Credit Cards & ATMs at brothels

[Scarpia]

Hello all,

As a new member making my first post, I hope to shock everyone by NOT asking a question about the monger rate! This is about payment methods at the brothels. A post from January discussed the merits of cash vs charge. I would like to know about using a credit card at a brothel. Are you folks actually talking about using the card like you would with any other purchase, or are there ATMs on site where you can withdraw cash via your credit or debit card and then pay that way? I'm assuming it is the former.

Is 6% really the standard fee for either of those transactions at a brothel? When using credit and debit cards at an ATM, there tends to be a daily limit on how much cash you can withdraw, making that an issue. Any advice from experienced members would be appreciated. I am mainly focused on Inez and Mona's at the moment, although info re: any other brothels would be welcome too. Naturally, this pertains to paying for parties, not just buying drinks and such.

Thanks in advance!

[knitwit]

Well for Mona's and Inez if you use a credit card to pay (like any other purchase) they charge you $5 extra for each $100 spent, so $100 would be charged $105, $200 would be charged $210, etc... They also have an atm inside that you can use to withdraw cash, it has a flat fee, like pretty much all atms, and it depends on what you bank would charge you too.

Some other brothels don't charge an extra credit card fee, some do, but I'm not up to date on other places.

[vanityaffair]

The Desert Club does not have an ATM. We have credit cards and we do not charge a fee. You’re always welcomed to pay cash or go across the street to the ATM at the owl club casino. Just don’t forget the 25 mph driving.
XO Vanity

[JimDiGriz]

I think that it's a standard for ATMs to only allow $500 of withdrawals per day.  Maybe some machines are different and maybe some banks can increase the limit if you contact them first.  But this is something to keep in mind.

[SMRKIA]

If in Elko don’t forget about Gold Dust West’s free ATM. Also Elko has several national banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo (if one of those happens to be your bank)

A credit card surcharge is somewhat common. I heard that it can be hard to get a credit card processor for that line of business, hence they are often stuck using one with higher rates, and need to pass those fees on to the consumer.

Also if you are on this board I believe Mustang will waive the fee.

[Q]

If you use a credit card, be prepared to place your finger on an ink pad and leave a fingerprint on the credit card merchant copy. Some brothels require this, including the Mustang.

[Scarpia]

Thanks to all the replies so far. This is helpful information. I haven't entirely written off the idea of using cash but I wanted to consider the other options since I am not used to going through TSA with a lot of cash.
This is also the first time I ever heard about the fingerprint requirement.

Thanks

[Claymore]

I prefer using cash..but have used credit cards..yes, you have to leave a "print"

Anymore when I travel I also have carry prepaid..gift cards..usually for tips...but have purchased parties with them..

Check with the individual  houses on whether they charge a service fee for cards..

[Mr. Lloyd]

Thanks to all the replies so far. This is helpful information. I haven't entirely written off the idea of using cash but I wanted to consider the other options since I am not used to going through TSA with a lot of cash.
This is also the first time I ever heard about the fingerprint requirement.

Thanks

I had some concerns about traveling with cash as well when I was planning my first trip, but have done so on every trip I've taken and have never had any issues. Not sure how much you'd need to have for TSA to stop and question you, but a money clip with a few thousand in a carry on doesn't seem to raise any eyebrows. I know comfort level around carrying cash varies, though, and some folks find the extra expense of the credit card fees worth it for the peace of mind.

[wb69]

TSA doesn't give a rats ass about you having loads of cash. I've came through with tens of thousands carry on with not an issue.

[vanityaffair]

The desert club does also require your finger print from the pad. Also I have worked in many brothels. If you are from out of town tell your bank  that you will be traveling otherwise when you process your card it will be declined. Saves you from calling the bank.
XO Vanity

[Jack Rackham]

Pretty simple if you want to avoid getting fingerprinted. Take out a bank account with a national bank that is located throughout Nevada. I have one with Wells Fargo and just withdraw (non-ATM)  what I need when I'm there. If it's a large amount (say, over $3,000) I'll phone them a couple days in advance to make sure they have cash on hand. You don't have to tell them what it's for either..just say you are making a large purchase with cash.

[Scarpia]

Thanks again for these replies. They are also helping to ease my doubts about taking cash through the airport.
Jack Rackham's suggestion is also interesting. I have a friend that used to travel to Reno 2 to 3 times a year for business and gambled a lot. While some casinos had fee free ATMs, his bank charged him a fee if it wasn't an ATM associated with their institution. So he opened a savings account with Bank of America (I think), and withdrew cash there as necessary.

Anyway, I wouldn't be carrying tens of thousands through so maybe I should be a little less paranoid haha!

[SC Lawrence]

While TSA won't care about cash, if you're entering the US CBP will care if you have $10,000 or more in cash or cash equivalents (including gold). Failure to disclose to the customs agent that you're bringing large sums of cash into the country can result in a fine or confiscation of the items.

[Q]

I don't carry more than $3000 through an airport checkpoint per TSA guidelines. I use a credit union that is nationally tied to other credit unions network throughout the USA. If  I find myself needing more than $3000 cash, I just go into my credit union app and search for credit unions that are in the same location that I am at, I visit the branch and they happily give me fee-free cash right from my checking account.
I did this when I hosted last year's banquet so I didn't have to carry cash for the reimbursement of banquet attendees for their free admission and dinner I provided when/if they showed up. It was an extra $2600 or so I had to have ready.