"Government duty" - On a laser card????

JohnCleary

Just chcked my balance online, and I was faced with with:

24 JAN 2006 GOVT CARD DUTY-LSR 15.00
GOVT CARD DUTY-ATM 7.50

What the hell does this mean? I have been charged the above 15euro and 7.50 euro btw

Mossy Monk

you were charged the government levy for your atm and laser cards

everyone does

John R

JohnCleary wrote:

Just chcked my balance online, and I was faced with with:

24 JAN 2006 GOVT CARD DUTY-LSR 15.00
GOVT CARD DUTY-ATM 7.50

What the hell does this mean? I have been charged the above 15euro and 7.50 euro btw

Check your credit card statement, the b*stards fleece you 40 bills for the priveledge of owning one of those.

mickymg2003

yep i havent been charged yet. Do you get charged if you inder 18?

seamus

mickymg2003 wrote:

yep i havent been charged yet. Do you get charged if you inder 18?

On atm cards, I'm not sure. On Laser and Credit Cards, yes. I haven't been charged yet either, I usually get charged in April.

fletch

Think its €10 for ATM cards and €40 for credit cards

JohnCleary

Uh,
I'm on a 3rd level, student account. I got no letter about this "Government levey".... When my father was getting his 40euro credit card levy, he was well informed. I just checked my balance and noticed this. It came as a total surprise. This is a bit of a joke tbh. A student, 19 years of age, notice... I dont even have that much money in my account!*

* Oh, and before you say "Well you shouldnt have a Laser card if you've no money".... Laser cards are free/interest free on a student account, they're just handy to have incase of emergency

-EDIT- Just read above posts. I thought the only levy was on CreditCards? Never heard of levy on laser/ATM cards?? Has this been around for long?

stag39

yes to have a atm card these days is a privilage and a luxury!! :rolleyes: stupid infidel government...

seamus

JohnCleary wrote:

-EDIT- Just read above posts. I thought the only levy was on CreditCards? Never heard of levy on laser/ATM cards?? Has this been around for long?

At least 3 years, possibly 4. Even students get stung with it.

constitutionus

dont know about lazer but atm IS 10euro and credit cards are 40.
get this guys, i applied for my first credit card in april last year, got it in march, AND THE BASTARDS CHARGED ME 40 EUROS STRAIGHT OFF. i didnt even get the chance to USE the thing and already im 40 quid in dept. and they wonder why people dont use em :rolleyes:

seamus

constitutionus wrote:

AND THE BASTARDS CHARGED ME 40 EUROS STRAIGHT OFF.

You know what's even worse? If you tried to cancel it, they'd charge you ANOTHER 40 euro :rolleyes:

constitutionus

its ridiculous isnt it:mad: damn politicians GOUGE you for everything they can and then go on about "shopping around" and how happy i should be my taxes are so low (never mind EVERYTINGs gone up in price to compensate:rolleyes: ) still i HAVE made it back through on line shopping, ive saved over HALF price on dvds on the net so it all works out fine in the end:D

alleepally

This thorny subject has come up before here but basically it's a sneaky tax and I consider it an unauthorised charge on my bank account every year.

But this is Ireland and we're all rolling in so much money and doing so well that a piddling little few Euro like this isn't going to matter. Just keep the eye on the SSIA carrot people. Mass hypnotism.

constitutionus

alleepally wrote:

This thorny subject has come up before here but basically it's a sneaky tax and I consider it an unauthorised charge on my bank account every year.

But this is Ireland and we're all rolling in so much money and doing so well that a piddling little few Euro like this isn't going to matter. Just keep the eye on the SSIA carrot people. Mass hypnotism.

more prophetic than you know , the gov are now trying to get people whove got SSIAs to jump through all these hoops BEFORE they can claim them. you should be getting your forms about six months before you claim your money. FAILOUR TO FILL IN THESE FORMS RESULTS IN LOSS OF YOUR 25% TOP UP.
gotta had it to the gov , they dont miss a trick in gouging people. if even 1% fail to do this it'll save em millions:rolleyes:

JohnCleary

alleepally wrote:

This thorny subject has come up before here but basically it's a sneaky tax and I consider it an unauthorised charge on my bank account every year.

But this is Ireland and we're all rolling in so much money and doing so well that a piddling little few Euro like this isn't going to matter. Just keep the eye on the SSIA carrot people. Mass hypnotism.

Can you challenge this as an unauthorised charge? Or is it 'one of those things'? I never signed anything when I got my Laser card saying the Government could charge me for having it.. Infact I didnt sign anything at all... all done over the phone!

