When we return to the USA, Jack and I obviously go through a bit of culinary culture shock. Well Jack really doesn’t, he is the zen dude, but I get INSANE. Since I am a lazy working woman, I cook only when it is necessary. In Pontelandolfo we can enjoy a wonderful lunch for €14. That is fourteen euros for two people! Imagine lunch that is home cooked in New Jersey for less than twenty dollars for two. I can’t. If you know of a place message me.
Forget going out to dinner near our condo in Ewing, NJ and having a drink – boom there goes a quick $150. How much for a glass of wine? WHAT, I screech at the $15 to $20 charge. In Southern italy where the wine is incredible we pay less than $5 a glass. Dinner for two in our favorite restaurant – which has linens on the tables, great food and exceptional service – with a bottle of wine may cost us about €60.
One of the reasons we spend half a year in Southern Italy is so that we can save up enough to spend half a year in New Jersey. I’m not kidding. Everything is less. Again, we live in a little hill town not a bustling tourist infested city. I complain about the cost of living in New Jersey – well not a lot because you could have a brain explosion if you thought about it and complained about it too much.
BUT WHAT REALLY PISSES ME OFF…..
Every year I take my Goddaughter to tea for her birthday. This year was no different. Since we are adults who not only know how to raise our pinkies when drinking tea but how to delicately hold a champagne flute, I made reservations at an incredible place for tea with sparkling wine. Everything was perfect. The service, the setting, the food was incredible. They even made accommodations for my inability to climb stairs and had a handicap bathroom. I have been happily raving about the place since we went. Ok, ok, I’ve been raving – so why am I talking about it in this blog/rant?
Like I learned from my Dad, the bill comes and you plop a credit card down. They take it, bring it back, you add a tip and sign. I did. We got in the car going on and on about how wonderful the place was. When I got home, Jack wanted to hear all about it. To jog my memory, I got out the receipts. Looking at the receipt I let out one of my usual FFFFFF bombs. I spent close to $300 and they charged me a $7 + service charge for using a credit card. Unacceptable. Every time we eat out in New Jersey, I complain about the credit card surcharge. I called this fabulous restaurant, told them how much I enjoyed the tea, service and ambiance and asked why they cheap out and add the surcharge. “Corporate policy.” Everyone does it. In my snootiest voice I replied, I live in Europe and there no one does it..
Hey New Jersey restaurants, I do not want to hear everyone does it!!!
California: Prohibits surcharges on credit card transactions.
New York: Bans businesses from imposing credit card surcharges.
Texas: Does not allow credit card surcharges under state law.
Illinois: Prohibits credit card surcharges in retail transactions.
Massachusetts: Bars businesses from adding surcharges for credit card payments.
Surcharges are banned in the entire European Union!
Card surcharges are not allowed!
europa.eu
You’re not allowed to charge your customers extra for using a credit or debit card. This applies to all card purchases (in shops and online) made throughout the EU.
Here is what we have in New Jersey. In 2023, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2023, c.146 (N.J.S.A. 56:8-156.1 and -156.2) into law, which, among other things, prohibits sellers from imposing a credit card surcharge
that is greater than the actual cost to the seller to process the credit card payment.
Big freaking deal. I voted for Governor Murphy and this piece of legislation – which includes the fact that businesses have to post a sign alerting customers to the surcharge – is a big piece of bullshit. Why not have the balls to tell VISA and the other credit card folks that they shouldn’t be putting surcharges on the businesses that accept their cards. Or make the charge nominal. I mean just how many FU&^%ING billions of dollars do you need to make? The Bs bellow stand for billions!!!!!
Visa Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 Results
San Francisco, CA, April 28, 2026 – Visa (NYSE: V)
- GAAP net income of $6.0B or $3.14 per share and non-GAAP net income of $6.3B or $3.31 per share
- Net revenue of $11.2B, an increase of 17%, or 16% on a constant-dollar basis
- Growth in payments volume, cross-border volume and processed transactions was strong
Thank you for listening. If the surcharge pisses you off too, send an email to your state legislature. It may do nothing, but you might feel better. I know I will.
Ci vediamo!
Nonna's Mulberry Tree 