Big LV gas retailer hikes debit card surcharge

Friday, March 2, 2001 | 11:19 a.m.

Arco customers are paying an extra 10 cents to use their debit cards for transactions, which has motorists and consumer advocates fuming.

Arco gas station/convenience stores are tacking on an additional dime to the 25-cent surcharge already paid by customers who use debit cards instead of cash. Arco doesn't take credit cards.

The extra surcharge took effect Feb. 7. in Nevada, where Arco has 78 gas stations -- including 50 in the Las Vegas area.

"This is the first increase in fees for using plastic since 1994," said Cheryl Burnett, Arco's spokeswoman. "We needed to raise the fees to match the increase in banking fees, telecommunication charges and administrative costs."

Talk of rising costs was roundly dismissed by banks and industry watchdogs, who suggested that raising surcharges is unjustified and unfair.

'That's nothing but pure profit for them," consumer advocate David Horowitz said.

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