Re: Dear Linkedin,

[Robert Bonomi <bonomi () mail r-bonomi com>]

> From nanog-bounces+bonomi=mail.r-bonomi.com () nanog org  Sun Jun 10 13:26:36 2012
> Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 11:25:35 -0700
> From: Michael Thomas <mike () mtcc com>
> To: "John T. Yocum" <john.yocum () fluidhosting com>
> Subject: Re: Dear Linkedin,
> Cc: nanog () nanog org
>
> On 06/10/2012 11:22 AM, John T. Yocum wrote:
> > A merchant can offer a cash discount.
>
> I believe that the law just recently changed on that account. I believe
> that what Barry says was the old reality.

You believe incorrectly. :)

Merchants have NOT, per Visa/Mastercard/Amex/Discover/Diners Club contracts
in the U.S., been prohibited from offering discounts for cash transactions
for more than 20 years -- based on my direct kowledge of such contracts as
a card-processing merchand..  TTBOMK, merchants were -never- so prohibited
by such a contract.  There are 'restraint of trade' issues involved if a
contract attempts to place restrictions on transactions that do not involve
all the parties to the contract.  Forbidding surcharges on transactions
paid for by the issuer's card -is-, on the other hand, fair game for the
contract under which the issuer agrees to pay for certain purchases. 

Recently-enacted (2010) U.S. law *does* explicitly permit -- overriding any
contract terms to the contrary -- setting a 'minimum purchase amount'
for credit card transactions, as long as that amount does not exceed US$10.