Leisureshopdirect Caravan Blog

Caravan & motorhome blog

Save money by paying cash

Caravan water heaters owners could find themselves saving even more money on their holidays if they pay with cash instead of using a debit or credit card.


Research from Which? has revealed that using plastic to pay for goods and services could land consumers with hidden costs and surcharges.


The consumer advice company found the in some cases paying with a card can increase costs by up to 200 per cent, giving a £1.70 train ticket from the trainline as an example, as a £3.50 charge is added when paying with a card.


Most retailers cite processing costs as a reason for the surcharges, but research found that banks typically charge 0.1p for debit card transactions and 0.8 per cent for credit cards.


Often retailers are charging up to five per cent for credit card transactions and 3.5 per cent on debit cards, which is significantly increasing the prices paid by caravan water heaters owners.


Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, said: "There can be no justification for high card surcharges as all too often they just seem to be an excuse for ramping up costs."


Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne recently suggested that ten per cent of the government's revenue should come from 'green' taxes, which may affect those who take regular caravan holidays, if further taxation on motorists is imposed.