Jerseygirl

The reason some stores, gas stations don't accept credit cards/or charge more when you use a CC is because of the commission they have to pay to the CC company. This doesn't apply with debit cards.

Sherlock Holmes

Yep, got all that but it was just another combination that differs from the UK and the US, that was my point.

Jerseygirl

I remember reading somewhere that stores and gas stations weren't allowed to charge extra to customers using CCs...can't remember what country/countries it applied to.

Beedubya

I love the variety of supermarkets here compared to Australia, where it is mainly the big 2 who hog it all with very little difference in prices.

My nearest supermarket where I do go for bits and bobs (and wine ) is LIDL, my God that is a cheap shop!! A lot of the stuff is imported from Europe and I do see quite a lot of Europeans shopping there, but they do have British brand names too and a nice bottle of decentish Aussie red is £4.00. See I did like something about Australia after all.

They also have this lettuce that I never saw in Australia, it is in like a punnet of soil and you just cut off the leaves you want and use as you go along, a little bit of watering here and there and it says it should last up to 10 days, they are usually 85p but were on offer for 50p the other day. They are called Living Salad.

I find so much foodstuff here cheaper even just milk and bread and basic items, oh and especially toiletries and cosmetics, at least a
1/3rd of the price of Australian items.

The only things I have found more expensive is petrol and meat, it is even tagged in some of the supermarkets here especially joints.

Bob

It's a condition they sign up to agree with to be able to use Mastercard and Visa...

The way they get out of it is not charging extra, but offering a cash discount, but they have to state clearly that it is a cash discount.

Jerseygirl

Does it apply in the US? The gas stations around here usually quote one price for cash and another for CC transactions...can't say I've noticed mention of a discount.

Sally Redux

Yes same around here.

Jerseygirl

Several years ago I remember hearing that CC companies were pulling their services from stores etc that did that. Trouble is I can't remember whether it was in the UK or US.

Bob

It's in the US.

They have to clearly show the price difference, but they can't actually call the difference a discount, but they have to show the difference. If they don't they can get into trouble.

We all know it's a discount for using cash as it saves a few percentage service fee to the shop and it saves you a few pennies.\

It's basically a case of semantics. They offer a price, they can't charge you more for a card price, but they can offer you a discount on paying for cash, as long as it is clearly stated difference and not a "discount".

They also aren't allowed to state a minimum $ amount to use a credit card. That's a breach of their T&C's.

Gabgoeshome

They are great ,I use them and they are better than *really* expensive brands!

Jerseygirl

Thank you...I'll haul ass over to the nearest Aldi.

Englishmum

I've just remembered that there was an article about this in the Femail section of the Daily Mail.

I use the Boots serums and face creams (I buy them at Target or when I'm in the UK) but I might give the Aldi products (see link below) a try, there is an Aldi near my mum's house - paying her a surprise visit mid-week and I guess would still be far cheaper than here in Switzerland:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...t-Perfect.html

(I wonder if they're being sold in Trader Joe's as well? The stuff in Whole Foods is far too expensive)

Jerseygirl

There's an Aldi in Rockaway, South Plainfield and Union.

Mummy in the foothills

I wish it was here, gas station charge 10¢ a gallon more for CC use and one charges 10¢ a gal for both debit and CC.

Boy d

Anyone who has been back to blighty recently, myself included, will find the UK cheap these days, given that the pound has lost close to 40 percent of its value in the past few years. It also is appealing when one changes over US or Can dollars to pounds and the options for purchasing homes or cars etc are much more appealing than they may have once been.

However, if one is going back to the UK job market, one's standard of living will be linked to what one earns and what type of cost of living it will provide and this must be taken into account as much as the cost of goods and services.