced.

It does pay to ask. It seems cash is king any more.

**Imarachne** · 12-22-2010, 07:59 PM

A lot of professionals like dentists are willing to work with the public . I think they are glad to see cash instead of all this muck !

**AmyBoz** · 12-22-2010, 08:05 PM

The only places we get a cash discount are at the gas station and at the eyeglass store.

**Nishu** · 12-22-2010, 10:22 PM

I just wanted to point out what's going on here with this lawsuit for those of you who don't get giddy reading fine print.

In order to accept credit cards, merchants need to accept a few terms that most people probably don't know about. One of those is that merchants can't require ID's before accepting the cards, they have to use the signature on the back as ID enough. Another one of the rules that merchants abide by is that they accept all the associated fees, but they can't pass the fees on to the consumer. In other words, they can't charge you more for using a credit card and they can't even tell you that it costs them more to accept the cards. (Giving a cash discount violates that agreement.)

With this lawsuit they're hoping to end the rule that says the merchant can't charge fees to the customer. If this happens, you'll probably see a credit surcharge on your receipts. Right now it looks like Vermont is the only place that has successfully done away with the rule, but I guess it might end up nationwide since the feds are in on it.

For the time being, if you're getting a discount for using cash instead of a credit card, said merchant is violating the agreement. (They're also violating the agreement if they say you have to provide your ID.) I don't know how big of a deal it is though, because I see places do it all the time.

**mauimagic** · 12-22-2010, 10:32 PM

Our dentist has always given a discount for paying for our portion at the time of service by check - works for me!1

**frugalfranny** · 12-23-2010, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by Nishu

(Giving a cash discount violates that agreement.)

If this happens, you'll probably see a credit surcharge on your receipts.

Vermont's new credit card law

Under the new law, credit card companies must allow merchants to offer discounts and incentives based on the customer's form of payment. For example, a merchant will be able to offer a three percent discount if the customer pays in cash

I am hoping for the discount for cash. I think they will be real careful ---esp. in this economy---about charging a surcharge.

Originally Posted by Imarachne

A lot of professionals like dentists are willing to work with the public . I think they are glad to see cash instead of all this muck !

I have always asked for a discount from a dentist..........just have YET to receive one...........so they don't live/work here.........but the eye dr's will discount.........and it is much appreciated.

It is when the dentist WON'T discount that I whip out the ole card........knowing it costs them more! (and we have high dental rates here!)

**mauimagic** · 12-23-2010, 12:50 AM

I agree FF - no discount for cash = use card. No reason that they could not give discounts - reality check for everyone!!

**lparker** · 12-23-2010, 09:12 AM

I'm pretty sure the card agreements say that the merchants can't charge MORE for CC use. I've been buying wholesale tee shirts for years by CC and having to pay a "lost cash discount" of about 5% on each order.

Lee

**Nishu** · 12-23-2010, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by lparker

I'm pretty sure the card agreements say that the merchants can't charge MORE for CC use. I've been buying wholesale tee shirts for years by CC and having to pay a "lost cash discount" of about 5% on each order.

Lee

Ok, so I guess you can give a cash discount, but you can't charge a credit card fee.

I guess given that, I don't really see what the hubbub is about.

**LuLuBleen** · 12-23-2010, 12:34 PM

Ok, so I guess you can give a cash discount, but you can't charge a credit card fee.

Well, they're not supposed to add charges or require minimum purchases for credit card purchases but I see vendors do it a lot. I tattled to Visa on one store because the clerk told a woman she had to make a minimum twenty-dollar purchase to use her card. She had to hold up the line to go find more merchandise to buy to meet the minimum (she had no cash at all).

Visa sent me a thank-you letter and told me they'd address the problem, but I don't know what (if anything) happened.

I didn't know about the ID restriction. I get asked for my ID every time I use my credit card at Wal-Mart. I don't mind, though.