for anyone interested in using debit or credit cards at pemex, they have been accepting them for some time, but always added a 3% surcharge. until
now. at least one in ensenada (on reforma and estancia) which happens to be a cualli station, now accepts cards without the "comisión."surfer jim - 1-8-2007 at 06:47 PM
Best bet is to NOT use charge cards ....there frequently seems to be problems with fraudulent charges afterwards.....thebajarunner - 1-8-2007 at 07:54 PM
Used my Visa in Prague a few months ago for gas, no problemo....
Had a funny moment in Buenos Aires a while back.
Our host filled up at a Shell station, so I pulled out my Shell card and handed it to the attendant.
He looked at it like it was a scorpion..
Never saw such a thing and did not want to even touch it.David K - 1-8-2007 at 11:19 PM
Baja Cactus Pemex in El Rosario will take a card and he only adds what the bank charges him for processing...
[Edited on 1-9-2007 by David K]
Against the law
Dave - 1-9-2007 at 09:37 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Baja Cactus Pemex in El Rosario will take a card and he only adds what the bank charges him for processing...
[Edited on 1-9-2007 by David K]
I investigated using credit/debit cards at the deli. I was told by the bank and my attorney that passing fees on to the consumer is illegal.
Probably why stations have eliminated the commision. They can no longer get away with it.David K - 1-9-2007 at 10:25 AM
I believe it is done as a cash advance and not a direct purchase... I am not sure, and maybe this is no longer the case as November 14th was my last
time in El Rosario. I do know if you are short of cash it is a Godsend that Baja Cactus did take a credit card for gas.Dave - 1-9-2007 at 11:25 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
I believe it is done as a cash advance and not a direct purchase
Lots of ways to get around it , fer sure.
My attorney said if I wanted to raise my prices to cover the fees then offer the same percentage as a discount for paying cash I could essentially
charge only credit customers what the bank would charge me...
I told him my brain just exploded.
Credit/debit cards at Gas Stations...
BajaCactus - 1-9-2007 at 12:43 PM
In Mexico, the banking fees charges for a business processing credit/debit cards are usually between 3.5% and 5.5%... it all depends in the total
amounts of charges you make monthly.
Now, when any business goes to it's bank and asks for TPV services (the service and equipment that allows a business to charge credit/debit cards) and
signs the contract, it states that the business in question is not allowed to charge that banking commission to the final consumer... it is against
the law because you agreed on that point in the contract.
However, in Gas Stations, those banking fees are very close or even higher than the whole profit given to the Gas Station by Pemex (around 4.5%),
which makes having a TPV unwise.
Almost two years ago, at BajaCactus, we decided to install TPV services. Our main goal was to aid our customers and have more payment options for
them, however, as you can see, at the Gas Station we were unable to pay for the banking fee ourselves... so we pass the commission on to the client.
Last year, however, when the "Cualli" certification was design, one of the many Pemex requirements for given that "status" to a Gas Station was to
have at least two different TPV services available... and also they require that the Gas Station pays for the commission itself, as long as the client
asks for an invoice.
If the customer does not ask for an invoice, then you may pass the commission on to the client... and this is only allowed in Gas Stations because of
the almost equal banking fee and the profit given by Pemex.
Take into account that in order to ask for an invoice an avoid the banking fee, you must have the appropiate documentation that proves you have a
legal business in Mexico and that you pay taxes down here too.
At BajaCactus we do not pass the whole banking fee to our "non-invoice" customers, we pay for a part of it. And also, business are not suposse to give
ATM services through a TPV equipment, however, due to our geographic location, at BajaCactus, we have decided to "risk-it" and if anyone needs that
service we try to help.
Hope this help guys.
Antonio M.
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."woody with a view - 1-9-2007 at 12:47 PM
thanks antonio. spent $$$ at your place yesterday and as usual your operation is first rate. service is friendly, quick and a pleasure doing business
with you.Cypress - 1-9-2007 at 01:05 PM
