Pampered Pets Grooming 30% Surcharge for using a Visa--against the law in Texas Wylie Texas

I brought my dog to have her nails clipped and was told it was $10.00. The lady (bright blonde hair, late 40’s, early 50’s) who helped me told me to pay now. I handed her my Visa and she said that will be $10. I signed the Visa slip and she did not offer a receipt. I didn't get one because the amount was so small and thought they were a small operation so no need.

When I got my Visa statement a week later, I saw that I was charged $13.00, 30% surcharge. I called the business seven times that day but got an answering machine. I did not leave a message because there was no recording; it just went directly into voicemail. I wasn’t even sure if I had reached the correct business.

The following day, I called and spoke to a lady who answered the phone (probably not the one who helped me, accent was very different). I told her the problem and she said it was their policy to charge that extra fee for the privilege of using a credit card.

I told her that it was against the law in the State of Texas to charge someone for the “convenience” of using a credit card. The reason I was calling was because I wasn't told about the surcharge or would have paid cash. The lady who helped me said, “that would be $10.”

She said she wasn't there and not the one who helped me on the day of the transaction but that is their policy. I told that I should have been notified that my total was $13.00 when I handed the lady my Visa. She said that they don't have to verbally tell that to the customer because there were signs in the shop. I told her that I did not see the signs and sat there reading all of the things on their wall. Besides, it’s again the law, signs or no signs, this is fraud.

She asked if there was anything else that she could do for me. I asked, so that's it? Tough luck? That's how you conduct business? She reiterated it was their policy and again asked if there was anything more that she could do for me. I told her that she just lost me as a customer and that was not the proper way to conduct business in the State of Texas.

I guess if they over charge 10-20 customers a day, they would make quite a bit of "extra" money and they do not feel the need to verbally tell the customer and lie about the amount being charged.

Note: They are listed as Suite 100 but they have turned their garage into a business on the side of their home so there are no suites.