tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727600.post2163829424232763331..comments2008-01-12T09:20:59.578+01:00Comments on Aneace's Blog: Regulators about to make a major ruling on interch...Aneace Haddadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119604490247753986noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727600.post-11908859033682478762008-01-11T21:37:00.000+01:002008-01-11T21:37:00.000+01:00See the press release and attached documents at th...See the press release and attached documents at this ECB site. Information just released today.http://www.ecb.int/press/pr/date/2008/html/pr080111.en.htmldannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727600.post-70979624298318054472007-12-21T02:19:00.000+01:002007-12-21T02:19:00.000+01:00Hi anonymous. Merchants would certainly need to be...Hi anonymous. Merchants would certainly need to be able to apply variable surcharges, with a higher fee for more expensive cards. They're actually doing it in a way today when they try to steer people towards PIN debit as opposed to signature. Today, in the US, they do it through more complicated means than a simple surcharge. I don't see the problem. You mention that merchants have had the rightAneace Haddadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08119604490247753986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727600.post-84586030349429707332007-12-20T22:01:00.000+01:002007-12-20T22:01:00.000+01:00If surcharging were allowed, I question its impact...If surcharging were allowed, I question its impact on the US market. In theory it sounds wonderful, but in reality the issue is complex. If merchants were to surcharge, they would either do so through a fixed rate or a variable one. If merchants charged a fixed rate for EVERY credit card transaction, then it would be unfair to consumers with cheaper cards. If merchants applied a variable rate, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18727600.post-20399133098343603402007-12-19T03:01:00.000+01:002007-12-19T03:01:00.000+01:00I agree. The role of governments and regulators s...I agree. The role of governments and regulators should be to ensure a fair and competitive environment for the economic benefit of their citizens. Regulators should be looking at the fairness of no surcharge rules - the elimination of such rules would allow interchange fees to be set by market forces - instead of regulating the supposed barrier (i.e. the fees) to open payment method competitionJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12399568295135118803noreply@blogger.com