Stealing my money? or not?

[aaronsw]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? missouri. i'm not sure if this is the right place to post this message. i work at a restaurant as a server in kansas city, Mo. Here's my question. should i as a minimum wage employee ($2.13/hr.) have to pay for my credit cards to be ran. every time a customer uses a credit card and gives me a tip on the bill, an amount is taken out of it to pay the credit card company, i guess. some nights $2 others more, but in the big picture thats a lot of money per year from just me. times that by 50 employees. somethings seems against the law to me. how can the restaurant pass that fee on to me??? thanks

 

[Beth3]

In most if not all States, payroll deductions can only be made with the express authorization of the employee. Contact MO's Department of Labor/wage and hour division and ask them about what your employer is doing.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

This is not a payroll deduction. It's a cost of business. I doubt seriously if this will go any further. But, as beth said, contact MDL for an opinion.

By the way, I doubt you work on the Plaza right?

 

[JETX]

should i as a minimum wage employee ($2.13/hr.) have to pay for my credit cards to be ran. every time a customer uses a credit card and gives me a tip on the bill, an amount is taken out of it to pay the credit card company, i guess.

I think you are misunderstanding the 'deduction'. Anytime a credit card charge is processed, the merchant is charged a percentage of the charge (merchant fee). This is set by the 'merchant agreement', but is usually somewhere between 2 and 5% of the charge (called 'merchant fee').

So, lets say that a customer has a $80.00 charge, and adds a $20.00 tip. Of that total $100 charge, lets say the merchant pays a 5% fee ($5.00). He gets $95.00 credited to his merchant account (at his bank), and the card issuer keeps the $5.00 charged fee.
What your employer is very likely doing is, deducting the 5% of your $20.00 ($1.00), leaving you with a $19.00 (net) tip. As this is done solely on your tip wages, they are not subject to payroll deduction restrictions and would not be in violation of any laws or rules. In fact, it is very likely that this was included in your 'job orientation' or policy's. Your options are to accept this minor 'deduction' or to find another job with an employer who doesn't pass this charge on to the servers.
BTW, this is why I alway tip in cash....

 

[Beth3]

Oops. You're right Belize - and JETX. I missed that the fees were being deducted from his tips, not his hourly wage.

Since tips are "wages" however, I still think a call to the State DOL is in order - just to be certain.