Sir, - The Director of Consumer Affairs seems to have got hold of the wrong end of the stick in her objection to retailers adding credit card charges to the bill as a separate item.
In the many countries where such things are better organised than here, for instance Denmark, there is a specific law which requires them to do this. The credit card companies would not like such a law, as the existing lack of transparency helps their business at the cost of the consumer.
In this country, retailers are forced by the credit card companies to charge the same price whether the transaction is paid in cash or by credit card. If they do not co-operate, the credit card company can refuse to do business with them and they lose the custom of the many credit card holders. This means that they set their prices to cover the credit card charges and cash (or cheque) customers are penalised.
Adding credit charges to the bill is fairer to the consumer. - Yours, etc.,
B. CROWLEY, Leinster Square, Dublin 6.