Are we all being ripped off? I think so

[oldbluefox]

... and that is exactly what I mean by people letting themselves be ripped off ... they made the bad choice.

People don't let themselves be ripped off if they don't have the know how to make an alternative choice or know where to look.

What are you thinking of here? There often are alternatives ... or different ways of buying.

Not if you live in the more rural or outlying towns. The choices are much more limited and you sometimes have no choice but to buy what is on offer

[Stephen]

Yes, we are definitely being ripped off....with being charged, in my opinion, excess payments for paying with a credit card.

For example, our car is due to be taxed at the end of the month for 12 months, yet if I choose to pay with a credit card they will charge another £2.50 on top. I am already paying the tax like a good citizen, yet they want more for something that costs in real terms only pence in transaction costs. I wouldn't mind so much if they were doing all the work, but it's me having to process it online. Bl**dy rip off merchants.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/card ... -card.html

[Manoverboard]

Yes, we are definitely being ripped off....with being charged, in my opinion, excess payments for paying with a credit card.

For example, our car is due to be taxed at the end of the month for 12 months, yet if I choose to pay with a credit card they will charge another £2.50 on top. I am already paying the tax like a good citizen, yet they want more for something that costs in real terms only pence in transaction costs. I wouldn't mind so much if they were doing all the work, but it's me having to process it online. Bl**dy rip off merchants.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/card ... -card.html

Use a Debit Card instead ?

The £2:50 charge is levied by the Card Issuer, if you didn't pay it the cost of the non-disc would be increased and then you would claim that you are being ripped off for paying part of a charge that you did not incur.

It's called choice .... and you made the wrong one

[Stephen]

You call it choice Moby, I call it a rip off.

Of course nothing is for free and I appreciate that this service has to be paid for. But does it really cost the amounts businesses are charging.....I don't think so.

And no I didn't make a bad choice since I haven't paid it yet . But it will get paid, as usual, with a debit card.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/c ... own-begins

[oldbluefox]

How much do they charge for changing a booking? And in these days of computers is that amount justified? (Puts wooden spoon away)

[Manoverboard]

How much do they charge for changing a booking? ....

£100 per booking, as at late August 2015

Sounds like a good deal for those who can't make up their bloody minds

[Manoverboard]

.... But does it really cost the amounts businesses are charging.....I don't think so.

Every transaction has to be paid for one way or another ... the cost is there to pay the umpteen millions that are required for the Issuer's computers / networking / operational and development plus infrastructure costs that are involved. It is a huge operation.

[Stephen]

.... But does it really cost the amounts businesses are charging.....I don't think so.

Every transaction has to be paid for one way or another ... the cost is there to pay the umpteen millions that are required for the Issuer's computers / networking / operational and development plus infrastructure costs that are involved. It is a huge operation.

Not convinced.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crac ... ges-begins

[Ray Scully]

.... But does it really cost the amounts businesses are charging.....I don't think so.

Every transaction has to be paid for one way or another ... the cost is there to pay the umpteen millions that are required for the Issuer's computers / networking / operational and development plus infrastructure costs that are involved. It is a huge operation.

Charging excessively to pay by card is now against the law. Companies must ensure fees are cost reflective, which our research (Which?) suggests should be no more thn 2% for credit cards and a matter of pence for debit cards.

[Manoverboard]

.... But does it really cost the amounts businesses are charging.....I don't think so.

Every transaction has to be paid for one way or another ... the cost is there to pay the umpteen millions that are required for the Issuer's computers / networking / operational and development plus infrastructure costs that are involved. It is a huge operation.

Charging excessively to pay by card is now against the law. Companies must ensure fees are cost reflective, which our research (Which?) suggests should be no more thn 2% for credit cards and a matter of pence for debit cards.

What does Which know ... they couldn't even suggest a decent condensing washing machine

There may be times when the cost IS high but buying from a Government Department surely is not one of them ?

[Kendhni]

... and that is exactly what I mean by people letting themselves be ripped off ... they made the bad choice.

People don't let themselves be ripped off if they don't have the know how to make an alternative choice or know where to look.

That is where you and I would differ ... I would say that if you hand over the money then the price must have been something you were willing to pay, therefore to complain about being ripped off afterwards is a bit disingenuous.

What are you thinking of here? There often are alternatives ... or different ways of buying.