DonkeyStyle \o/

Hmm, out of interest, can you cancel your atm card?
I'm just about crazy enough to go into the bank and fill out a withdrawl slip every time... just to spite them.
And what if my account only has 40 euro in it for most of the year... they're taking a quarter of my life-savings just for having a piece of plastic I hardly use.
What if, for the past year, I've had 2 euro in my account and haven't used my ATM card even once... do I now owe the government 8 euro?
Will they send debt collectors after me?

Devon

Yes. The bank would take the E10 from your account and pay it on your behalf. So nice of them, wouldn't you agree? You would then owe the bank E8.

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote:

Hmm, out of interest, can you cancel your atm card?
I'm just about crazy enough to go into the bank and fill out a withdrawl slip every time... just to spite them.
And what if my account only has 40 euro in it for most of the year... they're taking a quarter of my life-savings just for having a piece of plastic I hardly use.
What if, for the past year, I've had 2 euro in my account and haven't used my ATM card even once... do I now owe the government 8 euro?
Will they send debt collectors after me?

DonkeyStyle \o/

Wow, that's a sweet scam they've got going... almost as good as my GP who charges 40 euro for a 2 minute consultation.

Tazz T

It's a stealth tax - pure and simple. There's nothing luxurious about having a bank account.

LegacyUser

It's a stealth tax - pure and simple. There's nothing luxurious about having a bank account.

MorningStar

It really has no justification at all. It is actually anti competative as it is a barrier to changing credit card or bank accounts.

There should be a campaign to remove as it is a lot more valid than a bin charge campaign

The_Conductor

I think the Government have reduced it this year (it will be raided back to usual levels in 2007). Its to be Euro 7.50 for ATM & Laser cards and Euro 25 for credit cards. Think I saw something in the press releases yesterday or the previous day.

Edit: that should have read "raised", though perhaps the sentiment is more apt.....

chuckles30

I had the €15 taken out of my account yesterday or day before too for my laser. It's normally €20, but they've reduced it to €15 for this year only - not sure why. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they're charging it in January when they used to charge it in April. It's the one thing I hate to see appearing on my bank account or credit card bill!!! Are we not paying enough taxes already?? What do they do with this money anyway??

Linoge

I was signing up for a laser card (well... over the phone) about 2 weeks ago. After I went through it all I was told.

AIB Lady: "There will be a €20 charge every January."
Me: "Ehhh.. So does that not mean that if I just wait a few weeks that I can avoid the charge?"
AIB Lady: "Yes, Yes it does."
Me: "Thanks:rolleyes: "

I can understand the charge on credit cards (Its not exactly a stealth tax), BUT a tax on atm or laser cards is rediculous. They are not a luxury.

My major complaint about the tax on the credit cards is that there is no real alternative to them. I would be happy to use a debit card if it gave me the same flexibilty as the credit card (internet, cinema etc.). Does anyone know why we haven't adopted the same system as the US?

DonkeyStyle \o/

jerryadams wrote:

Yes. The bank would take the E10 from your account and pay it on your behalf. So nice of them, wouldn't you agree? You would then owe the bank E8.

Actually I've got just a tad over 2 euro in my bank account right now (let the good times roll eh?), now if these charges happen soon, I might just get to test this theory :rolleyes:

incisor71

The ATM charge is one of the reasons I didn't go for any of the student account offers when I went back to college three years back, as the accounts wouldn't be a great deal of use to me without a card!

However, unlike a credit card, you do not get charged if you close the account and cancel the ATM card just before the stamp duty gets applied I think it's only fair, as the stamp duty is levied in advance of the coming year.

The charge date for ATM cards seems to coincide with the date when the ATM card was first issued, rather than a particular time of year. Around this time last year I applied for a Pass card on a BOI account that I'd had open for a few years, and it was only yesterday that I spotted the EUR7.50 stamp duty levy.

I wonder if the Govt will start applying charges to those special vouchers that are designed for those not wishing to use a credit card for online purchases....???

holly_johnson

smccarrick wrote:

I think the Government have reduced it this year (it will be raided back to usual levels in 2007). Its to be Euro 7.50 for ATM & Laser cards and Euro 25 for credit cards. Think I saw something in the press releases yesterday or the previous day.

Edit: that should have read "raised", though perhaps the sentiment is more apt.....

Can you tell me where you saw this??

Extract from my bank statement:

04/01/2006 ATM Government Duty 20.00

I've just been looking to see if I could find anything, and all I can come up with is this..

