BILL REQ. #:  S-2293.1 

Read first time .   Referred to .

     TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Consumers are increasingly using credit and debit cards and other electronic transactions to make purchases and the number of credit and debit card transactions each year now exceeds the number of check transactions; and
     WHEREAS, The lack of transparency relating to the fees, policies, and practices of credit card organizations has serious social and economic consequences for merchants and consumers; and
     WHEREAS, American consumers pay billions of dollars annually in undisclosed fees, the most expensive of which are "interchange fees"; and
     WHEREAS, Interchange fees have risen dramatically in recent years, totaling 30.7 billion dollars in 2005, up seventeen percent over 2004 and eighty-five percent since 2001, forcing American consumers and retailers to pay the highest credit card interchange fees in the world with rates averaging close to two percent; and
     WHEREAS, Merchants are required to pay these hidden interchange fees to banks and credit card organizations and are not allowed to offer discounts for cash or disclose to consumers how much they are paying in interchange fees; and
     WHEREAS, Interchange fees are ultimately passed on to consumers, including those who pay by cash or check, in the form of higher prices, such that the average American family pays more than three hundred dollars each year in hidden interchange fees; and
     WHEREAS, Only thirteen percent of the interchange fee goes to pay for the actual cost of an electronic transaction, and forty-four percent goes for rewards programs and other incentives; and
     WHEREAS, Competitive economic models do not work when there are very few businesses that process transactions and merchants are forced to accept terms dictated, often without notice or recourse, by the credit card organizations; and
     WHEREAS, With more and more consumers using electronic payment methods, the United States Congress needs to assure that the economic playing field is fair to consumers, merchants, and card providers alike; and
     WHEREAS, More than ninety percent of American adults surveyed agree that Congress should require credit card organizations to be more open about their policies and practices regarding interchange fees;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives hold hearings on interchange fees and take action limiting credit card interchange fees and developing a clear and concise disclosure to consumers and retailers thereof.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.