Originally Posted by
alanh
As I mentioned above, it's murkier outside the US. Some countries (though I don't know about Mexico) explicitly allow merchants to have credit card surcharges or minimums, regardless of the issuer's normal rules.
i just returned from costa rica. i have no idea how much visa/mc/amex are charging merchants there for transactions, but in many places, when attempting to use a card i was (especially in restaurants) told that if i paid cash, the 13% tax would be ignored and if i used credit, it would be charged.
just as an aside, down south on the caribbean coast, visa seemed to be accepted 'everywhere', mc, at most places, amex at a bit fewer and discover... well... good luck...