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Costs of Cashless Transactions Raise Conflicts Between Franchises, Card Issuers, Banks

By Kevin Adler
August 30, 2012

For merchants of all types, accepting credit card and debit card payments is almost a requirement of doing business in today's increasingly “cashless” economy. However, as the numbers of these transactions have increased, the costs that merchants must absorb on those payments have become a serious issue.

Two major lawsuits ' one possibly reaching settlement ' highlight the importance that merchants place on reining in those fees. The fees can cut significantly into margins for quick-serve restaurants, convenience stores, and many other franchises that complete large numbers of small transactions. As a result, franchisors and franchisees are on the same side of the table in opposition to some of the largest financial institutions in the United States. Yet, as developments indicate, nothing is settled at this time, and even the proposed solutions are controversial.

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