Wednesday, December 06, 2006 Stores can't impose surcharge on credit card users
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Southern Mindanao reiterated that no extra charges could be collected from the customers who are using their cards for payment.
Based on the Department Administrative Order 10, series of 2006,issued by the agency's head office last month, "the credit/Automated Teller Machine (ATM)/debit card holders must be protected from sellers/retailers who impose surcharges or additional amount over and above the price tag on the goods and services in the use of credit cards in payment thereof."
The order, which carries the subject "Reiterating the Rules on Price Tags/Labels and Providing Prohibition Against the Imposition of a Surcharge, Extra Charge, or Additional Charge in the Use of Credit/ATM/Debit Cards for Payment of Purchases of Consumer Products and Services," aims to further protect the consumers from the unlawful acts of some businessmen.
It likewise emphasizes the One Price Tag policy. This means that whether the client will pay in cash or through his card, the same price of good or service will be paid.
Such order has taken effect last November 5, 15 days after it was published in two of the national dailies.
Trade Assistant Secretary Merly M. Cruz said the order is a reinforcement of the Consumer Act of the Philippines or Republic Act No. 7394.
"When the price tag says that the item is worth P150, then the amount that must be deducted from the credit, ATM, or debit card of the customer is just P150. If the retailer imposes additional charges, the consumer must immediately report the case to the nearest DTI office, so that we can immediately act on it. That is One Price Tag policy, which is also discussed in (the order)," she said.
Moreover, Section 2 of the order states that, "every retailer is required to display a price tag to indicate the price of each consumer good and/or services, as required in Articles 81 and 83 of RA 7394."
"The price tag is very necessary for consumers to ensure that the amount deducted from the cards or the payment made by them is correct. In that way, we can further protect the rights of consumers," she said.
Cruz encouraged all consumers who would encounter problems related to the enforcement of the order to keep in touch with DTI-Southern Mindanao at (082) 224-05-11 local 411 or 421.
They could also visit the Davao City Field Services Division or the Consumer Welfare and Trade Regulation Division of DTI-Southern Mindanao at the 3rd and 4th Floors of Mintrade Bldg., Monteverde Avenue corner Sales Street, Davao City.For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod.