Not if you live in the more rural or outlying towns. The choices are much more limited and you sometimes have no choice but to buy what is on offer

I lived in a small village for many years (the locals were all bald headed, big ears and plucked banjos .. and that is just the women ... our street was known as 'the imports' because many of us had come in from the cities) ... the local shop was a little bit more expensive but t turned into a local supermarket brand and was priced the same as anywhere else.

[Onelife]

... and that is exactly what I mean by people letting themselves be ripped off ... they made the bad choice.

People don't let themselves be ripped off if they don't have the know how to make an alternative choice or know where to look.

That is where you and I would differ ...I would say that if you hand over the money then the price must have been something you were willing to pay, therefore to complain about being ripped off afterwards is a bit disingenuous.

What are you thinking of here? There often are alternatives ... or different ways of buying.

Not if you live in the more rural or outlying towns. The choices are much more limited and you sometimes have no choice but to buy what is on offer

I lived in a small village for many years (the locals were all bald headed, big ears and plucked banjos .. and that is just the women ... our street was known as 'the imports' because many of us had come in from the cities) ... the local shop was a little bit more expensive but t turned into a local supermarket brand and was priced the same as anywhere else.

Hi Ken

There is of course some truth in what you say but for many people not having the understanding of the product they are buying into can and often dose leave them open to getting ripped off. If you are looking for one of our biggest rip off merchants you don't have to look any further than our banking industry who with there unscrupulous practices have been ripping us off for years.

The UK is awash with rip off merchant and more are arriving every day.

Regards

Keith

[Kendhni]

Hi Ken

There is of course some truth in what you say but for many people not having the understanding of the product they are buying into can and often dose leave them open to getting ripped off. If you are looking for one of our biggest rip off merchants you don't have to look any further than our banking industry who with there unscrupulous practices have been ripping us off for years.

Another one in a similar vein is the public sector ... especially the paper pushers.

The UK is awash with rip off merchant and more are arriving every day.

I don't disagree, but you either let them rip you off or you shop smarter ... nobody can force you to buy something from them, anybody can be very persuasive and if you haven't done your homework you may get taken in. This is one of the situations where I would say we all have to take responsibility for their own decisions ... some good, some bad.

[Ranchi]

Surely the vendor's role is to sell something for more than it is worth(to them). The value of the item or service is changes depending on the view / circumstances of the purchaser. The purchaser's role is to buy something for less than it is worth ( to them). These ideas are not mutually exclusive as the value of the item/ service is different to the vendor & purchaser. (Not my idea but a view). Vendors become irate when they make a purchase and then find out someone else has bought it for less!
The problem I have is when the system doesn't allow the purchaser free choice in the transaction. e.g I believe it is quite difficult to buy items from Amazon from say Europe or USA.
Steve

[towny44]

To bring this subject back closer to home, one clear rip off is the price difference for the same cruise sold in the UK vs north america.
I know some of you will claim there are different T&C's and selling rules, like ABTA, but even when you peel away these regulations the result is still that we in the UK, generally, pay far more for cruises than stateside passengers. And, despite our so called wonderful ABTA security net, our terms are generally much less favourable, eg price drop matching and refunding deposits when cancelling.

[Kendhni]

To bring this subject back closer to home, one clear rip off is the price difference for the same cruise sold in the UK vs north america.
I know some of you will claim there are different T&C's and selling rules, like ABTA, but even when you peel away these regulations the result is still that we in the UK, generally, pay far more for cruises than stateside passengers. And, despite our so called wonderful ABTA security net, our terms are generally much less favourable, eg price drop matching and refunding deposits when cancelling.

Do what others do, if you think you can get it cheaper book it through an American TA (I have done this a couple of times) ... and you get all the same benefits that Americans get. Just remember to factor in cost of flights, hotel, transfers etc. ... also remember sometimes American advertised prices do not include port taxes and other taxes (so make sure you are comparing like-for-like).

Sometimes the savings are minimal (in which case, for peace of mind, it may be better to book locally).

[Kendhni]

Surely the vendor's role is to sell something for more than it is worth(to them). The value of the item or service is changes depending on the view / circumstances of the purchaser. The purchaser's role is to buy something for less than it is worth ( to them). These ideas are not mutually exclusive as the value of the item/ service is different to the vendor & purchaser. (Not my idea but a view). Vendors become irate when they make a purchase and then find out someone else has bought it for less!

Very true ... the curious thing is the same people who complain about being ripped off are often the same ones who believe in extracting as much as possible out of their customers.

[Ranchi]

I meant 'purchasers' not 'vendors' in the 4th last line. On reflection though, vendors also get irate if they find their products are being undersold e.g. Price rigging cartels.