Plastic card charges

Last week’s statement from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) could not be clearer.  We reproduce a slightly abridged version.

“Following OFT enforcement action, 12 airlines have agreed to include debit card surcharges in the headline price rather than surprise consumers at the end of the booking process.  Any surcharges for paying by credit card will be easy to find when booking online.

“Aer Lingus, BMI Baby, Eastern Airways, easyJet, Flybe, German Wings, Jet2, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Thomas Cook, Thomson (TUI) and Wizz Air were subject to an OFT consumer law investigation and have agreed to change their practices.

“The OFT believes that people should not have to incur surcharges to use a debit card online.  Debit cards are the online equivalent of cash which means that headline prices should be the price people can pay.

“Following recommendations from the OFT last year, the Government has also announced plans to bring forward legislation to ban excessive debit and credit card surcharges across the economy. 

“Eastern Airways, easyJet, Flybe, German Wings, Lufthansa, Thomas Cook, Thomson (TUI) and Wizz Air have already made changes.  Others will change their advertising practices by 1 August and fully complete further changes over the coming months.” www.oft.gov.uk

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