Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Paying with plastic

When you're ordering a delicious take out sub, you sometimes want something extra. Extra mustard. Extra pickles. Extra hots.

When you're getting your favorite take out pizza, there are extras, too. Extra cheese. Extra sauce. Extra pepperoni.

And Brenda, a take out veteran, knows when you add something extra, you often have to pay for it.

But when Brenda headed out to pick up and pay for her family's carryout subs and pizza, she noticed there was an extra charge for charging it.

Brenda, paid with credit card
"I saw this little sign that said that if you use your credit card or debit card that they're gonna charge you a surcharge."

Yup, the sign in the sub shop said, "A $.50 fee will be charged for all credit or debit card purchases, due to an increase in processing fees."

Brenda, paid with credit card
"It was very surprising."

Brenda confronted the man behind the counter. You can't do that, she said.

Brenda, paid with credit card
"And they said it was legal."

She knew her kids would be extra hungry, if she didn't get back soon.

Brenda, paid with credit card
"We already placed the order for the food, and I had to pick it up, and I didn't have any cash on me."

So, out came the plastic. She paid the extra fee and drove home, fuming.

Brenda, paid with credit card
"After I left the store, I came home, and I e-mailed you guys."

OK, extra toppings are good, but extra fees are not good.

It's not so much illegal as it is prohibited. Credit card companies have extra rules to protect customers who want to charge it.

We checked with the "biggies," and all told us that charging extra is unfair to cardholders who choose to pay with plastic.

So, we called the owner of the sub shop. We explained that he is allowed to give a discount for cash, but his credit card contracts say he cannot sock credit customers with a penalty.

The sandwich seller was extra surprised, but said he was taking down the sign that instant and would stop charging the extra fee.

And back at home with her family, Brenda is extra happy, because she helped her fellow chargers.

Brenda, paid with credit card
"If you feel that you're getting charged a fee when you shouldn't be, you should notify somebody."

Be aware! Credit card agreements also prohibit requiring a minimum purchase to use the card. If you see that, let me know.

(Copyright (c) 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)