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How To Get Around Credit Card Minimum Purchase Requirements

A credit card minimum purchase requirement doesn't have to be an obstacle.

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Steven Dashiell
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Many stores these days have implemented a minimum purchase amount for credit cards. If you have run into this situation, and want to know how to handle it, then here are a few things you should know.

Minimum purchase amount

There are a couple of primary reasons stores will implement a minimum purchase requirement. The first is they’re trying to offset the interchange fee they need to pay when they process a credit card transaction. This fee can add up, particularly at stores that offer smaller purchases such as convenience stores.

The other reason is a bit simpler: they want you to buy more merchandise. The truth is, you have the right to use your card despite any minimum purchase amount set by the store. Stores that refuse to accept credit card payments under a certain threshold are actually violating their agreement for merchant processing.

That means if the store won’t accept your payment, you have a right to call Mastercard or Visa to file a complaint. In the end, it’s up to the merchant to work with the card networks to create a fee system that works best for them.

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Name Product Annual fee Purchase APR Minimum Credit Score
Merit Platinum
Merit Platinum
$177.24
N/A
300
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Net First Platinum
Net First Platinum
Up to $299.40
N/A
300
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Group One Platinum Credit Card
Group One Platinum Credit Card
$177.24
N/A
300
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Bottom line

In the end, minimum purchase requirements can’t stop you from using your credit card for a given purchase. You might want to weigh whether the complaint process is worth the time and effort, however.

Compare the top credit cards to find one that best suits your day-to-day spending needs.

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