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Oopsie Daisy

(6,388 posts) Tue May 27, 2025, 02:59 PM May 27

My physician charges a 5% premium "service charge" if I pay by credit card online... [View all]

My physician charges a 5% premium "service charge" if I pay by credit card online. Their payment page remembered my credit card info from a previous co-pay... but also wanted me to verify my 3-digit code on the back of my card.

I'm old, I can't remember that. Rather than getting up to go double-check my card... I chose the "Google Pay" option instead.

When I selected Google Pay, the 5% service charge and courtesy fee disappeared, and I was able to pay my co-pay amount WITHOUT any service charges. Nice!

But I still paid with a credit card. What's going on? Is the service-charge / courtesy-fee just a blatant money-grab that Google Pay does not allow them to do? — I'll be using Google Pay with them in the future.

22 replies

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My physician charges a 5% premium "service charge" if I pay by credit card online... [View all] Oopsie Daisy May 27 OP

They have to pay a fee when their patients pay with credit cards jmbar2 May 27 #1

Most people aren't aware that the credit card companies levy fees on merchants & service providers Attilatheblond May 27 #5

Those transaction fees are 1.5 to 3.5% ... not 5%. Oopsie Daisy May 27 #12

many places have gone cashless pstokely May 27 #15

I didn't know that til my dentist's office explained it jmbar2 May 27 #20

Yes. And according to Google... it's just 1.5% to 3.5% Oopsie Daisy May 27 #6

I went to a dermatologist that would not take cash or check only credit card. After a lot of back and forth with mitch96 May 27 #19

Good for you! Oopsie Daisy May 27 #21

Now when I make a medical appointment I ask what form of payment they take...nt mitch96 May 28 #22

Thanks for posting this. I've been seeing these "service fees" too and wondered how to avoid them. FadedMullet May 27 #2

Send them a check. Mosby May 27 #3

I used to do that back in the day. Oopsie Daisy May 27 #8

Yup. Any place that charges a "convenience fee" for paying online Freddie May 27 #17

Absolutely! RhapsodyFav May 27 #18

Shhhh. Don't tell them. Raven123 May 27 #4

Time was, surcharging was illegal. That changed in 2013, but varies by state. bucolic_frolic May 27 #7

Yes... it is. I completely agree. Oopsie Daisy May 27 #10

In many states they are only allowed to charge up to the cost of the fee. bucolic_frolic May 27 #13

At one time, that was against the CC company's rules. nilram May 27 #9

This used to be illegal now its not. cpamomfromtexas May 27 #11

I only use a debit card. It works for me! CTyankee May 27 #14

Doctors trying to stay in the 95th Percentile of incomes. Silent Type May 27 #16