In article ,
When Debit cards came out a few years back, many merchants were charging
about 25 cents for DEBIT transactions until it was widely pointed out that a
debit transaction cost much less (one cent) than processing a paper check.

The AM/PM gas stations (ARCO) around here kept the practice in place for
about two years after the other merchants went to doing it free. I stopped
going to those stations and don't know if they STILL do it.

I've always wondered why I can use my debit card w/o a service charge
any place EXCEPT a bank I can even get cash back, but there's no extra
fee. But if I go to a cash machine...