Restaurant Places Four Percent Fee On All Credit-Card Transaction Receipts

And yet, another restaurant decides to implement a four percent charge to people who use credit cards to pay their bill.

Is it the start of a war on the credit card users? Or, is it just a tax on those who don’t use cash?

While some establishments chose to go credit-only, they suffered backlash with claims of discrimination for people who are unable to attain a credit or debit card. However, a Louisiana restaurant has implemented a four-percent non-cash charge onto customers’ bills, and it’s also garnering some negative attention.

According to a Facebook post, the patron noticed the fee at the bottom of their Uncle T’s Oyster Bar restaurant receipt. And, after their experience, they’d start carrying cash to pay their bill. The customer said they saw a four percent fee on their bill.

Is four percent too high?

Chicago’s Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits owner Michael Ciapciak said the store uses Squareup.com with a two to three percent credit card fee. According to Ciapciak, when people pay with cash, the restaurant keeps all the money. But, when they use a credit card, they get $10 but have to pay a fee.

If this is the case, why does Ciapciak not go completely cash? He’s looked at both sides of the issue and realizes that there are pros and cons to them. He said there’s a cost behind them both, and though cash is better, someone is still being paid to count the money and deposit it in the bank.

If a restaurant decides to go all-cash or credit, they may leave money on the table without realizing it.

Doug Dunlay owns 4 Star Restaurant Group, and he said, if customers use a credit card instead of cash, there is no fee. Dunlay said over 90 percent of their customers use a credit card to pay for their food, but he said there is a three percent transaction charge for them (up to three percent depending on the credit card).

He said the group pays in more than $800,000 a year in these credit card fees but is eating the cost and not passing onto their customers.