I don't remember a place which didn't accept my standard credit cards since I moved to Dubai. From fast food restaurants to beauty salons, I hardly carry cash any more.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) isn't an exception. They do accept credit cards, but from my first visit to them, when I had to open an account and make a deposit of Dh1,000, I was warned by the customer service agent that if I opted to pay by credit card they'd collect 1.65 per cent extra. Only Dh16.5.

Yes, it isn't much, but it is just the principle: Why should I - the customer - pay for what they are supposed to pay in fees to the bank? I decided then to run to a nearby ATM and come back with cash.

We don't have much choice with Dewa, do we? There is no other seller of water or electricity, which may be the reason they are not concerned about making their payment methods any attractive.

But last week I was surprised when I found Emarat, the petrol station, posting a notice, that starting September 1, they will also be charging 1.65 per cent on card transactions. Aren't they concerned about their competitiveness? For one, my first thought was: Fine, I won't be fuelling from here any more.

Again it is a matter of principle even if it doesn't cost much. Say Dh1.65 if your average weekly fuel bill is Dh100. It is cheaper than a bubble gum pack. Yes, but this is their agreement with the bank, why should the fees be transferred to customers?

No concern

It seems that credit card companies and the banks cannot care less as long as they are getting their money. When I tried to contact a couple, the answer - when I got one - was "no comment".

So I decided to call the customer service at my bank given the fact that it is in their benefit that I keep using my card. At first, the agent said he had no idea what I was talking about.

After a few minutes of holding, he came back with the most informative statement. "We are the bank. Nothing changed from our end. If you've a problem with Emarat, you should be sorting it out with them."

In a way, I can understand Emarat's move. While other retailers have room to hike their prices, and we may be paying for their bank fees and more without noticing, petrol stations don't have similar flexibility.

They may be betting that while some people will play the choice game and head to a different station, many others will just opt to pay in cash or won't even worry about it since the each individual fee is negligible. So who will be paying for the convenience of using credit cards?

[For cash payment fans, here is good news for you: you finally win even in a society supposedly moving to plastic alternative.

Yes, you take more time to find your money, the cashier has to count it, and give you your change, which you have to check. Then the money has to be secured, checked and double checked at the end of the day, and transferred to where it goes until it get deposited in a bank.

Your cash payment creates jobs and costs for so many people, but still you seem to get a better deal in some places.]