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/01/08/story10885.asp

Which states how much was earned last year from this "tax" and what the charges are. Doesn't look like it has been reduced.

I'll be on to them quick smart if what you say is true....

chuckles30

official version is available on www.revenue.ie If you go in to the 'Tax & Duty' section, then choose the 'Stamp duties' option. In the third paragraph on that page there is a link to another page that explains all the charges.

I would have pasted the direct link in here, but the internet address remained at revenue.ie, not sure why that happened.

HelterSkelter

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote:

Hmm, out of interest, can you cancel your atm card?
I'm just about crazy enough to go into the bank and fill out a withdrawl slip every time... just to spite them.
And what if my account only has 40 euro in it for most of the year... they're taking a quarter of my life-savings just for having a piece of plastic I hardly use.
What if, for the past year, I've had 2 euro in my account and haven't used my ATM card even once... do I now owe the government 8 euro?
Will they send debt collectors after me?

I was onto the bank about it. They will charge the duty if you have used your ATM card within the last year. If you still have the card and haven't used it you won't get charged.

HelterSkelter

MorningStar wrote:

It really has no justification at all. It is actually anti competative as it is a barrier to changing credit card or bank accounts.

They are changing the law it so you will only be charged once a year no matter how many times you change credit card

MorningStar wrote:

There should be a campaign to remove as it is a lot more valid than a bin charge campaign

Why don't you start the campaign then? Probably cos €40 is not that much to you in the grand scheme of things. The bin charge campaign is run mainly by lower paid working class people for whom a couple of hundred a year is quite a lot. I don't know why you have to have a go at them in every thread you contribute to. If you feel so strongly about it go to one of their meetings and argue the point with them.

HelterSkelter

Here's the rules:

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/personal_finance/budget_2003.html?search=laser+card+duty

Financial cards (such as credit, ATM, laser cards)

It has been proposed that the 40 euro per annum stamp duty rate on financial cards will be abolished when switching financial providers in the same year. (In the past, some people were being charged 40 euro stamp duty each time they switched providers in a year). Consultation will need to take place with the relevant providers before this can be implemented. This new improvement will be introduced in the Finance Bill.

Unless there are any changes in the Finance Bill, the charge in relation to credit cards and charge cards will take effect from 2 April 2005, while the change in relation to ATM cards, Laser cards and combined cards will take effect from 1 January 2006.

Tazz T

It adds up if you have more than one credit card. And getting the 40 euro back when you move CC provider is a logistically nightmare. As a 'rate tart', I continually change provider for better rates and introductory period and i have yet to recieve one of these mythical 'statements of duty payment', despite my requests.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Actually, I was just thinking about the Perminent TSB offer of no bank charges... heh, I wonder would they swallow the cost of government "duty" (read shafting) aswell, although I suppose it's not technically a 'bank' charge so probably not.

podgeandrodge

chuckles30 wrote:

official version is available on www.revenue.ie If you go in to the 'Tax & Duty' section, then choose the 'Stamp duties' option. In the third paragraph on that page there is a link to another page that explains all the charges.

I would have pasted the direct link in here, but the internet address remained at revenue.ie, not sure why that happened.

http://www.revenue.ie/leaflets/financial.htm

TheIceMaker

Just checked my account there. Already in overdaraft, but now having an extra €20 taken out, really takes its toll. I'm working hard to pay off my student loan needed to get my fees, my grant is late, have to go into overdraft to pay rent, its really not fair that students should pay. Every1 who is working needs a bank account. Its rediculous, the levy probably goes to people on the dole or watever. Such a vicious cycle. Does my head in:mad:

holly_johnson

TheIceMaker wrote:

its really not fair that students should pay.

It's not fair that ANYONE should pay....

TimTim

I have one of those second level ATM cards which I stung with the 10euro stamp duty fee but when I signed up I was told there was no fee's at all on the account. Calling up bank of ireland I was told "oh its a govt duty nothing we can do about it"

Then I dug out the terms and conditions I got when I signed up with the card which said the bank will pay the govt duty on all 2nd level atm cards (So glad I hung on to them).

Getting back on to BoI again I was fobbed off. Needless to say I had a word with my dad and told him etc etc. Now let me tell you he is very persistant at these things.

He battled on for a while but eventually got the bank to refund the times they charged me for stamp duty and agreed not to charge for for stamp duty again while I'm in 2nd level education.

Also they did the same for lots of other accounts from what I heard because of the hassle my dad gave them.

Last paragraph:http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2004/07/09/story458811423.asp