Dispute over Visa fees heats up as Walmart stops accepting credit card in Manitoba
TORONTO — The dispute between Walmart Canada and Visa over merchant fees escalated Monday as the retail giant stopped accepting the credit card at its 16 stores in Manitoba.
Walmart first refused Visa credit cards at its three stores in Thunder Bay, Ont., in mid-July, arguing that the financial services firm charges high fees to merchants.
Alex Roberton, a spokesman for Walmart, said the company pays more than $100 million a year in credit card fees and is focused on reducing Visa transaction costs.
Roberton said the impact of its policy on customers in Thunder Bay has been minimal, adding that the stores have seen an increase in cash and debit payments.