I recently went to eat in a pub near Bude, Cornwall. It was a place I often went to eat, but on this occasion I was forced to complain because they insisted on a minimum charge on my Visa card.
Read my review on Trip Adviser. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1749693-d4366603-r174194696-The_Stables_Inn-Kilkhampton_Cornwall_England.html#readReview
Partly due to the rude treatment from the management I emailed Visa to report the fact the establishment was trying it on with their customers by trying to charge a minimum payment.
This is what I said.
Dear sir,
I wish to complain about the Stables http://www.stablesbar.co.uk/
On Monday, they refused to accept my Visa card unless I purchases a minimum of £20. I understand my contract with you is my card will be accepted without minimum charge. How are you able to help me with this matter. It lead to an embarrassing situation, ending in me being told to leave in front of the other customers.
Yours faithfully
Paul Clews
This was the reply from Visa.
Thank you for contacting Visa Europe.
Visa has certain regulations that all merchants accepting Visa cards must follow. One of those rules is that Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items.
If you run into a problem like this with a merchant, please notify your Visa card-issuing financial institution. Visa Member financial institutions have access to the appropriate Visa rules and regulations. They also have access to the Notification of Customer Complaint forms that should be used by the financial institution to document and file this type of complaint.
Thank you for writing,
Consumer Support │Visa Europe
I'm now waiting for Nationwide to send me the relevant form to take my complaint further.
Watch this space.