Life may take VISA, but Government Offices Cant

[Chief Deputy TC]

Tax Collector?s Office No Longer Accepting VISA Cards



DeFuniak Springs, FL (April 30, 2009) ? As of May 1, VISA cards are no longer accepted at the Walton County Tax Collector?s Office due to restrictions placed on government agencies by VISA.

VISA is requiring government agencies, including the Tax Collector's Office, to sign merchant agreements that would force them to pass on VISA's charges to all customers, not just those who are using their credit cards at the counter.

MasterCard, American Express & Discover continue to be accepted by the Tax Collector's Office at the counter, through the mail, telephone and online at Walton County Tax Collector. Because of VISA's order, the Tax Collector's Office will no longer be able to accept VISA debit or credit cards for any transactions.

Tax Collector Rhonda Skipper said "It is the policy of my office that if a customer wants to have the convenience of using a credit card or debit card, then the card holder, not all tax payers, should bear those additional costs. VISA?s policy would require all tax payers to share the cost of using their card and I simply cannot pass those fees on to all customers."

The State of Florida has already weighed in on this issue by authorizing governing agencies conducting state business to accept credit and debit card payments and charge a convenience fee that is collected by a third party payment processor. MasterCard, American Express & Discover have not expressed any objections to the current arrangement and continue to be accepted for all transaction types.

"When I dine out and pay with cash, I know the price includes additional costs that allow someone else to use their VISA card. As Tax Collector, I can't do that. I am unable to add a little more onto everyone's tax bill to cover the other customer?s VISA costs," said Skipper.

?Our office tried to work out an agreement that would allow us to continue taking VISA, however, VISA?s rigid policy and unwillingness to work within my obligations to the taxpayers of Walton County, has resulted in us no longer being able to process VISA cards,? said Skipper. ?I realize this is an inconvenience to our customers and would encourage those who are VISA cardholders to contact VISA directly.?

Customers can speak directly with VISA by calling (800) VISA-911 or via email at askvisa@visa.com.

?VISA it?s everywhere you want to be except government agencies, ?said Skipper.

 

[scooterbug44]

Good! Way to take a stand!

These credit card companies are long overdue for a reality check IMO!

 

[TooFarTampa]

Good post -- I'm glad Rhonda Skipper's office made this decision.

This is the kind of thing that is right up Crist's alley and frankly, he should call Visa out on it loudly and very publicly. In fact, I can see this becoming a national issue and very bad PR for Visa. Idiots. :roll:

 

[Chief Deputy TC]

Thanks,

Many other Florida Tax Collectors have also adopted this policy with VISA. I hope they relax their regulations on government offices as ALL the other major credit card companies have. The unfortunate part is that the majority of our customers who choose this payment option are VISA cardholders. This is primarily due to the contractual relationships they have with so many banks.

I hope I can send an update soon that announces we can accept VISA, but for now they have chosen to loose money and frustrate their cardholders.

 

[Lynnie]

I think boycotting AMEX just for their high fees would be a good move as well.

I am anti AMEX these days..........

 

[Chief Deputy TC]

Suggested Letter or e mail to VISA :

Joseph W. Saunders
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Visa Inc.
P.O. Box 8999
San Francisco, CA 94128 - 8999


Dear Mr. Saunders,

I wanted to use my Visa card at the Tax Collector’s Office in Walton
County, Florida. However, Visa does not allow their customers to use
a Visa card at the Tax Collector’s Office.

This makes no sense as MasterCard, American Express & Discover
are accepted by the Tax Collector’s Office.

It is my understanding that VISA has ordered government agencies to
not conduct lawful counter service payment transactions for tax
payments, such as vehicle registration and business taxes. Such
agencies cannot readily afford to accept Visa at the counter without
using convenience fees as allowed under Florida law.

Please reconsider Visa’s policy in this matter and allow the Tax
Collector’s Office and other government agencies to accept Visa
payments.

Sincerely,


_____________________________________
an inconvenienced customer trying to use a Visa card

 

[GoodWitch58]

Thanks for taking this stand and also for getting the information out in a timely manner; and with information for all residents to contact the credit card company. This is great.

These credit card companies need a "wake-up" call--this is a good start. I appreciate what you all did, and especially that you posted here on Sowal.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Cory you say there are other counties who have made the same decision. ARe some deciding to have taxpayers pay the fees? It seems this decision by VISA would have a pretty far reach. If other counties are accepting VISA and passing the fees on to taxpayers, those taxpayers have an absolute right to know -- immediately.

 

[Chief Deputy TC]

Cory you say there are other counties who have made the same decision. ARe some deciding to have taxpayers pay the fees? It seems this decision by VISA would have a pretty far reach. If other counties are accepting VISA and passing the fees on to taxpayers, those taxpayers have an absolute right to know -- immediately.

This thing moved very quickly this week and I am sure many offices are still trying to decide on a course of action. As soon as I got the request that we sign a "merchant agreement" I knew something was up, as our payment processor has always been identified as the "merchant of record". That put's the burden on the third party to adhere to the card regulations. Our payment processor, Point and Pay, Inc. is a leader in this industry and they were on top of it. In the coming days and weeks, you should see other government offices follow this course. Never in a million years would I have assumed I would be spending any significant portion of my day determining a strategy to comply with a credit card company who wished to not have their card accepted. Hopefully it was an experiment to see if they could get us to pay, thus more $. Now they need to decide is some is better than none from government agencies.

Here is a quote from them from 2005, " "Partnering with governments is a strategic priority for Visa and its members to help them achieve a variety of goals," said Aliza Knox, senior vice president, Commercial Solutions, Visa International.



I will be on Grayton Beach surf fishing this weekend to decompress from all this!!!

 

[Lynnie]

I've never paid my taxes 'conveniently' on line due to the ridiculously high 'convenience' charge. Not a Walton Co. charge, but I don't think it's a VISA charge either.